Washington, DC, August 21, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) praised the Baltimore Police Department for the arrest of the three individuals alleged to have attacked a 76-year old African-American man because of his race.  The alleged leader of the attack, Calvin E. Lockner, has been charged with a hate crime, attempted murder, first-degree assault, and carjacking. 

"This unprovoked, violent, and apparently racially motivated attack against a man who was peacefully fishing with his wife is intolerable," says Emily Friedman, ADL Assistant Regional Director.  "We applaud the Baltimore Police Department for their swift investigation and arrest of these three perpetrators and their decision to charge Lockner with not only attempted murder, first-degree assault, and carjacking, but also with a hate crime."  

Hate crime statutes have been adopted by 45 states.  Many of those laws are based on a model statute crafted by ADL, which has long been in the forefront of national and state efforts to deter and counteract hate-motivated criminal activity.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.