A bipartisan effort from the Lincoln City Council pushes hate-crime legislation into law.
“I appreciate everybody’s comments and thoughts. There are a lot of emotions,” Richard McGinnis, chairmen of the Lincoln City Council said before yesterday’s final vote. “This is something that is long and coming and needed to be here.”
Members unanimously passed the ordinance which outlaws crimes committed with the intent to intimidate someone based upon many factors including race, color, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability.
Councilman Roy Christensen proposed an amendment tailoring part of the ordinance because language surrounding Title IX violations were overly broad.
The amendment failed.
“It’s very important this body sends the message loud and clear to our community that we do not tolerate hate, therefore I will support this,” he said.
Members said they received forms of messages saying the hate crime legislation was in response to the George Floyd protests but it wasn’t.
Before Floyd’s death, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird introduced the legislation after citing swastikas being painted on the South Street Temple and on trees at Woods Park along with actions towards the Asian community from COVID-19.
Critics of call the move ‘Un-American.”
“To those who think this is un-American to pass this ordinance, I want to say I think this is un-American to not pass this,” Councilwoman Tammy Ward said. “The time is right.”