With the recent massacre of 11 Jewish worshippers in Pittsburgh late last month, new attention has been drawn to the increase of anti-Semitism across the U.S.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, incidents associated with anti-Semitism have increased by 57 percent over the past two years. Indiana has also experienced a sharp increase in anti-Semitism incidents, including the vandalization of a synagogue in Carmel, Indiana, July of this year.
Despite the growth of threats like anti-Semitism, however, Indiana remains one of only five states in the United States without hate crime legislation, and it is time for that to change.
Hate crime legislation has been heavily debated in the Indiana General Assembly for several years, with many Republican and Democratic officials now calling for its approval. During the most recent legislative session, hate crime legislation was introduced by Sen. Susan Glick, R-LaGrange, as Senate Bill 418, “Bias Motivated Crimes,” which ultimately died when it failed to pass through the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Similar to previous years’ efforts, SB 418 proposed allowing judges to grant longer sentences to criminals whose offenses were committed out of bias against the victim’s racial, religious, gender or sexual identity.
While a small portion of debate on the bill concerned whether or not Indiana should allow such legislation, the majority of discussion focused exclusively on the language of the bill and its potential implications.
This is in part because although Indiana does not currently have hate crime legislation, it does have Indiana Supreme Court precedent via Witmer v. State of Indiana, which already permits increased sentences in cases of bias-motivated crimes.
With this in mind, the question surrounding hate crime legislation in Indiana changes from “Should we allow increased sentences for bias-motived crimes?” — we already do — to “Will we benefit from codifying this case precedent into law?” And the answer to that is yes.
To put it rather simply, Hoosiers can do better, and they know it. A recent IndyStar poll shows that roughly two-thirds of Indiana residents are in favor of hate crime legislation, and there are plenty of reasons to be.
Not only can this type of legislation function as a deterrent against future bias-motivated crimes, but it attracts businesses and talented workers, too.
Indiana has consistently been one of the best states in the country to do business in. However, our lack of hate crime legislation may be driving businesses and talented workers away.
After a Carmel synagogue was vandalized with antisemitic symbols this summer, business leaders from across Indiana authored an op-ed in the IndyStar calling for hate crimes legislation.
The authors asserted that such legislation is necessary to attract businesses and talented workers to Indiana while ensuring the ones we already have are here to stay. Gov. Holcomb also recently joined the call for action, explaining that he supports hate crime legislation and hopes to see the Indiana General Assembly do the same during the next legislative session.
Indiana has a long, well-earned reputation for Hoosier hospitality, but that hospitality isn’t genuine unless it’s extended to everyone. This is why hate crime legislation needs to be a priority for Indiana in the coming year. By protecting all the diverse members of Indiana, we foster an environment of economic, cultural and individual growth. Hate crime legislation is pro-diversity, pro-business and pro-Hoosier.
