ACTION ALERT: Support House Bill 3711

 
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Join CAIR-Chicago in contacting our IL State Representatives to #SupportHB3711.

With hate crimes on the rise, Rockford's Rep. Litesa Wallace introduced House Bill 3711 on Feb. 10 to impose civil penalties that would work to deter crimes motivated by prejudice or bigotry. House Bill 3711 does several things in amending the Criminal Code of 2012:

 

1)      It clarifies the definition of what a "hate crime" actually is, including cyberstalking and intimidation among other criminal acts:

"A person commits hate crime when, by reason of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or national origin of another individual or group of individuals, regardless of the existence of any other motivating factor or factors, he or she commits intimidation, stalking, cyberstalking,... or transmission of obscene messages..."

2)     It includes that people with criminal records, who are subject to hate crimes, may also bring civil action for damages:

"Independent of any criminal prosecution or the result of a criminal prosecution, any person suffering injury to his or her person... may bring a civil action for damages, injunction or other appropriate relief."

3)     It allows the Attorney General to file suit and impose civil penalties for violations of the hate crime statute:

"The Attorney General may bring an action for civil damages for a hate crime in the name of the People of the State for an injunction or other equitable relief... In addition, the Attorney General may request and the court may impose a civil penalty up to $25,000 for each violation [of the hate crime statute]..."

 

We applaud State Representative Litesa Wallace for introducing this bill, and all representatives sponsoring the bill. 

Find your State Reps here, and make your voice heard in support of HB 3711.

Read the full text of House Bill 3711 here.