Sheila Jackson Lee wants to criminalize “white supremacy” writings that are felt to have inspired a crime
Here’s the bill that Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced. Its title is “Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023” – and so I would guess it might be unconstitutional because of its race specificity:
(a) In General.—A person engages in a white supremacy inspired hate crime when white supremacy ideology has motivated the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of actions that constituted a crime or were undertaken in furtherance of activity that, if effectuated, would have constituted a crime.
So it refers to any crime perpetrated by anyone who espouses and is considered to be motivated by white supremacy ideology – even if the crime is something fairly low level. And the conspiracy to commit that crime is defined as potentially involving those who have nothing to do with the actual commission of the actual crime:
(1) between two or more persons engaged in the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of a white supremacy inspired hate crime; or
(2) between two or more persons—
(A) at least one of whom engaged in the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of a white supremacy inspired hate crime; and
(B) at least one of whom published material advancing white supremacy, white supremacist ideology, antagonism based on “replacement theory”, or hate speech that vilifies or is otherwise directed against any non-White person or group, and such published material—
(i) was published on a social media platform or by other means of publication with the likelihood that it would be viewed by persons who are predisposed to engaging in any action in furtherance of a white supremacy inspired hate crime, or who are susceptible to being encouraged to engage in actions in furtherance of a white supremacy inspired hate crime…
I believe what this bill proposes is that, if someone publishes anything online that is read or viewed by someone who later commits any crime motivated by “white supremacy,” that first person can be convicted of conspiracy with that second one even if they have never met or communicated in any way, and even if that person writing the online material is not advocating crimes of any sort. If a judge or jury decides the publicized words fall under any broad and ill-defined heading of “white supremacy,” both people could be convicted.
I’ve mentioned several times before that, even back when I was in law school eons ago, I didn’t like conspiracy laws because they seemed dangerous to me and easy to misuse. Nothing since then has disabused me of that idea.
This bill won’t pass. But if the House was controlled by Democrats instead of Republicans, would it pass? How many would be voting for it, I wonder?
[NOTE: This is the federal hate crime law as it currently stands. I have long been against hate crime laws, too, because all these actions are already amply criminalized and whether they’re motivated by “hate” or not seems irrelevant to me. It merely affords a way to retry someone on federal charges who might be acquitted on state charges. At any rate, the law as stated does not punish the thought crime of publishing something online that someone else then reads and by which he or she is supposedly criminally inspired.]
Now do BLM.
No … well, once I would have said there was no way in heck that such an infringement on freedom of speech could possibly pass … but it opens a door the width of the old dirigible hangar at Moffit Field to persecute any person (of any color) who says anything remotely critical (or which can be viewed as remotely critical) of a person of color.
Like – I believe that the recently-revealed sculpture in Boston supposed to honor MLK and his wife – is a horror. Its look from the back side like a pair of hands holding up a bowel movement or a huge male member.
Now, if someone were to spray-paint something on that monument, I could be charged under that proposed law for saying that on the internet. It was perpetuated by an artist of color, after all. (And one whom no one ever said a critical word about his concept until the unveiling, it would seem. Well, it just appears that he is no August Saint-Gaudens, anyway.)
I don’t mind conspiracy charges if they’re lodged against people planning with others to commit a common crime. That’s not what Jackson-Lee is attempting to criminalize.
When can we start demanding that our reps have brain scans that show more than 2 cells?
In case anyone wonders, as I did…
Sheila Jackson Lee is the black representative from a black-majority district of Houston. Her lowest margin of electoral victory has been 70%.
I’m with you, Neo, in opposing “hate crimes” laws. The motivation of people who commit crimes may affect their sentencing, or may help prosecutors to get convictions by explaining why they did what they did. Separate charges for “hate” are not a good idea, and at the federal level, they’re used most often for double jeopardy.
And the worst of it is defining what “hate” speech is, which is what the bill attempts to criminalize.
For instance, I am sure Rep. Lee would classify objections to the CRT-inspired “anti-racist” theories as racist, when, in my view, CRT and its associated theories and practices are themselves racist.
