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Richland County Council adopts ordinance creating hate-intimidation offense after extended public hearing
Summary
After a multi-speaker public hearing and edits to wording, Richland County Council on June 3 approved an ordinance adding a hate-intimidation offense to Chapter 18 of the county code. Supporters said the law will help victims and encourage reporting; opponents raised First Amendment and enforcement concerns.
Richland County Council on June 3 approved an ordinance amending Chapter 18 (Offenses) of the Richland County Code to add a new subsection, “hate intimidation,” and to provide penalties for violations.
The vote followed a public hearing that included seven speakers. Supporters said a county law would help victims, improve reporting and signal the county’s commitment to public safety; opponents said the ordinance risks infringing free-speech protections and could chill lawful expression.
The ordinance’s sponsor at the meeting was Councilwoman Tyra Little; Councilman Paul Livingston made the motion to approve on third reading. County Attorney Wright told the council in chambers that, in his view, the proposed…
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