WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb is calling for a renewed push towards passing hate crime legislation in the state.
Holcomb’s call comes after the weekend vandalism of a Jewish synagogue in Carmel, Indiana. The state is one of five across the country which has not ratified independent hate crimes legislation.
Anti-Semitic graffiti was found at the entrance to the Carmel synagogue over the weekend. The suspects spray-painted a nazi-flag flanked by iron crosses behind the facility. Carmel police are inspecting the incident, but no arrests have been made in connection to the vandalism.
Previous efforts to pass hate crime legislation in the state have died in the statehouse. Rep. (D-Bloomington) Matt Pierce said previous bills were largely left to die in committee, without being brought up for a vote on the statehouse floor. Pierce said Holcomb’s decision to back hate crimes legislation could signal a shift to pass a hate crimes bill in the legislature, but residents will have to wait until January to know whether a measure will be proposed.
Pierce said it’s not clear what, if any shape a proposed hate crimes bill could take, but he expects that it would further strengthen Indiana’s Biased Crimes legislation.
