New York, NY, June 23, 2000…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) hailed today’s passage by the State Legislature of a Hate Crimes Bill as a landmark step in the battle to protect New Yorkers from violence motivated by prejudice and hate.

"We are grateful that the Legislature has finally given law enforcement this powerful tool to combat bias crimes," said Howie Katz, Director of the ADL New York Regional Office. "It is gratifying that the Senate and the Assembly understood the importance of reconciling the differences between their two bills so that the Governor can sign it into law."

Shelley Parker, chair of the ADL New York Regional Board, said, "We are proud to have played a leadership role in securing passage of New York’s hate crimes law. It was ADL that drew up the 1981 model legislation on which most states’ hate crimes laws are based. Since then, 42 states enact such laws. We are delighted that after a 12-year lobbying effort, New York State has finally become the 43^rd."

The Hate Crimes Law, one version of which had passed the Assembly for 11 years in a row before finally seeing a vote on a similar bill in the Senate this June, provides additional penalties for crimes in which the victim was chosen because of his or her race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation. It also mandates that police and the courts gather data on hate crimes and their punishment.

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.