WEST CHESTER – At the request of Senator Tom Killion (R-Delaware/Chester) the Senate Majority Policy Committee will discuss strengthening Pennsylvania’s hate crime laws. This event will take place on Friday, October 1 at 1:00 p.m.
“Crimes motivated by racial or religious prejudice, sexual orientation or identity or physical abilities are particularly abhorrent,” said Senator Killion. “They are contrary to the ideals of our Commonwealth, and we must stand in clear support of those targeted for violence because of their personal characteristics or traits.”
In 2017, there was national outrage after an abhorrent attack on a man with Cerebral Palsy outside a convenience store in West Chester. In response to this attack, Senator Killion crafted Senate 444 which would add individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities to those protected by Pennsylvania’s hate crime statute.
Members of the LGBTQ community have also stressed the need to have hate crime laws extended to those who identify as LGBTQ. Pennsylvania passed a hate crimes bill in 2002 which covered those who identify as LGBTQ, but the Commonwealth Court struck down the law in 2008 as a result of a technicality in the law. Both Republicans and Democrats have advocated to re-establish this law.
“The Senate Majority Policy Committee exists for our members to further research and discuss the issues that are important to them and to the districts that they represent,” said Majority Policy Chair Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks). “Senator Killion has taken the lead on this issue and I look forward to the upcoming conversation that he has made clear is important to him and to his constituents.”
More information can be found on the committee’s website at http://policy.pasenategop.com.
Contact: Joshua J. Paul
717.787.2637