On the heels of the slaying of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia, a group of Georgia lawmakers are pushing for the passage of a hate-crime bill. One of the biggest advocates is speaker of the House David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, but opposition is building in the state Senate.
Ralston affirmed Tuesday that he firmly believes “it is time for Georgia to have a hate crimes law” and is calling on the Senate to pass HB 426 with “no amendments” and with no delay once the General Assembly resumes on June 11. State Sen. Jesse Stone, R-Waynesboro, however, chairs the Judiciary Committee— and is a powerful opponent. Other members of that GOP committee feel the bill is unnecessary – judges can already enhance prison sentences, which is the heart of the bill— and feel that dealing with budget matters are a far bigger priority.
Ralston is joined by another long-time lawmaker in the efforts to get House Bill 426 passed. State Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, says passage of the “Georgia Hate Crimes Act” should be a priority for legislators.
“While we will demand and expect fairness and integrity going forward in the judicial process that follows, what happened to Ahmaud Arbery has become too much of a norm in today’s society; these circumstances have to be corrected and stopped, for we know that more crimes of hate will follow,” Smyre says. “It is time for Georgia to get out of the dark ages as one of four states without a hate crimes act. As a bipartisan co-sponsor of HB 426 I say now is the time for us to act. … We have been trying to get a hate crimes act passed for three years. House Bill 426 has been carefully crafted not to impose mandatory minimums or reverse the bipartisan progress made in criminal justice reform.”
H.B. 426 passed the House of Representatives in March 2019 and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee— one that may or may not take place.
State Rep. Karen Bennett, D-Stone Mountain, chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, says, “Clearly, the statutes in place are not enough. As a state, we need to be unequivocal in our opposition to racial and other forms of violence. The final passage of HB 426 will be an excellent first step towards sending that message.”
