Why is a crucial bill that aims to dramatically bolster protections against hate crimes in Michigan sitting static in the Senate?
This pivotal question reverberates across the state as residents and activists alike await a verdict on the Michigan Hate Crime Act (HB 4474). Introduced amidst the celebrations of Pride Month and with robust provisions highlighting protections for the LGBTQ+ community, the bill’s stagnation has left many in anticipation and concern. The looming questioning regarding the inclusion of criminal penalties for the intentional misuse of pronouns underlines the curiosity regarding the slow-paced adoption of the bill.
In a significant stride towards social justice, the Michigan House passed the bill earlier this year with a narrow margin of 59-50. This act is set to replace the state’s 1988 ethnic intimidation law, reflecting the legislative commitment to broadening the scope of protection to encompass a more inclusive range of vulnerable groups. The expansion of this proposed law will safeguard individuals based on sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, and physical or mental disabilities, along with religion, ethnicity, and race.
Jeremy Moss, state Senator (D-7) President Pro Tem for Michigan Senate, shared, “This act has been a part of our books for the last 30 years, and over the last several years we’ve looked at ways of strengthening it as hate crimes have been on the rise. The intention is to not only include sexual orientation and gender identity but also strengthen based on disability, and religion specifically including defamation of religious sites, and religious institutions. This has been a journey from when this bill was first passed thirty years ago and continuing to add under the umbrella those who are targeted based on who they are, how they identify, and how they worship.”
The bill was introduced in April, and it is now before the Senate after passing in the House.
Je Donna Dinges, propelled by personal experience of racial intimidation, led Focus: HOPE’s foundation, the Ethnic Intimidation Law Amendment Work Group, for this act, exemplifying grassroots activism’s power to bring about legislative change.
“There are people creating hate crimes,” Dinges said. “For example, in Grosse Pointe, there was a situation where a church had a pride flag on the door of their church, someone came to the church and burned the pride flag on the door of the church. The church removed the flag and put another pride flag up and someone came in less than 24 hours and took that flag, stole it. So, this is not hyperbole, it’s not something that we’re making up. These cases are happening.”
Her advocacy and the support of the Ethnic Intimidation Law Amendment Work Group emphasize the collective push for a more comprehensive and effective law against ethnic intimidation. The bill, part of a wider legislative package (HB 4474-4477), also targets the defacement and vandalism of religious institutions and cemeteries, acknowledging the profound emotional and psychological impact on the affected communities and categorizing such acts as distinct crimes.
Despite the comprehensive approach and broad support, the act’s progression faces an unexpected pause in the Senate. “The Senate has not scheduled a hearing on the bill and has not given any indication that it will,” expressed the bill sponsor Representative Noah Arbit. The delay, unexplained and prolonged, highlights the pressing need for swift legislative action to fortify the rights and protection of all Michigan residents. Questions abound regarding the timeline for the Senate’s vote on this essential legislation, leaving communities in a limbo of vulnerability and anticipation.
This bill marks the first update in the state’s Ethnic Intimidation Law in 35 years, signifying a long-overdue revision to address the contemporary challenges and the diverse identities that enrich the Michigan community. The Michigan Hate Crime Act stands as a beacon of hope amidst a polarized political climate, echoing the collective call for safety, dignity, and equality for all individuals. Its passage will underscore the critical importance of addressing and combatting hate crimes effectively in today’s society, sending a clear and strong message against hate and bigotry.
Many are under the impression that when or if this bill passes through the Senate, it will specifically criminalize individuals who intentionally mispronounce others’ preferred pronouns; however, Senator Moss debunks this assumption, “That’s part of the narrative that has been going around the country that is not what’s in the bill. This has nothing to do with pronoun usage. No prosecutor would bring that forward, and no judge would hear it. It’s a scare tactic by the far-right to derail what is a noble and good project.”
Moreover, as the bill awaits the Senate’s action, uncertainty looms, shadowing the hopeful advancements with concerns for the continued vulnerability of marginalized communities. The prompt Senate verdict on the Michigan Hate Crime Act will not only affirm the state’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every individual but will also mark a significant milestone in the nationwide movement for social justice and equality.
As Brigitte L. Maxey of Focus: HOPE advocates for this bill, she shares what her organization would like to take place moving forward, “We’d like to see testimony received, we’d like to see the bill voted in committee and be brought before the full senate for the vote, we’d like for the bill to be heard and for the bill to be voted on.”
Will the Senate rise to the occasion and affirm its commitment to justice, equality, and protection for all its residents? The answer remains hanging in the balance, highlighting the critical importance of timely legislative action in the face of rising hate crimes and discrimination.
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