2006年VOA标准英语-US Legislation Pushed to Solve African-Ame

By Deborah Block
Washington, DC
05 May 2006
 
watch Civil Rights Crime report

Members of the U.S. Congress are pushing for legislation that would call on the federal government to investigate the unsolved murders of African-Americans during the struggle for civil rights during the 1950s and 60s.  It is estimated that hundreds of African-Americans may have been killed because of racial hatred¹. 

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The bill, known as theUnsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, would create two new sections within the Federal Bureau of Investigation² -- the FBI -- and the U.S. Department of Justice -- to investigate and prosecute³ the murders of the African-Americans.  The measure, introduced last year, would cost an estimated $11 million to establish the two offices and foster relations with state authorities to solve the crimes.
 

 

Senator Jim Talent   
  

At a news conference, (Republican) Senator Jim Talent said many of the crimes were not fully⁴ investigated by local officials. "There are many crimes that were committed that we do not know about because people have been afraid to come forward.  Now there will be a section of the government which will do nothing but focus on this, and we think folks will be willing to come forward."

 

 
Emmett Till
  

The idea for the legislation grew out of the case of Emmett Till, whose murder in 1955 helped spark the civil rights movement.  The 14-year-old was visiting a relative in the southern state of Mississippi when he allegedly whistled at a white woman. 

A week later he was found in a river -- beaten and shot to death.  During a trial that drew international attention, an all-white jury acquitted⁵ two white men accused of the crime.   No one has ever been convicted, and the men reportedly later bragged⁶ about the killing⁷. 

John Lewis  
  
(Democratic) Congressman⁸ John Lewis, a prominent civil rights leader, says the purpose of the act is not to open up new wounds, but to begin the process of healing. "The Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act can help us bring this dark chapter of our history to a close, by delivering the focus and the resources necessary to put the mistakes and blunders of the past behind us," he said.

Joe Leonard is the director of the Black Leadership Forum⁹ -- a consortium of civil rights groups.  He thinks that with the federal government involved, more cases will be solved and help give closure to families whose loved ones were killed or disappeared.

 
Joe Leonard
  
"The people in those communities know who did it.  Friendly whites have said, have whispered to the families, we know who did this."

Today, DNA¹⁰ material, used to determine a person's genetic¹¹ profile, may also help provide evidence that was not available before. But with other evidence missing, and witnesses who have died, it may be difficult to solve some cases.   But civil rights groups and other supporters of the legislation are hopeful that those who committed these horrible crimes will be brought to justice. 

1 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

4 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

5 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。

6 bragged   

v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He bragged to his friends about the crime. 他向朋友炫耀他的罪行。
• Mary bragged that she could run faster than Jack. 玛丽夸口说她比杰克跑得快。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

9 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

10 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

11 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。