Tell your legislator to pass meaningful hate crime law

<p><strong>South Bend Tribune</strong></p><p>Indiana is one of only five states without bias crime legislation. And recent weeks have demonstrated the difficulty ending that dubious distinction.</p><p>Before the current legislative session began, Gov. Eric Holcomb made passing a hate crimes law a priority. But last month, the Republican-led Senate gutted a bias crime proposal, removing sexual orientation, gender identity, race and a list of other characteristics. Senate Bill 12 passed the Senate 39 to 10 and moves to the House for consideration and possible amendments.</p><p>Holcomb called that watered-down measure too vague, and noted it “does not get Indiana off the list of states without a bias crime law.”</p><p>A majority of Hoosiers support such action: A statewide survey of 600 registered voters for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce found 74 percent favor such legislation.</p><p>Holcomb said that more than 800 people had contacted his office about hate crimes — only 32 were against a bill featuring a list of protected characteristics. He said the more effective way to see a true hate crimes bill passed is for Hoosiers to contact their legislators.</p><p>He’s right. Indiana’s failure sends the wrong message. It’s up to Hoosiers to tell their legislators to send the right one by passing meaningful hate crime legislation.</p>