Biden signs bill making lynching a federal hate crime

[AZProgressive]

Source: The Hill

President Biden on Tuesday signed legislation to make lynching a federal hate crime, delivering a long-awaited win for civil rights advocates.

“Hundreds of similar bills have failed to pass. Over the years, several federal hate crime laws were enacted… But no federal law, no federal law expressly prohibited lynching. None. Until today,” Biden said to applause.

Biden noted civil rights leaders and lawmakers have been working for more than 100 years to pass a pill making lynching a hate crime. The president called lynching a "uniquely American weapon of racial terror."

The legislation is named for Emmett Till, whose lynching in 1955 and subsequent open-casket funeral helped fuel the civil rights movement. The law designates lynching as a hate crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison.



Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/600244-biden-signs-bill-making-lynching-a-federal-hate-crime

[chowder66]

1. Thank you advocates, Democrats and Biden!!

[Ziggysmom]

2. Cannot believe it took so long to achieve this! Hard to believe that 3 repugs voted against

the bill! Reps. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and Chip Roy (R-Texas) opposed the bill. What a shit stew of hate they are!

[trof]

4. You just KNEW some repugs would.

Prolly picked up some votes with that.

[Budi]

3. Sen Harris responds to Rand Paul blocking her 2018 legislation

Rep. Rush reintroduced the Emmett Till Antilynching Act on the 1st day of the 117th Congress.

Sen. Booker, Sen. Scott and then-Senator Kamala Harris introduced anti-lynching legislation in 2018, but it was later blocked by Sen. Paul.

Watch Harris’ response to Paul from 2020:

Link to tweet

The enrolled bill was even signed by Vice President Harris (rather than Senator Leahy, who usually signs bills).

[Ron Obvious]

5. Surely murder is already illegal?

I'm not sure I understand the point of this sort of thing.