COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nine years after the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston killed nine Black parishioners, South Carolina still doesn't have any hate crime legislation on the books.
"It's going to take strong leadership, people with backbone, willing to do what's right," State. Rep. Wendell Gilliard said on WCNC's Flashpoint.
Gilliard is the bill's sponsor. He knew some of the victims of the Mother Emanuel Shooting and pushed for legislation ever since.
This week, Governor Henry McMaster said hate crimes legislation could lead to 'prying into people's personal lives.'
"Here we are, with nine lives, waiting nine years this year, and the governor will give us some type of lip service like that is just insulting, just so insulting," Gilliard said.
Hate crime laws vary from state to state, but generally they stiffen penalties for crimes committed on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
Currently, Wyoming and South Carolina are the only states without hate crime legislation.
"We have to join the other 48 states. Let's get this thing done," Gilliard said.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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