drhess
June 11, 2002, 11:44pm
1
A group of gay rights disrupted the Southern Baptist convention in St. Louis today. The AP article says they will be charged with several things including “ethnic intimidation.” What’s that? Is that an old fashion version of hate crimes?
Link.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/06/11/baptists.htm
06/11/2002 - Updated 06:46 PM ET
Gay-rights activists protest Southern Baptist event
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The head of the Southern Baptists condemned homosexuality from the podium Tuesday as gay rights protesters shouting slogans marched through the convention hall and into the arms of police.
Twelve protesters were arrested inside the hall, and 38 more were taken into custody outside, where riot police stood near the main doorway.
The dozen protesters who infiltrated the annual meeting of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination were charged with ethnic intimidation and trespassing.
Found this, although it’s for Pennsylvania. The basic principles still apply, though–“ethnic intimidation” comes under the heading of “hate crimes”. See your local statutes for details.http://www.stopbias.org/hate_crime.cfm
Pennsylvania’s “Hate Crime” Law, the “Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act”
Pennsylvania’s “hate crime” law is called the “Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act,” and it was enacted in 1982.
Pennsylvania considers certain crimes to be more serious when motivated by hatred toward the race, color, religion or national origin of another individual or group of individuals.
When certain crimes are committed (often these are called the “underlying offenses”) AND it can be shown that a motive for the crime was hatred of the race, color, religion or national origin of the victim, the additional offense of ethnic intimidation can be charged, subjecting the perpetrator to more severe penalties.