As someone who has gone to the Statehouse in support of this bill, its House passage makes me happy!
MERI has just issued the following press release:
Statement from Marriage Equality Rhode Island on House passage of hate
crimes reporting legislation
PROVIDENCE - Marriage Equality Rhode Island Campaign Director Ray
Sullivan issued the following statement today after the House of
Representatives passed legislation to include gender identity and
expression as part of the hate crimes reporting law:
“On behalf of the tens of thousands of equality supporters across
Rhode Island, we commend and thank Rep. Edith Ajello and those state
representatives who voted in favor of including gender identity and
expression in the hate crimes reporting law.
While there is much more that our state must do to stop violence and
hate crimes of any nature, this is an important first step in
protecting a group of citizens that for too long have been unjustly
targeted and in some cases maliciously attacked for no other reason
than being who they are.
It is critically important that these crimes be reported and tracked,
and we look forward to working with members of the General Assembly to
make sure such crimes are appropriately prosecuted and that the
perpetrators are punished to the fullest extent of the law.
We urge the Senate to quickly take up this bill and send it to Gov.
Chafee for his signature.