STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR PATERSON REGARDING LATEISHA GREEN SENTENCING

Governor Paterson issued the following statement in response to the sentencing of Dwight R. Delee, who was convicted of a fatal bias-crime against Lateisha Green, an African-American transgender woman:

“Yesterday’s sentencing of the man who shot and killed Lateisha Green last November brings little solace to her family and friends, and I wish that no one would ever have to experience losing someone so young. But this sentence -- the first of its kind in New York State -- shows that violence against transgender people and other hate crimes will carry stiffer penalties. Violence is always repulsive, yet violence against someone who is different from you -- just because they are different from you -- is especially repugnant. For that reason, I am grateful for the fine work performed by the Hate Crimes Task Force I established earlier this year, in developing recommendations to reduce bias-motivated attacks. We are working to implement these directives in schools and communities throughout the State. Further, I encourage other states to follow New York's lead in imposing harsher punishments against those who commit hate crimes.”