The Michigan Civil Rights Commission passed a resolution today encouraging the Legislature to strengthen Michigan’s hate crimes laws. Supporters argue the state’s current statute is outdated leaving out references to ethnicity or sexuality.
Commissioner Gloria Lara says recent incidents, like synagogues being vandalized, highlight the need for new legislation.
"I think it’s important that the Civil Rights Commission does honor this and make a resolution to ascertain that citizens and people in the State of Michigan are protected." said Lara.
The commission’s resolution doesn’t mention specific legislation. But a bill package to rework Michigan’s current hate crime law and create a new crime of “institutional desecration” has made it out of the state House and currently sits before a Senate committee.