Rights Group Calls for Follow Through on Key State Hate Crimes Recommendations

Human Rights First today welcomed the New York Hate Crimes Task
Force's recently released recommendations to combat bias-based crimes
throughout the state and called on state officials to demonstrate the
political will to carry out these critical reforms.

"In New York, as in the rest of the world, governments must do more
to adequately prevent and respond to violent crimes motivated by
ethnic, religious, or sexual orientation prejudices," said Paul
LeGendre, Director of Fighting Discrimination Program at Human Rights
First. "These recommendations underscore the important role that local
authorities must play in combating hate crimes."

"Human Rights First's own recommendations to governments, formulated in a Ten-Point Plan,
are largely in sync with the proposals of the Task Force. We strongly
believe that training for law enforcement and strengthened hate crime
reporting, among other things, will enhance the response to
bias-motivated attacks in the state of New York. We hope state
lawmakers and government officials will quickly implement these key
reforms and demonstrate their commitment to protect all citizens. And
we hope their efforts spur action around the world - be it the Free
State of Saxony in Germany or the Moscow Oblast in Russia - where
stronger government response to hate crime is much needed."