WINK NEWS
A gaggle of lawmakers desires to come down tougher on individuals who commit hate crimes. This follows an increase in anti-semitic acts throughout Florida.
We’ve seen them in Southwest Florida. Anti-Semitic flyers appeared in neighborhoods, and a rabbi was focused with vandalism.
State representatives need to make certain the rise in Anti-Semitic acts comes to an finish and that everybody is aware of these won’t be tolerated nor taken calmly.
“We’ve seen Jewish moms and their kids being walking to school being harassed and taunted and threatened just for walking to school. We’ve seen stories of news from hateful banners being hung from overpasses on highways,” mentioned State Representative Mike Carusso.
Some of it’s in Southwest Florida.
“We’ve had congregants who have found fliers at the end of their driveways or on their cars, who have experienced personal acts of anti-Semitism directed against them. And, of course, it’s concerning and worrying,” mentioned Nicole Luna, a rabbi at Temple Beth El in Fort Myers.
Luna says a brand new Florida bill that categorizes anti-Semitic acts as a hate crime doesn’t cease the priority or the fear, nevertheless it helps.
“Even hateful words are, are harmful to others, and make people live with constant fear. And I hope this bill will lower the volume of speech around this issue and others,” mentioned Marc Sac, Rabbi at Temple Judea.
“You have the right to be an idiot in the United States. We have the first amendment doesn’t mean you’re an idiot if you exercise the first amendment, but you have the right to be a nazi, but you do not have the right to be a nazi and engage in criminal conduct, whether it is littering whether it is trespassing, whether it is assault,” mentioned State Representative Randy Fine.
When these acts occur, Sack is proud of the response from state lawmakers. “The more that we can build a strong, strong sense of community. The more comfortable, the healthier will Fort Myers and this part of town be”
In Florida, there isn’t any precise hate crime statute. Instead, if there’s a hate ingredient to against the law, then the state can elevate the cost and increase the punishment.
The proposed bill makes the penalty for these hate crimes a third-degree felony.
