(NETWORK INDIANA) Indiana is one of just five states without an explicit hate crime law. Governor Holcomb has said he’ll make it one of his legislative priorities. The Indiana Chamber added its support this week.
Speaking at a Kiwanis-sponsored forum, United Way of Central Indiana C-E-O Ann Murtlow echoed Holcomb in saying businesses are taking notice of the lack of a hate crime law. Michael O’Connor with Eli Lilly says the most important factor in economic development competitions today is the ability to attract top talent, and says companies can’t do that if they can’t assure would-be hires they’ll be welcome in Indiana. He argues that’s the flaw in opponents’ contention that crimes should be treated the same regardless of motive — he says spray-painting your initials may be vandalism, but spray-painting a swastika is an attempt to intimidate an entire group of people.
The Indiana Senate passed a hate crimes bill in 2016 which died in the House. Since then, the bill has moved steadily further away from passage, being pulled from a Senate floor vote in 2017 and failing to make it out of committee this year.
Murtlow and Josh Driver, founder of the software company Selfless.ly, warn removing some targeted groups from the bill, as some have suggested to make it easier to pass, would be a mistake. Murtlow says even floating that possibility damages the state’s image.
All versions of the bill have covered crimes targeting people because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill would allow judges to take that motivation into account as a reason for imposing longer sentences. Opponents have argued judges already have that authority, though not explicitly.