We, the undersigned, in unison, call for the passage of a Hate Crime Law in South Carolina, because we cannot rely solely on Federal law enforcement to prosecute and track hate crimes occurring in our state. Where Federal crimes have not been committed, Federal, State and Local authorities are powerless to prosecute hate crime.
It is long past time that our state enshrines in law what we already believe: that committing a criminal act motivated by hate for someone because of their real or perceived race, religion, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability is unacceptable. As a non-partisan coalition, we will not support a law that does not protect all targeted groups of people.
We call for this hate crime law to contain the following:
- Criminal Penalty Enhancement
- Sentencing Increase Guidelines
- Institutional Vandalism Statutes
- Statewide Data Collection System
- Mandatory Reporting to the FBI
- Law Enforcement Training Mandates
- Explicit Protected Classes
According to the FBI, hate crimes hit a 16 year high in 2019. The FBI estimates that less than half of hate crimes are reported to the police. The limited data available to the FBI from South Carolina also indicated an increase in hate crime, however, South Carolina is one of only three states without a hate crime law to appropriately respond.
As we have witnessed in our state and across the country, making progress in how we protect those targeted by hate is also attractive to businesses hoping to maintain preferred employer status and relocate to or expand in South Carolina.
We call on the 124th General Assembly of South Carolina to act against hate.
The more we can demonstrate the support of our state's non-profits, grassroots organizations, congregations, businesses, and citizens for a hate crime law, the quicker it will happen.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Alliance For Full Acceptance (AFFA), Chase Glenn, Executive Director
ADL (Anti-Defamation League), Allison Padilla-Goodman, Southern Division Vice President
Charleston Hispanic Association, Carmen Grace, President
Charleston Jewish Federation, Judi Corsaro, CEO
Columbia Jewish Federation, Cheryl Nail, Community Relations Director
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Charleston, Brandon Fish, Director
Lowcountry Coalition Against Hate, Risa Prince, President
Mother Emanuel AME Church, Eric Manning, Pastor
NAACP Charleston, Dot Scott, President
The Coalition - People United to Take Back Our Community, Thomas Dixon, Co-Founder
SC ORGANIZATIONS
All Neighborhoods Gear, Kevin Washington
Alpha Omega Kappa Fraternity, Inc., M. Greg Green
Brady South Carolina, Merrill Towns Chapman, State Director
The Charleston Interreligious Council, Dena Moses, President
Charleston Area Transgender Support, Lee Anne Leland, Co-facilitator
Charleston Arts Festival, Terry Fox, Co-Founder and Associate Director
Charleston Chapter of Hadassah, Sharon Hox, President
Charleston County Democratic Party, Colleen Condon, Chair
Charleston Good, Todd Chas, Director
Charleston Jewish Family Services, Sara Chesley, Director
Coastal Community Foundation, Darrin Goss, President & CEO
College of Charleston Holocaust Education Awareness and Remembrance Group, Emilie Crossan, President
FAB, Randi Weinstein, Founder
Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, Leah Edwards, General Director
Jewish Endowment Foundation, Edward Kronsberg
Lowcountry Black Parents Association, Anjene Davis, Founder
Lowcountry Immigration Coalition, George Kanuck, Co-Chair
Lowcountry Local First, Jamee Haley, CEO
Lowcountry Pride, Chip Jenkins, Board Chairperson
Million Womxn's March, SC- Rise Sister Rise!, Erica Cokley
Mourning Mothers Movement, Christine Washington
National Council of Jewish Women Charleston Section, Mary Radin
North Charleston SC Youth Resistance Inc, Donnimechia Singleton, Director
Pride Link, Ethan Johnstone, Lead Community Builder
Southeastern SC Chapter of NAN (National Action Network), Niecy Yeadon, Vice President
SC Equality, Jeff Ayers, Executive Director
Stand As One Activist Group, Justin Hunt, President
The United Front, Jason Jones, Founder
