Attorney General's News Release

Oct. 21, 1997

Hate crimes have entered computer age, Nixon says

St. Louis, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon joined forces today with the Anti-Defamation League to fight hate crimes on the Internet.

At a national conference of attorneys general and other law enforcement officials hosted by Nixon in St. Louis this week, Nixon warned that "racism and bigotry -- two old and tired enemies -- have entered the computer age."

The Anti-Defamation League announced the results of a two-year study documenting the proliferation of racist and anti-Semitic messages on the Internet. The ADL report, The Web of Hate: Extremist Use of the Internet, explores the expansion of websites created by racist groups.

Nixon also reviewed Missouri's hate crime laws and discussed actions of common-law groups in the state, including the recent case from Lincoln County, where Nixon successfully prosecuted 18 anti-government sympathizers on a felony charge of tampering with a judicial officer.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818