We Must Be The Change - Magazine - Page 16
ACTION: Civic engagement
Hate crime bill passes
Georgia Legislature
Senate
127-38
House
47-6
Comprehensive hate crimes
legislation passed into law in Georgia
Georgia Power joined other Georgia-based
companies asking state legislature to pass bill
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed
into law a hate crimes bill passed
by the state legislature in 2020.
Georgia Power signed a letter along
with many other Georgia-based
companies asking the legislature to pass
a comprehensive hate crimes bill to
help ensure the safety of all Georgians.
Georgia was one of four states not to
have a similar law on the books.
Under the new law, judges can impose
harsher sentences against those who
target victims based on perceived
race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, sexual orientation, gender, mental
disability or physical disability.
“Racism, intolerance or discrimination
of any kind have no place in our
communities or our company,” said
Paul Bowers, chairman and CEO of
Georgia Power. “We stand united with
these companies as we commit to
finding solutions to help make our
communities better for every citizen
and create an inclusive environment
for everyone.”
Other companies to sign the letter
included UPS, Coca-Cola, Delta,
AT&T, Truist, WestRock, Genuine
Parts, PulteGroup, Home Depot, Cox
Enterprises, BlackRock, Salesforce,
United Distributors, Invesco, Microsoft
and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
The bill was spurred, in part, by the
shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery
who was killed while jogging near
Brunswick, Georgia.
“We saw injustice with our own eyes.
Georgians protested to demand action
and state lawmakers rose to the
occasion,” said Kemp of the bill’s signing.
The hate crimes law passed the Georgia
House 127-38 and Georgia Senate 47-6.
The law went into effect July 1.
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WE MUST BE THE CHANGE