The new U.S. Attorney for Kansas has commented on a death threat against a candidate for the Kansas House of Representatives.
Dan Manning found a piece of paper on his front door early Saturday morning. The paper had newspaper cuts outs of letters spelling things like "kill", "murder", "head off" and derogatory slurs about Manning's sexual orientation. It also included references to his candidacy. Manning is openly gay although he says it should not be a campaign issue.
“The U.S. Attorney’s office will use every tool at its disposal to protect the rights of Kansans ensured under the Constitution,” U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. “Violence, or the threat of violence, masquerading as political activism will not be tolerated.”
Grissom said a new federal hate crime law (18 U.S.C. 249) broadens existing statutes to get federal authorities more involved in local hate crimes investigations. It expands the previous federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It removes the requirement that a victim be engaging in a federally-protected activity. It also provides federal funding to help state and local agencies pay for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes.
“Federal law protects our nation’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals from the most brutal forms of bias-motivated violence,” Grissom said. “It is my intention to fully enforce that law.”
Manning is a Democrat running in the 91st House District against incumbent Brenda Landwehr.
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August 25
A candidate for a seat in the Kansas House says he received a death threat.
Dan Manning found a piece of paper on his front door early Saturday morning. The paper had newspaper cuts outs of letters spelling things like "kill", "murder", "head off" and derogatory slurs about Manning's sexual orientation. It also included references to his candidacy. Manning is openly gay although he says it should not be a campaign issue.
Manning says the death threat scared him. He called police immediately worried someone might be lurking outside his apartment. The police filed a report and submitted the paper for finger prints.
Manning says he has no idea who would have put the threat on his door. He says although it's upsetting, it's not deterring him from continuing in the race. He says threats are unacceptable and it's sad someone is using them to try and scare him.
He says he knew his sexual orientation would likely come up during the election. He says it's not surprising people are intolerant. But he hopes his focus on the issues will connect with voters and deter them from focusing on his sexual orientation.
Manning is a West Point graduate who helped found the organization Knight's Out. It's a group of West Point alumni who support gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender soldiers to serve openly.
Manning is a Democrat running in the 91st House District against incumbent Brenda Landwehr.
