Blumenthal unveils bill to toughen federal hate crimes law

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal unveiled federal legislation Monday aimed at combating the uptick in hate crimes across the country.

The bill, which the Connecticut Democrat plans to introduce Wednesday, would create incentives for law enforcement to submit complete reports on hate crimes, as well as training on how to report the data.

Blumenthal said FBI data show a 6.8 percent increase in hate crimes nationwide in 2015, but due to "dramatic underreporting" the real figure is likely much higher.

Blumenthal's proposal would also establish grants to fund state-run hotlines to ensure hate crimes don't go unreported and would provide victims of hate crimes the right to sue in civil court, even in states without hate crime laws. Also, judges would be allowed to require those convicted under a 2009 federal hate crimes law to undergo a period of supervised release, including community service and education centered on the community targeted by the crime.

"Beyond the law, leaders of our nation have to condemn hate crimes in no uncertain terms, consistently, repeatedly, unequivocally," Blumenthal said during a news conference at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. "The condemnation by our leaders, beginning with the president of the United States, has to be consistent and repeated. And this kind of condemnation has been lacking."

Representatives from The Anti-Defamation League in Connecticut, the Council on America-Islamic Relations, the Greater Hartford NAACP and the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective were on hand Monday to support Blumenthal's legislation.

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Copyright Associated Press - The Gayly 3/13/2017 @ 2:30 p.m. CST