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ADL Condemns Shooting at Family Research Council

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) strongly condemned Wednesday's shooting of a security guard at the Family Research Council (FRC) and called on law enforcement to investigate the motivation behind the crime.

David C. Friedman, ADL's Washington, DC Regional Director, issued the following statement:

The use of violence against an individual or organization because of a disagreement with their beliefs, values, or policy positions is unacceptable and indefensible. Free speech – no matter who the speaker is, no matter how offensive or objectionable the speech, is one of the foundation principles of our nation.

We are confident that the Metropolitan Police Department will fully investigate this crime. If the facts reveal that the perpetrator was motivated by unlawful bias, law enforcement authorities should consider prosecution under the D.C. Bias Crime Statute

Bias or hate crime statutes have been adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. Many of those laws are based on a model statue crafted by the ADL, which has long been in the forefront of national and state efforts to deter and counter act hate-motivated criminal activity.

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.

SOURCE Anti-Defamation League