Washington, D.C., November 10, 1997...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) took a leading role in the first White House Conference on Hate Crimes. The League presented to the President a model framework of best practices for addressing and deterring hate violence. Hate Crimes: ADL Blueprint for Action is a comprehensive outline of ADL legislative, educational and training initiatives to combat hate crimes and prejudice which can be applied in communities nationwide.

"President Clinton is focusing national attention on a problem that has long plagued this nation but has only recently emerged as a high priority," said Howard P. Berkowitz, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "Bigotry and prejudice lie at the core of all hate crimes. These crimes damage the fabric of our society and leave minorities fearful, angry and unwilling to trust authority.

By convening this conference, the President recognizes the importance of tackling bigotry and bias-motivated crimes head on. Yet, the full potential of this conference will only be realized if it sparks the development of a forward-looking national prevention and education strategy to address hate crimes and the prejudice that motivates them," continued Mr. Berkowitz and Mr. Foxman. "The League has drafted model hate crimes legislation designed to prompt law enforcement training and provide more severe penalties to perpetrators. More than forty states have enacted penalty-enhancement laws based on the ADL model. The greatest challenge now in most jurisdictions is not the enactment of legislation, but its implementation--combined with educational initiatives to deter such crimes. We are committed to working with the President in the fight against the fundamental cause of hate violence, the persistence of racism, bigotry, and anti-Semitism."

Hate Crimes: ADL Blueprint for Action provides hate crimes prevention and response strategies such as penalty enhancement laws, training for law enforcement and the military, security for community institutions, and community anti-bias awareness initiatives. The ADL report outlines anti-bias education and diversity training programs such as A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute Peer Training, and college and university-based anti-bias projects, and also provides year-by-year information from the ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, ADL resources on hate violence counteraction, and state hate crime statutory provisions.

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.