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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 ordinance does not violate state or federal speech protections and that similar measures have been passed in other South Carolina municipalities. A friendly language amendment was adopted during the floor discussion to ensure the section reads “upon conviction, a person charged … shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,” rather than implying guilt at the point of charge.
During the public hearing, residents gave contrasting accounts of the ordinance’s likely effects. Jessica Thomas, who identified herself as living in Columbia, said the measure “is a meaningful step forward,” and that county action would encourage victims and witnesses to come forward and build trust between communities and law enforcement. Attorney and community member Wes Russell told the council, “It is a crime most foul, and today, it must be outlawed.” Opponents included Anna Herring, who said she opposed the ordinance as ineffective “grandstanding,” and JC Gaylor, who warned that criminalizing categories he called “subjective and politically contentious” could conflict with First Amendment protections and “drain the public purse fighting spurious litigation.”
Council discussion touched on constitutionality, enforceability and local law-enforcement support. Councilmembers referenced Sheriff Lott’s public statements of support for the ordinance during deliberations. After debate, the council voted to approve the ordinance. A motion to reconsider the vote was made and failed.
The ordinance text added the new subsection to Chapter 18 and set the violation as a misdemeanor upon conviction; the county attorney and the mover worked with the body to clarify the construct of guilt and conviction language before passage.
No effective-date language beyond the ordinance text was specified on the record during the meeting. The county clerk’s office will publish the adopted ordinance and provide final effective-date details according to county publication procedures.
Ending: The measure makes Richland County among the local governments in South Carolina to adopt such an ordinance; council members said they expect sheriff’s office guidance and implementation details to follow.
