Pass a hate crime bill in Georgia
This petition kindly requests Representative Wendell Willard to hold a hearing on Georgia House Bill 111, and ultimately to pass the bill. This bill would provide penalty enhancement for crimes motivated by the victim%u2019s sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion or national origin. Georgia is one of five remaining states that does not have a hate crimes bill.
Representative Wendell Willard, Chair
House Civil Judiciary Committee
Room 132 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Dear Representative Willard,
We the undersigned citizens of Georgia are concerned that Georgia is one of only five states in the country without a Hate Crimes law. Without a hate crimes law on the books in Georgia, law enforcement agencies cannot train officers on how to address crimes committed on the basis of a perceived or actual characteristic. In fact, GBI Director, Vernan Keenan has himself asked the General Assembly on several occasions to enact a hate crimes statute.
Hate crime legislation protects all members of a community and have been endorsed by many local and national religious and law enforcement organizations.
We ask that you hold public hearings on HB 111 in the coming months so that citizens of Georgia know that our concerns about public safety are heard.
