District Council Hearing on Hate Crimes: Dec. 12

The D.C. Council's Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary is holding a hearing THIS FRIDAY at noon to discuss the law enforcement and judicial responses to hate crimes in the District. Confirmed speakers include Gays and Lesbians Opposed to Violence (GLOV) co-chairs Chris Farris and Todd Metrokin, as well as hate crime survivor Wes Della Volla and friends of Tony Hunter, who was killed back in September.

According to GLOV:

The hearing has been called in response to recent incidents that have heightened community concern over whether law enforcement is responding effectively to reduce the occurrence of hate crime. As indicated in the hearing notice released by Committee Chairman Phil Mendelson, "a recent Washington Post editorial cited FBI statistics that show while the District mirrors the nation in a reduction of racial-bias crimes, according the MPD statistics, hate crimes based on sexual orientation account for the 'overwhelming majority of hate crimes in the city.'"

If you're interested in submitting a written testimony, they are being accepted for the hearing record through Friday, December 19th.

Hearing information:

Friday, December 12, 2008, at 12:00 p.m.
5th Floor Council Chambers, John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004