While City Council did not meet Tuesday night, several members attended an open forum hosted by Democratic councilman Geoff Paddock to discuss a resolution supporting statewide hate crimes legislation.
Indiana is one of only five states without a statewide hate crimes law.
Democratic councilman Glynn Hines and Republican councilman John Crawford joined the 90-minute discussion, which took testimonials from community leaders on why such a measure was necessary in the Hoosier State.
Hines says the legislation is needed now more than ever, and even cited President Trump by name for inciting his “base” leading to recent events like the string of bombs mailed to prominent Democratic figures and the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. He used his time to urge residents to vote on November 6.
“We’ve got to get representation at the state level, at the federal level that is attuned to the need for positive change in this US of A, and when it comes time next year for local voting opportunities, we need to think and vet these individuals properly to see what is in their heart,” Hines said.
Crawford argued “both sides” have been guilty of violent hostility, citing the 2017 shooting of Republican representative Steve Scalise.
Fort Wayne NAACP president Larry Gist concurs that the law is necessary, saying that government must keep a record of hate crimes to protect the individuals those crimes were directed toward. He says he opposed Republican state representative Sue Glick's recent attempt at hate crimes legislation because it didn’t present adequate consequences for offenders.
“We don’t want a hate crime bill just to say we have a hate crime bill,” said Gist. “It has to show that the punishment will fit the crime, not that you just get a slap on the wrist.”
Governor Eric Holcomb has expressed his openness to the General Assembly looking into hate crimes legislation during the next session.
