Number
180538
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. COGGS, RAINEY, PEREZ, STAMPER, LEWIS, HAMILTON, MURPHY, ZIELINSKI, KOVAC AND WITKOWSKI
Title
Resolution supporting H.R. 6086, sponsored by U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush, to specify lynching as a federal hate crime act.
Analysis
This resolution supports H.R. 6086 which would amend section 249 of title 18 of the U.S. Code to specify that lynching is a federal hate crime act that would warrant enhanced sentencing under hate crimes statutes.
Body
Whereas, The United States experienced increased racial tensions throughout the 19th century; and
Whereas, From 1882-1968, 4,743 lynchings occurred in the United States, and of those lynched, 3,446 were African-American or black and 1,297 were white; and
Whereas, It is known that not all lynchings were recorded, and most of the perpetrators of lynchings were not brought to justice; and
Whereas, Congressman Leonidas C. Dyer was the first to introduce an anti-lynching bill passed by the House in 1918 that was intended to punish authorities that failed to prevent lynching, but his bill died in the Senate in 1922, 1923 and 1924 after facing opposition; and
Whereas, On June 13, 2018, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush, along with 35 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, introduced H.R. 6086 to amend the U.S. Code to specify that lynching is a federal hate crime act that would warrant an enhanced sentence; and
Whereas, There has been an increase in mysterious hanging deaths in the states of Mississippi and Georgia; and
Whereas, The current climate in the United States has given rise to increased racial tensions against minorities who are in need of protection under federal law; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City supports H.R. 6086, sponsored by U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush to amend section 249 of title 18 of the U.S. Code to specify lynching as a hate crime; and, be it
Further Resolved, That; The City supports the rights of minorities to have increased protection and access to justice; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall forward a copy of this resolution to each member of the City of Milwaukee’s delegation to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 171615-1
Kari B. Gipson
07/05/2018