On 28 October 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. This law broadens federal jurisdiction over hate crimes by authorising the Attorney General to provide assistance, when requested by a state, local, or tribal official, for crimes that would constitute a violent crime under federal law or a felony under state or tribal law and are motivated by the victim's actual or perceived race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. This book provides an overview of the hate crime debate, with background on current law and hate crime statistics, and a legislative history of hate crime prevention bills in recent Congresses.