March 8, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1703 would also see a note that reads, rowly defined federally-protected ac- yesterday and deserves the support of ‘‘United We Stand. Never be forgotten. tivities, such as serving on a jury, vot- the full Senate today. We look forward Always to be loved. A symbol of silence ing, attending a public school, eating to his service to the Western District that needs to be broken.’’ at a restaurant or lodging at a hotel. of Wisconsin. That memorial has been erected out- The limitations of current law pre- f side the home of Clinton Scott vent it from reaching many cases FLORIDA’S 2002 OLYMPIC Risetter, 37, the victim of a hate crime. where individuals are killed or injured MEDALISTS On February 24, 2002, Clint Risetter by just walking down the street, or, as awoke in his apartment engulfed in we have now seen, even sleeping in Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. Presi- flames and then tried to escape as he their own homes. It does not extend dent, I rise today to recognize five ath- was burning. When firefighters arrived, basic civil rights protections to every letes who recently represented our Na- they found him dead on his patio. Two American, only to a few and under cer- tion at the 19th Winter days later, Martin Thomas Hartmann tain circumstances. Updating the cur- in . walked into the Santa Barbara Police rent law would not provide special While the accomplishments of these Department and admitted to entering rights, it would ensure equal protec- competitors are exceptional by any Clint’s apartment, pouring gasoline on tion. measure, this group deserves special him as he slept, and then setting him ‘‘The Local Law Enforcement Act of recognition; that’s because Garrett on fire. 2001,’’ legislation of which I am an Hines, Derek Parra, Jennifer Martin Hartmann had known Clint original cosponsor, would expand cur- Rodriguez, and Chris for several months but had learned just rent Federal protections against hate Thorpe are Floridians. For the record, recently that Clint was gay. He told crimes based on race, color, religion, Florida sees snow a little more often police about his hatred toward gays and national origin; amend the crimi- than once every ice age, and the and how he ‘‘. . . decided to put [Clint] nal code to cover hate crimes based on State’s highest mountain is but a out of his misery,’’ because he was gay. gender, disability, and sexual orienta- bunny hill compared to the terrain He believed that he was doing the right tion; authorize grants for State and these athletes saw in Utah. Nevertheless, these five Floridians thing and that Clint deserved to die. local programs designed to combat and won seven medals in the luge, the bob- The note on the tree outside Clint prevent hate crimes; and enable the Risetter’s apartment expresses not sled and on the speed skating oval. federal government to assist State and Garrett Hines, along with teammate only the views of its author, but also local law enforcement in investigating Randy Jones, became the first black the views of the more than 500 people and prosecuting hate crimes. American males to win a medal in the that joined together Monday night in Final passage of ‘‘The Local Law En- Winter Olympics, as the United States Santa Barbara to light candles in a forcement Act of 2001,’’ is long overdue. took silver in the four-man bobsled. vigil for Clint. One of the vigil’s It is necessary for the safety and well Garrett is the pride of Sanford, FL, and attendees, Russ Chaffin, said, ‘‘I can’t being of millions of Americans. No I’d like to wish him luck in his future be silent. This is my community. I can- American should have to live in fear endeavors. not stand it that something like this because of his or her disability. No Similarly, Derek Parra achieved a could happen in my community.’’ American should be afraid to walk barrier-breaking milestone, becoming I simply cannot stand silent when down the street for fear of a gender- the first Hispanic American to medal such a violent act is committed against motivated attack. And certainly, no in the Winter Olympics as he won both an innocent person. I was deeply sad- American should be afraid to sleep in a gold and silver in speed skating. dened and disturbed to hear the hor- their own home because of his or her These two pioneers have left a last- rific details of Clint’s death. It’s hard sexual orientation. ing mark on their sports, and I am for me to imagine a more heinous act We have had strong bipartisan sup- proud to call them Floridians. of hatred than to set another human port for this legislation in the past, Also, Jennifer Rodriguez, known as being on fire. Unfortunately, Clint’s and it continues to receive bipartisan ‘‘Miami Ice,’’ showed the world that death is characteristic of many hate support. We just have not been able to South Florida has a place on the Win- crimes in America; where an attacker get it to the President’s desk for his ter Olympic map. After becoming the repeatedly beats, stabs or severely consideration. Today, I ask all of my first Hispanic American to compete for burns his victim as if he is removing colleagues to work to ensure that this the United States Winter Olympic whatever it is he hates out of the per- legislation is not simply supported, but Team during the 1998 Games in Japan, son. And the attacker feels justified in actually gets passed and signed into Rodriguez not only competed in Salt doing so, as if he is doing a great serv- law. Let’s send a signal to Clint Lake City, she won two speed skating ice to humanity by killing the person. Risetter’s family, and to all Ameri- bronze medals. In California, I have seen, first-hand, cans, that our nation will no longer Brian Shimer continued the South the devastating impact hate crimes turn a blind eye to hate crimes in this Florida success, as the Naples native have on victims, their families and country. took home a bronze in the four-man their communities. A hate crime di- f bobsled. This five-time Olympian had vides neighborhoods and breeds a sense never before won a medal, but as the CONFIRMATION OF SHERIFF STE- of mistrust and fear within a commu- driver in this year’s bronze medal win- PHEN FITZGERALD TO BE U.S. nity, just like it has in Santa Barbara. ning sled, he has realized a career-long MARSHAL FOR THE WESTERN This is why I have long supported legis- goal. lation aimed at protecting citizens DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN Finally, Daytona Beach resident from crimes based on race, ethnicity, Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise Chris Thorpe, added a bronze medal in religion, gender, disability, or sexual today in support of the confirmation of doubles luge to the silver he won four orientation. Sheriff Stephen Fitzgerald to be United years ago in the Games. Chris According to the FBI’s latest statis- States Marshal for the Western Dis- has said this will be his last Olympics, tics, hate crimes based on sexual ori- trict of Wisconsin. and I’d like to wish him luck as he fin- entation rose every year between 1994 Sheriff Fitzgerald’s qualifications for ishes his undergraduate degree at the and 2000. Yet, current Federal hate this position are impressive. He has University of Florida, Gainesville. crimes law does not include crimes served as the Sheriff of Dodge County I applaud the commitment these ath- against others because of sexual ori- since 1989 and as a detective and patrol letes have shown in reaching the pin- entation. It only covers crimes moti- officer with the Chicago Police Depart- nacle of their respective sports, and I vated by bias on the basis of race, ment before seeing the light and mov- hope their willingness to sacrifice and color, religion or national origin. The ing to the greener pastures of Wis- their determination to succeed moti- current law also limits Federal hate consin to continue his lifelong devotion vates all Americans to exceed expecta- crime prosecutions to instances in to law enforcement and public service. tions and achieve the extraordinary. which the victim was targeted because Sheriff Fitzgerald received a unani- I would ask to have printed in the he or she was exercising one of six nar- mous vote of the Judiciary Committee RECORD the names and hometowns of

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