Address By Former Governor Tom Ridge
January Radio Address
January 2, 1998

Hello, I'm Governor Tom Ridge. Today I would like to talk with you about Pennsylvania's future.

Equality is one of the basic notions of American democracy. Now, that's something we in Pennsylvania--the birthplace of our great country--especially should never forget. In the profound words of our founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

This country has struggled valiantly to put that noble principle to work. We have been divided in civil war, we have sent our men and women to fight for freedom across the world, and we have struggled triumphantly in our nation's civil rights movement--all to reaffirm our fundamental belief that all men and women are born to this world as equals. It is part of what has made our nation great.

Pennsylvania too has a wonderful diversity of races, cultures and creeds. For this state and all its citizens to reach its fullest potential we must embrace our diversity and harness its power. Those who ridicule and denigrate individuals merely because of such factors as the color of their skin, the homeland of their ancestors or their form of worship betray the ideals of our country and our state. We simply cannot condone, not through words, deeds or silence, those who seek to divide us among those lines. And when their bigotry manifests itself in crimes of hate--that is the one occasion when our state must be intolerant. There is no place in Pennsylvania for hate crimes, and we must all condemn these acts with swift and sure resolve.

There are encouraging signs that our united resolve against crimes of hate is working. Last year the incidences of reported hate crimes declined both nationally and in the Commonwealth. And we hope to do even more.

My administration has empowered the Pennsylvania State Police's Heritage Affairs Officer to work with state agencies, local governments and community organizations to raise the level of awareness about hate crimes and hate related incidents.

And last month I accepted the report of the Alliance for Community and Law Enforcement Relations, a task force comprised of representatives of Pennsylvania's minority and law enforcement communities. I asked the Alliance to identify strategies to reduce tensions between Pennsylvania's minority and law enforcement communities. A few weeks ago, I met with the members of the Alliance. They told me about an incredible discovery: while there is still a long way to go--Pennsylvania already is on the right track. Through their study the Alliance found answers to many of our problems, answers that already are at work, people that already are making a difference in Pennsylvania's communities. From citizen's police academies, where citizens are empowered to assist in their own community's fight against crime-- to the Interagency Task Force on Civil Tension which has developed training and programs to relieve tensions and resolve conflict - Pennsylvanians are working together to ease tensions and to build trust among our diverse communities. As I prepare my budget this year, I will be considering ways to strengthen these programs as well as to implement some of the Alliance's recommendations.

In a few days, we will all celebrate the birthday of a great American--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King had a dream--a dream that one day all people would live together as equals. Because of his sacrifice and those of countless others, Americans and Pennsylvanians have taken great strides toward achieving his dream--but more must be done. As we begin a new year, and as we commemorate Dr. King's work, I urge all Pennsylvanians to embrace, promote and celebrate Pennsylvania's diversity.