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Local pastor urges Greenwood City Council to adopt hate-crime ordinance
Summary
Dr. Jamelle Brooks told the Greenwood City Council the city should add a hate-crime ordinance to give police an "extra layer of protection" and to signal the city will not tolerate racially motivated violence; council members said they will consider model ordinances at a future meeting.
Dr. Jamelle Brooks urged the Greenwood City Council on April 21 to draft and adopt a local hate-crime ordinance, saying the city needs an extra legal layer of protection for residents.
Brooks, in a public appearance during the meeting, told the council "our hair is on fire" to describe what he said is a rise in racially and class-motivated incidents in Greenwood. He asked the council to "implement the hate crime ordinance" and pointed to other South Carolina cities that have adopted similar measures as models.
Why it matters: Brooks framed the ordinance as both a public-safety measure and an economic one, saying prospective businesses and contractors watch local conditions. He told council members the ordinance would protect residents of all races, creeds and beliefs and would signal that the city leadership is acting to reduce harm.
Council response and next steps: Mayor Brandon Smith thanked Brooks and said the remarks were "definitely giving us something to consider." Smith noted staff has identified model ordinances from other municipalities and indicated the council could take up the idea at a future meeting if a member moves to do so. No formal ordinance was introduced or voted on during the April 21 session.
Discussion details: Brooks urged proactive steps rather than reactive responses, referring repeatedly to observed incidents including verbal assaults, reckless driving and brandishing of weapons. He emphasized that a hate-crime ordinance would not serve a single group but would extend protections to people of different religions, races and preferences. Council members asked no policy questions during the public-comment slot; council direction was limited to noting the existence of model ordinances and leaving the matter available for motion at a subsequent meeting.
What was not decided: The council took no legislative action on the request on April 21. No draft ordinance was introduced, and there was no vote to refer the issue to a committee. Council members said model language exists and that the item could be scheduled for a later meeting if moved.
Looking ahead: Council members will need to decide whether to place a draft ordinance on a future agenda and, if so, whether to use a model from another South Carolina municipality or direct staff to draft local language tailored to Greenwood.
