Arkansas Governor to sign stripped down hate crimes bill
Arkansas legislators on Monday passed a water-downed hate crime bill that has received criticisms from advocates for not going far enough to offer protection to marginalized groups.
In a 65-26 vote, the majority- Republican House passed the “class protection” bill and sent it to Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who said he plans to sign the bill into law.
“I believe we have a bill that can develop and garner the necessary consensus, that can send a strong message, that can be comprehensive in its coverage and can be substantial in its punishment,” Republican House Speaker Matthew Shepherd said, according to the Associated Press.
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The bill would make offenders serve 80 percent of their sentence if they were convicted of a serious violent felony against someone because of their “mental, physical, biological, cultural, political, or religious beliefs or characteristics, according to the AP.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called the bill a “sham” and said that “virtually any violent crime based on a person’s association or belief would be covered, including crimes targeting white supremacists or neo-Nazis.”
ADL’s South Central Regional Director told CBS News that the bill doesn’t protect vulnerable communities who are threatened when hate crimes happen.