Social Action, Local Action-Learn about the Georgia Hate Crime Bill

Please join us on Sunday, February 4th at 11:45am in our Temple Emanu-El sanctuary as two members of our congregation, Allison Padilla-Goodman, Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Robert Wittenstein, co-chair of the ADL’s Civil Rights Committee, provide a 30-minute introduction to the current effort to pass Hate Crimes legislation in Georgia.

To be clear:

A Hate Crime is any crime that is committed against a member of a group specifically because of their inclusion in that group.  Everyone is part of a protected group under Hate Crime legislation – it protects those who are targeted because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, mental disability and physical disability.

Forty-five states and Washington, DC, have anti-Hate Crime statutes on their books. Georgia, to date, does not. However, we are now at an exciting crossroads where the passage of Hate Crime legislation appears possible as Georgians from across the political spectrum are supporting the passage of Hate Crime legislation in the 2018 session.

While not another new law, the bill places a heavier weight on designated Hate Crimes, allowing for heavier penalties because of their special emotional and psychological impact on the victim as well as the victim’s community.

House Bill HB-660 has been filed in the Georgia House of Representatives and is awaiting its first committee hearing.  It was introduced by Wendell Willard, (R) Sandy Springs and Meagan Hanson (R) Brookhaven and has broad bipartisan support.   To repeat: while it does not create any new crimes or a system of preferential treatment, it does require the tracking of Hate Crimes and provides for enhanced penalties for those who are convicted of committing a Hate Crime.

Temple Emanu-El’s leadership, clergy, and Board of Trustees are deeply concerned about the damage and impact Hate Crimes have on targeted communities. It’s long overdue for Georgia to protect its citizens with a law that provides enhanced penalties for bias-motivated crimes. While we cannot outlaw anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia or other forms of bigotry, we can significantly improve Georgia’s hate crime response by joining the 45 other states and the District of Columbia by passing Hate Crime legislation.  Therefore, the Temple Emanu-El Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to join the support of the passage of Hate Crime legislation in Georgia.  We have committed our synagogue to be a ‘Light Unto the Nation’ on this issue and now look to our congregation to assist us in this effort.

So, please join us this Sunday as leadership empowers to become involved in this Tikkun Olam effort to repair the world.  We look forward to seeing you there, and working together, to further the sacred cause of peace and justice.