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Spartanburg council advances hate-intimidation ordinance after hours of public comment
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment both for and against, the Spartanburg City Council approved on first reading an ordinance creating a separate municipal offense of "hate intimidation" to be charged in addition to underlying crimes if motive is proven.
Spartanburg City Council on Sept. 22 approved on first reading an ordinance to add a separate offense of “hate intimidation” to the city code, after more than two hours of public comment that included proponents who said the measure would protect vulnerable residents and opponents who warned it could chill free speech.
City Attorney Robert Colas read the proposed ordinance aloud for council and the public, saying in part: “A person who commits a crime ... with the intent to harm, injure, or damage the personal property of the victim or to cause the victim to fear harm ... because of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, national origin, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or physical or mental disability is guilty of a…
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