To the Editor:

The brazen, hate-motivated alleged assault against an elderly rabbi strolling on the Venetian Causeway in Miami Beach is a vivid reminder of why the Florida Legislature enacted a bias-crimes law (Man faces a year in jail for alleged assault on rabbi, July 15, 2008).

These crimes warrant a higher punishment because they tear at our nation's core values, strike fear within victimized groups and can polarize entire communities. The Miami Beach Police Department's prompt action should be commended. Bringing hate-crime charges sends a strong message that any act of bigotry, whether criminal or not, is unacceptable in our community.

The Anti-Defamation League condemns acts of anti-Semitism and other hate crimes and bias incidents that have plagued South Florida recently.