Hate Crimes Topic Of Conference

Urging Americans to fight bigotry, President Clinton announced Saturday he will convene the first White House Conference on Hate Crimes in November.

Clinton announced his plans in a videotaped message for the annual meeting of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, a Seattle-based organization.

“Thanks for the work you do to overcome the forces of hatred and division that are still at large in our society,” Clinton said.

“In America, we are many people, but one nation, bound together by shared values,” he said. “As we become an increasingly diverse society, our very future depends upon finding new ways to come together across the lines that divide us.”

The Nov. 10 White House Conference on Hate Crimes will provide a forum for numerous viewpoints, bringing together the victims of hate crimes, law enforcement officials, educators and community and religious leaders, Clinton said.