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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: JEWISH COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS JCPA Presses Congress to Strengthen Federal Hate Crimes Law New York -- May 11, 1999 - In an effort to gain support for S. 622, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) has joined with many other coalition members in sending letters to Congress. Urging passage of the HCPA, JCPA Chair, Steve Schwarz and JCPA Executive Vice Chairman, Lawrence Rubin, asserted that, "All Americans have an intensified responsibility to advocate for effective responses to violent bigotry." Today, as the Senate Judiciary Committee convenes a hearing on hate crimes, the JCPA reiterates its support for the HCPA. In October 1998, the JCPA adopted a Resolution on Hate Crimes that expressed its utmost support for the HCPA and urged state legislators across the country to pass or strengthen their own hate crimes laws. Evoking the Jewish people's long history of religious persecution, the resolution expresses the sentiment that American Jews are particularly empathetic to the suffering of other minorities. The statement further emphasized that Jews are compelled by religious tradition to pursue tikkun olam, the healing of the world, in part by promoting social justice for all human beings. ### The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is the public affairs body of the organized Jewish community and serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 122 community agencies which comprise the field of Jewish community relations. |
