WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington DC lawmakers and Hispanic groups on Tuesday denounced the beating death of an Ecuadorean immigrant in New York City and said his slaying lends new urgency to the need for a federal hate crimes law.
Ecuadorean immigrant Jose Sucuzhanay was fatally beaten Dec. 7. Police say his attackers yelled anti-Hispanic and anti-gay slurs at the victim and his brother as they walked arm-in-arm in Brooklyn. Police are still searching for the suspects.
Latino leaders say there appears to be rising anti-Latino sentiment and Congress should pass legislation to expand the federal hate crimes law.
The bill would add protections for bias crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation and disabilities, and expand Justice Department's investigative powers.
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