Lawmakers Take a Major Step Toward Making Lynching a Federal Hate Crime

On the last day of Black History Month, the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act was passed in the House of Representatives, nearly 66 years after the murder of the 14-year-old boy it’s named after. Over the past 100 years, more than 200 bills similar to this one have all tried and failed to pass. But this time seems to be different. The bill saw near-universal support in the House, with 422 votes from both sides of the aisle pushing it to the senate. If signed into law, it will classify lynching as a federal hate crime and will carry the punishment of up to thirty additional years in prison.

Only three representatives voted against this bill. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, and Chip Roy of Texas. All republicans. In a statement following the vote, Rep. Roy had this to say about his decision.

“It simply raises the punishment for things that are already federal crimes, including those that are unrelated to lynching a — such as gender identity — in an effort to advance a woke agenda under the guise of correcting racial injustice.”

Regardless of the congressman’s opinion, the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act is on its way to the Senate, where many anticipate that it will see a similar amount of support, making it official that this brand of terrorism is no longer acceptable in our country.