House Bill #80: The No Nooses Act
I would like to tell you about an important legislative initiative that I believe is crucial to preventing racial intolerance and intimidation in Maryland.
Over the past few months there have been numerous media accounts of people using nooses as a symbol of hate. Most well-known amongst these was the case in Jenna, Louisiana where such a noose sparked school-yard fighting. There have been noose-sightings much closer to home as well. Last September, a noose was found hanging on a tree at the University of Maryland in College Park. This noose was just outside the Nyumburu Cultural Center, home to the Black Faculty and Staff Association. This incident sparked widespread outrage amongst the student body and faculty. You can read the Washington Post article describing this very unfortunate incident by clicking here.
It is becoming clear to me that the noose is fast-becoming the preferred symbol of intimidation by those who express racial intolerance today. Nooses seem to have replaced other equally odious icons such as burning crosses. Burning a cross is already illegal in Maryland. However, hanging a noose isn’t illegal. I believe it is time for Maryland’s law to catch-up.
For this reason I have teamed up with Delegate Herman Taylor to introduce House Bill #80: The No Nooses Act in the Maryland General Assembly which commenced on January 9th. This bill will make it a hate-crime for anyone to place a noose on any real-property based on the ethnic animosity. Such a hate-crime would be a misdemeanor if committed by itself (up to 3 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine) or a felony if committed with another serious crime (up to 20 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine).
A similar law was recently passed in New York. In the coming weeks, I will work hard to ensure that this much-needed, common-sense legislation is passed into law in Maryland.
You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.
- Saqib
[UPDATE 3/22/2008]: I was successful in getting this issue passed through the House of Delegates. To see an article about this issue, click here.
It is becoming clear to me that the noose is fast-becoming the preferred symbol of intimidation by those who express racial intolerance today. Nooses seem to have replaced other equally odious icons such as burning crosses. Burning a cross is already illegal in Maryland. However, hanging a noose isn’t illegal. I believe it is time for Maryland’s law to catch-up.
For this reason I have teamed up with Delegate Herman Taylor to introduce House Bill #80: The No Nooses Act in the Maryland General Assembly which commenced on January 9th. This bill will make it a hate-crime for anyone to place a noose on any real-property based on the ethnic animosity. Such a hate-crime would be a misdemeanor if committed by itself (up to 3 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine) or a felony if committed with another serious crime (up to 20 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine).
A similar law was recently passed in New York. In the coming weeks, I will work hard to ensure that this much-needed, common-sense legislation is passed into law in Maryland.
You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.
- Saqib
[UPDATE 3/22/2008]: I was successful in getting this issue passed through the House of Delegates. To see an article about this issue, click here.
posted by Saqib Ali at 12:44 AM
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