Why Are Some South Carolina State Senators Continuing To Fight Passage of The Clementa Pinckney Hate Crimes Bill?

CHARLESTON, S.C. – 49 states and territories have hate crime laws. Hate crimes, defined by the United States Department of Justice, are crimes motivated by bias. The Justice Department clarifies that “hate” doesn’t mean anger or dislike, but rather bias against people with specific characteristics like race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion or disability and the “crime” part is often violent in nature. Most US states, DC and Puerto Rico have statutes with penalties for bias-motivated crimes. Only two states Wyoming and South Carolina – remain without hate crime laws. Lowcountry lawmaker, State Rep. Wendell Gillard calls this preposterous. “South Carolina is in the top tier for hate crimes and hate groups, therefore it is to the state’s advantage to have a hate crimes law in place,” he said. According to the Department of Justice, hate crimes in South Carolina increased by nearly 62% from 2019 to 2020. That study further indicated that 90% of hate crimes that year were racially motivated.

Many labor groups, social justice organizations and law makers are coming together to garner support for a South Carolina hate crimes bill, the “Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act” is a bill that carries powerful meaning, especially for those who knew the victims of the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church. According to Gillard the passage of this bill would mean two important things when to comes to crime in South Carolina, “First it would mandate record keeping for hate-based crimes and it would motivate people to come forward. They will report it now, because they know, that this is the law,” Gillard said.

Despite the outcry and demand for a South Carolina hate crimes law, ten Republican senators have contested the bill: Wes Climer, R-York, Richard Cash, R-Anderson, Dwight Loftis, R-Greenville, Billy Garrett, R-Greenwood, Brian Adams, R-Berkeley, Josh Kimbrell, R- Spartanburg, Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, Tom Corbin, R-Greenville, Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley and Rex Rice, R-Easley blocked the bill from advancing to the Senate floor. Despite all the evidence presented, these senators have various reasons as to why they feel there is no need for a hate crimes law. “With South Carolina’s racist history, we should have been the first state with a hate crimes law on the books,” said Gillard.
Charles Brave Jr., a longtime South Carolina labor leader and member of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1422 and President of the AFL-CIO of South Carolina is a staunch supporter of the bill. “The time is right, the season is right with things happening in this country.” It is now up to the South Carolina Legislature to join other states and territories that have passed a hate crimes law. “To reject this bill is to say we are ok with what’s happening. Things like the Mother Emanuel tragedy, we must demand our legislature acts responsibly,” said Brave. He also indicated we need to engage the young people. Those who took to the streets for George Floyd and Breanna Taylor. “We need the young people, both black and white. Young people will energize this thing because they can now identify with the stereotyping.”
Another Supporter of the bill is Elder James Johnson, President of the Racial Justice Network. “People hate, that’s a fact and we know a bill or a law won’t change that,” he said. “But if there are mandated consequences and automatic sentences it could prevent tragedies like Dillon Ruth.” The Racial Justice Network supported by several other organizations is planning a rally at the South Carolina State House on April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM to urge the legislator to pass this important legislation. The group is considering taking actions such as imposing an economic boycott on the state. “Anyone who disagrees with this bill should ask the Emanual Church 9 if it is necessary,” said Johnson. “Hate crimes and hate groups are increasing not decreasing in South Carolina and we need to address that accordingly,” headed.
There is great support for passing hate crimes legislation in the state. When the “Clementa Pinckney Hate Crimes Act” was before the state Legislature, a number of business groups in South Carolina petitioned lawmakers to pass it. They said the lack of such a law makes our state less attractive for businesses to locate here. Nearly 100 companies in South Carolina were in support of the law. Business leaders believe that the lack of a hate crimes law sends a signal that hate is acceptable here, especially when all but South Carolina and one other state have passed a hate crimes law. Passing the act sends the message that such hateful acts are particularly egregious and not welcome in our state. “By having a state hate crime bill, we can expedite the cases better,” Gillard said. He is hopeful that state lawmakers will come together and pass the legislation to move South Carolina forward.