© 2024
Virginia's Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Senate Committee Says No to Hate Crime Bill

Last summer's demonstrations over racial justice and Confederate monuments are causing lawmakers to rethink the definition of a hate crime and who can be prosecuted for one.

When a white man drove to a Black Lives Matter rally and confronted a protester, Henrico County commonwealth's attorney Shannon Taylor wanted to prosecute him for a hate crime. But the victim was white. So Taylor suggested her state senator change the law on hate crimes.  "It's not about what the victim does but focussing on the intent of the offender," Taylor testified Wednesday.

Senator Joe Morrissey is a Democrat from Richmond who voted against the bill.  "I am offended that folks brought this and then wrap it up in BLM."

That prompted this response from Senator Ghazala Hashmi of Richmond, who introduced the bill.  "You're speaking from a position of privilege if you see it in that context."

Republican Leader Tommy Norment took umbrage at the idea that he might be viewing the bill through a position of privilege. "If I am privileged, it's only because I have something of a legal training and a lot of experience in litigating cases."

Three Democrats joined all the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to kill the bill.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

Michael Pope is an author and journalist who lives in Old Town Alexandria.