The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today reiterated its support for a hate crime bill to again be introduced in the South Carolian legislature.
South Carolina is one of just two states without a hate crime law.
State Rep. Wendell Gilliard pre-filed the hate crime bill for the third time. It passed in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2021 and 2023, but not in the state Senate. CAIR has previously expressed support for the proposed law.
SEE: CAIR Reiterates Support for South Carolina Hate Crime Law After Bill Advances from Subcommittee
“We reiterate our support for this legislation that would finally provide South Carolina with a legal basis for challenging bigotry targeting minority communities,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We urge state lawmakers to support this important legislation and send the message that bigoted acts will face the full force of the law.”
He said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com