Rally speech – Gwen Moore

Statement by Congresswoman Gwen Moore at an event honoring Chanel Larkin, other local deaths, and students who committed suicide. Topic: hate violence.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

by Congresswoman Gwen Moore

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE FOR PEACEFUL RALLY FOR JUSTICE, RIGHTS, & RESPECT

I wish I could be with you as you gather to honor the memory of Chanel Larkin and bring awareness to hate violence.

We must stand strong together to end hate violence once and for all.

Hate is not an American value. Freedom and liberty are – and all Americans –have the right to feel safe in their communities. And that’s why hate violence is particularly heinous. There isn’t just one victim, hate violence targets entire communities. I’m proud that Congress and President Obama worked together to expand Federal hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity. But that alone won’t end hate violence.

We need to keep working to build a society that is free of prejudice and bigotry and is affirming for all of us. Like you, I am deeply saddened by the teenagers who recently took their own lives after they were bullied because they were gay or people thought they were gay. This is why what you are doing today is so important.

Keep standing up. Keep speaking out. Keep fighting. We’ll get there, and I’ll be by your side every step of the way.