President Obama Signs Hate Crimes Bill

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Washington, DC | October 29, 2009 | www.adc.org |

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is delighted at President Obama signing into law the Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report, which included in the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The hate crimes provision will strengthen existing hate crimes protections for race, color, religion, national origin, and ethnicity. It also now protects victims of crimes based on the actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, or disability.

ADC President, Mary Rose Oakar stated, “ADC thanks President Obama for signing this vital law. The success of this law is due to the hard work of numerous individuals and groups that worked diligently to help make it a reality. History will show the importance of these protections. This marks a momentous occasion in our nation’s history to help protect all Americans.”

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NOTE TO EDITORS: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is non sectarian and non partisan, is the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980, by former Senator James Abourezk to protect the civil rights of people of Arab descent in the United States and to promote the cultural heritage of the Arabs. ADC has 38 chapters nationwide, including chapters in every major city in the country, and members in all 50 states.

The ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI), which was founded in 1981, is a Section 501(c)(3) educational organization that sponsors a wide range of programs on behalf of Arab Americans and of importance to all Americans. ADC-RI programs include research studies, seminars, conferences and publications that document and analyze the discrimination faced by Arab Americans in the workplace, schools, media, and governmental agencies and institutions. ADC-RI also celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Arabs.

Contact: ADC Legal Department, legal@adc.org