Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D.Texas), has introduced a bill to criminalize hate crimes that are “white supremacist-inspired” and make them prosecutable.
Texas bill H.R. 61 says it is “to prevent and prosecute white supremacy inspired hate crime and conspiracy to commit white supremacy inspired hate crime and to amend title 18, United States Code, to expand the scope of hate crimes.”
The “Leading Against White Supremacy Act 2023” is the bill’s abbreviated title.
A person can be charged with a white supremacist-inspired hate crime if white supremacist ideology is involved or is a precursor to the act. This is the point where the bill seeks to criminalize hate speech or social media posts that “vilify” non-white persons and groups.
“A conspiracy to engage in white supremacy inspired hate crime shall be determined to exist—” the text reads, “(2) between two or more persons,” when “at least one of whom published material advancing white supremacy, white supremacist ideology, antagonism based on ‘replacement theory’, or hate speech that vilifies or is otherwise directed against any non-White person or group, and such published material” the bill explains.
It is also stated that anyone who publishes content that can be seen by someone who is “predisposed to commit hate crimes” could be guilty of conspiracy.
This material is defined by the bill as “published on social media platforms or other means of publication with a likelihood that it could be viewed by persons who have been predisposed to engaging any action in support of a hate crime inspired by white supremacy”
The Department of Justice will also be instructed to keep a list of hate crimes and other actions that are white supremacy-instigated.
The following text would be added to amend the Hate Crime Prevention Act:
“Mass shootings and other hate crimes motivated by white supremacy are on the rise in frequency and severity. These horrendous and violent crimes are inspired by conspiracy theories and blatant bigotry as well as mythical falsehoods like replacement theory. These crimes must be stopped and their perpetrators must face severe criminal penalties.
