To: The Indiana State House and The Indiana State Senate
Demand Hate Crime Bill in Indiana
This petition is to demand that the Indiana state government join with 45 other states of the United States of America in enacting legislation increasing penalties for crimes motivated by hate or bias based on race, religious affiliation, gender preference, or gender identity.
Why is this important?
Indiana is currently one of only five states in the United States that do not protect its residents against hate crimes.
A hate crime is a prejudice-motivated crime committed by a perpetrator against a person or persons based on race, religious affiliation, gender preference or gender identity. In addition to psychological distress and/or physical injury or material damages sustained by the victim, a hate crime conveys a message of intimidation, hatred, and terror to the entire group. As a result, members frequently feel isolated and vulnerable. Hate crimes can also lead to factionalism or divisions within communities.
It’s no secret that in recent years, extremists have been emboldened, and Abigail Hauslohner of the Washington Post states, “Hate crimes in the nation’s 10 largest cities increased by 12 percent last year, reaching the highest level in more than a decade, according to a report released [in May] by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino.” For this reason, it is urgent that a hate crime (or bias-crimes) bill with aggravated penalties be introduced and voted into law in Indiana.
Indiana legislators need to know now that you want groups targeted for hate crimes to be protected from violence by law! Please sign the petition to urge that state representatives act immediately to introduce hate crime legislation that includes aggravated penalties to Congress and work to their utmost ability to get said bill passed into law.
A hate crime is a prejudice-motivated crime committed by a perpetrator against a person or persons based on race, religious affiliation, gender preference or gender identity. In addition to psychological distress and/or physical injury or material damages sustained by the victim, a hate crime conveys a message of intimidation, hatred, and terror to the entire group. As a result, members frequently feel isolated and vulnerable. Hate crimes can also lead to factionalism or divisions within communities.
It’s no secret that in recent years, extremists have been emboldened, and Abigail Hauslohner of the Washington Post states, “Hate crimes in the nation’s 10 largest cities increased by 12 percent last year, reaching the highest level in more than a decade, according to a report released [in May] by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino.” For this reason, it is urgent that a hate crime (or bias-crimes) bill with aggravated penalties be introduced and voted into law in Indiana.
Indiana legislators need to know now that you want groups targeted for hate crimes to be protected from violence by law! Please sign the petition to urge that state representatives act immediately to introduce hate crime legislation that includes aggravated penalties to Congress and work to their utmost ability to get said bill passed into law.