Thought Police Strike Again

Newest 'Hate Crime' Bill Violates Constitution: Attempts End-Run Around Free Speech

Lancaster, PA: The Constitution Party, the country's third largest political party in
terms of voter registration, warns Americans that the latest federal 'hate-crime' bill introduced
in the House of Representatives is a dangerous threat to Constitutionally protected rights.

H.R. 254, introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, is another version of
proposed legislation passed by the House in 2005 and the Senate in 2004. Only strong
public outcry and a Republican controlled Congress kept this type of legislation from
becoming law. Now that Democrats are in charge there's a tough fight ahead to keep this
dangerous bill from passing. H.R. 254 would make certain types of speech a federal offense.
So-called 'hate crimes' legislation is dangerous for a number of reasons, not the least of
which is the blatant unconstitutionality of such laws. 'Hate crime' laws would allow federal
"thought police" to interfere in the law enforcement authority of states and localities -
something our founders were clear was NOT to be allowed.

H.R. 254 would require every state to pass and enforce 'anti-hate' laws. It would
outlaw stating a "bias" against certain 'federally protected' groups such as homosexuals.

Constitution Party National Chairman Jim Clymer warned "So-called 'hate crime'
laws could mean the Bible would be considered 'hate literature' and preaching from it would
be 'hate speech' because of references to religious teachings on homosexuality or other
behaviors. The Orwellian implications of these types of laws mean Bible-believing Christians
could become criminals simply because they spoke out about their beliefs."

Citing a 2004 case in Philadelphia, where 11 Christians were charged under a
'hate-crimes' statute for peacefully protesting at a gay rights rally, Mr. Clymer, a practicing
attorney, said "Law-abiding Americans became criminals because they exercised a right our
forebears fought and died for".

"By introducing the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) federal 'hate crime' bill into
Congress for the second time, Rep. Jackson-Lee shows she's bound and determined to stifle
your First Amendment Rights no matter how many times she has to make a run at it", noted
Constitution Party Communication Director Mary Starrett who added: "The Constitution Party
condemns H.R. 254 as an affront to our liberty. Today, ADL-inspired 'thought crime' laws are
stripping nations of free speech.

"In Canada and many European countries, it is a crime to use the internet to
criticize 'federally protected' groups, such as homosexuals and Muslims. In England, two men
who called Islam 'wicked' were indicted under Britain's 'hate crime' law and now face seven
years in prison. Those horrors do not belong in America!"

Referring to the group behind this bill, Clymer noted: "Congresswoman
Jackson-Lee's H.R. 254 is being pushed by the same group, ADL, responsible for the British
law that says truth cannot be used as a defense in court. only the complaints by members of
specially protected groups who say their feelings have been hurt are being allowed. The
reality of what these types of laws are doing and have done to people across the world
should be a chilling reminder to Americans to oppose these laws while we still can" warned
Clymer.