Transgender Awareness Alliance, M. Greg Green
Trident Literacy Association, Eileen Chepenik, Executive Director
Voices United, Nicole Nelson
Waylyn Heart Team, Shamekei Gray
Remember Program for Genocide Education of Charleston, SC, Regina Guigui, Co-Chairman
The Sherman House, Rebekah Kinsella, Administrator
Upstate Pride SC, Rodney Tow
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ADL (Anti-Defamation League), Allison Padilla-Goodman, Southern Division Vice President
Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Melanie Roth Gorelick, Senior Vice President
FAITH COMMUNITIES
Beth Shalom Synagogue, Rabbi Jonathan Case
Breslove of Charleston, Rachel Kalet, Co-Director
Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue, Rabbi Scott Hoberman
Campbell Chapel AME Church, Jon Black, Pastor
Central Mosque of Charleston, Ghazala Javed
Charleston Atlantic Presbytery, Donnie Woods, General Presbyter
Cherry Hill Seminary, Holli Emore,
Circular Congregation Church, Jeremy Rutledge, Senior Pastor
Congregation Beth Yam, Rabbi Brad Bloom
Congregation Dor Tikvah, Rabbi Michael Davies
Indigo Sangha Racial Justice Project, Heather Mann, Spiritual Director
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, Rabbi Stephanie Alexander
Metropolitan Community Church of Charleston, R David Smith, Pastor
Mother Emanuel AME Church, Eric Manning, Pastor
Mount Zion AME Church, Kylon Middleton, Senior Pastor
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Charleston, Adam Shoemaker, Rector
Or Chadash/Summerville's Jewish Community, Zusha Kalet, Executive Director
Synagogue Emanu-El, Rabbi Evan Ravski
Temple Osireion, Holli S. Emore MDiv
Two Rivers Church, Rev. Wendy Hudson, Lead Pastor
Unitarian Church in Charleston, Richard Hayes, Social Justice Chair
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, Carol Stephens, Immediate Past President
Unity Church of Charleston, Ed Kosak, Minister
MUNICIPAL & CIVIC LEADERS
Charleston Police Department, Luther Reynolds, Chief of Police
City of Charleston, John Tecklenburg, Mayor
City of North Charleston, Keith Summey, Mayor
City of North Charleston, Reggie Burgess, Chief of Police
Senator Sandy Senn, SC District 41
BUSINESS SUPPORTERS
843 Korean BBQ and Sushi House, Seungkyu Hong, Owner
Beckmann Partners LLC, David Beckmann, Principal
Bluewater Property Management, LLC , Aaron Silverman, Owner
Bravo Gourmet Events, Victor Bravo
Charleston History Tours, Joyce Weir, Owner
Christeen Studemeyer Real Estate, Christeen Studemeyer, Owner
Community Solutions Consulting LLC., AJ Davis
Cooper Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, Jessica Peele, Dentist/Owner
Daps Breakfast & Imbibe, Nicholas Dowling, Owner
Dezba Corp LLC, Linda Hancock, Founder/Owner
Dufford Young Architects, Partner/Owner, John Young
E-Z Auto of Hanahan & Goose Creek, Ashley Silva, Vice President
G-Force Productions, Greg Sampson, Owner
Glowfisch Hospitality, Joe Fischbein, President
Holy City Sinner, Christian Senger, Founder
Horse Dancer Consulting, LLC, Ann Beauchamp, Owner
IPS Accounting Services LLC, Iskra Perez Salcedo, President
JB Business Solutions, Jaimes Baird, Owner
Kelise Enterprises, Shamika Smalley, Owner
Knead Therapy Massage Works, Cindi Caron, Owner
La'Roc Beauty, Sarina Freincle
Le Farfalle, Caitlin Toscano, Owner
Lee H. Moultrie & Associates, LLC, Lee Moultrie, CEO
Limehouse Produce, Andrea Limehouse, Vice President
Matt Megrue Creative / King City Records
Mixon Studio, Katy Mixon
The Mary Green Singers & Chorale, Mary Woodmansee Green, Artistic Director & CEO
Michelle Sells Charleston, Michelle Melton, Owner
Money With A Mission, Brady Quirk-Garvan, Owner
Nirenblatt, Nirenblatt & Hoffman, Ellen Hoffman, Vice President
The People's Consultants, Bruce Clemens, President
Petaloso, Lori DeNicola, Owner
Pixel Harbor, LLC, Amie Lynne, Owner
PeopleDynamics LLC., AJ Davis
Popowski Law Firm LLC, David Popowski
Proud Counseling, Eric Sullivan
Salon International, Kevin Sanders
Seidler and Associates, Margaret Seidler, Consultant & Master Trainer
Xtreem Cleaners, Inc., Esteban MaYebe, Vice President
Your support will make a difference.
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