Why Congress hasn't made lynching a hate crime
It was supposed to be historic.
In the twilight of Black History Month, the House voted overwhelmingly to finally make lynching a federal hate crime. Supporters expected it to swiftly pass the Senate that had unanimously backed similar measures and send it to President Trumps desk.
But then all action screeched to a halt. As supporters looked to fast-track the uncontroversial measure by unanimous consent, libertarian Sen. Rand Paul put a hold on the bill, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
Senator Paul is working with the sponsors of the bill to make it stronger, a Paul spokesman said Tuesday when asked about the hold.
Pauls office didnt elaborate on his objections. Sen. Cory Booker, a top supporter of the anti-lynching legislation, told SiriusXM host Joe Madison in early March that an unnamed senator held up the bill because they wanted an amendment around the language of the federalization of the crime.
I dont think that he [Paul] has clearly articulated his opposition publicly, Madison said in an interview Tuesday.
In the three months after Paul halted the legislation, a viral pandemic swept the globe and the nation. Violence has wracked Americas cities as protesters take to the streets demanding justice for the death of unarmed African-Americans at the hands of white people.
https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/707236?unlock=DAKP6B88C9EZ0C4H