6 - Promotion of Thought Crime

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
- Bill of Rights, Amendment I

The Anti-Defamation League has been leading the fight for thought crime legislation. It was through their efforts that the FBI began tracking "hate crimes" and it was the ADL that has lobbied hardest for state and federal hate crime laws. Under the Orwellian-sounding "hate crimes" laws, American citizens would receive different sentences for the same crime, depending on whether or not their thoughts are politically correct on issues relating to homosexuality, race, nationality, and politics. Ultimately, having certain politically incorrect opinions would become a crime in itself. These new laws would make it a crime to say or publish any fact or opinion that could "incite racial hatred and bigotry".

The promotion of "hate crime" legislation, which would designate Jews and other minorities as special classes of citizens, is of primary concern to the ADL. Top on the list in 1999 was the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act" that would have given federal prosecutors new authority to prosecute crimes against minorities and circumvent the Constitution's protection against double jeopardy. Though the measure failed the ADL vowed to fight on. A Jewish Telegraphic Agency story titled "Jewish groups did not get all they wanted in Congress" dated November 20, 1999 explains:

"But on their other top priorities, Jewish groups were not as successful."

"Tougher hate crimes legislation was dropped during the final days of negotiations over the budget bill."

"Michael Lieberman, the Anti-Defamation League's Washington counsel, said his group will push for the measure again when Congress comes back in January."

The ADL has pioneered Thought Crime and what they call "Hate Crime" legislation. The ADL web site proudly admits to the ADL's leading role in the introduction to their 1999 Hate Crime Laws article:

"ADL has long been in the forefront of national and state efforts to deter and counteract hate-motivated criminal activity."

"In June 1993, the United States Supreme Court upheld a Wisconsin hate crime statute that was based on model legislation originally drafted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 1981."