Don’t we think that things can’t be worse, then we are proved wrong. This is just the opening shot (yes I will use that word) but down the line in future years it will keep coming back.
This is a terrible proposed law, of course, but people need to be careful about calling attention to racial disparities in crime. As Heather MacDonald’s excellent reporting points out, black on white crime far exceeds any other category (excepting black on black crime). I don’t think Ms. Lee wants to start down this path.
Maxine Waters has met her match. Illan Omar and Rhashid Tlaib (sic?) are slapping their foreheads and shouting “Staff meeting, NOW! This trumps the Jews!”
Meanwhile,
San Fran’s reparations committee proposes $5 million to each Black longtime resident, total debt forgiveness
If Trump were to be reelected, that sounds like a fair compensation for each of the incarcerated J6 patriots.
Perhaps SJL (and why hasn’t she changed her last name, “Lee” being associated with Robert E., after all?) will go after Brandon for a white supremacy hate crime– for trying to sing “Happy Birthday” to MLK’s daughter-in-law and improvising the lady’s first name.
“Biden’s eyes appeared to search out the woman’s name on his teleprompters midway through the tune in front of hundreds of guests at Washington’s historic Mayflower Hotel. ‘Happy birthday, dear Valz-dvit,’ Biden ultimately uttered.”
https://nypost.com/2023/01/16/biden-forgets-name-of-mlks-daughter-in-law-while-singing-happy-birthday/
Sheila Jackson Lee is a pure black racist with a fancy hairdo.
…people need to be careful about calling attention to racial disparities in crime. As Heather MacDonald’s excellent reporting points out, black on white crime far exceeds any other category (excepting black on black crime). I don’t think Ms. Lee wants to start down this path.
Rufus T. Firefly:
Indeed.
This gets much worse when the normalized crime rates of black-on-white vs white-on-black are compared. Shocking.
An observer from Mars would conclude that at the street-level blacks are waging race war on whites and whites aren’t fighting back.
I’m not saying whites should, at least not at the street-level.
However, IMO this continuous racial grievance talk since the 60s has encouraged exactly the racial violence hate crimes that SJL claims to oppose…with colors reversed.
She has also introduced this legislation:
https://barenakedislam.com/2023/01/16/one-of-the-most-racist-ignorant-democrats-in-congress-sheila-jackson-lee-d-tx-proposes-legislation-to-make-criticism-of-any-minority-by-a-white-person-a-federal-hate-crime/
cb:
There is no “also” about it. That’s the same legislation I discussed in this post.
Coming soon: cartoons of any minority will be treated like Allah images are, overseas.
Or am I late … & it’s already here??
Coming soon: cartoons of any minority will be treated like Allah images are, overseas.
Or am I late?
I.e., prosecution of such freedom is already here??
This proposed law is a maze of vague concepts and on first reading I can think of a half-dozen ways it would trap the unwary and puzzle a jury. The first and worst is the (non) definition of “white supremacy ideology.” Yes, yes, I know: prosecutors can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich, so why fret over lazy racist phrase-making? But still, it’s an appalling breakdown in language —without which we have no law and indeed no civilization. SJL should apologize for wasting everyone’s time (and any remaining goodwill) by offering this piece of grandstanding bigotry.
Ms. Lee should be happy that no one is trying to criminalize stupidity.
Just call it “The Red Queen Law”….
Remember, SJL is the brilliant Congress person who suggested the Mars rover go over to look at the flag the Apollo astronauts left on the Moon. It’s no wonder these creatures want “equity” instead of merit to determine political advancement. Hank Johnson, of Guam capsizing fame, is a worthy colleague.
Hey! Back off the President…OR THE COUNTRY GETS IT BETWEEN THE EYES….
“Dem’s ‘flagrantly unconstitutional’ anti-white supremacy bill would ‘gut the First Amendment’: Turley”—
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/seattle-business-owners-left-to-fend-for-themselves-on-crime-take-matters-into-their-own-hands
Should Elon Musk and perhaps a few others—Substackers?—can expect some “turbulence” in the days ahead….?
+ Bonus:
“Russell Brand interviews Fauci whistleblower on Big Pharma corruption, family ties: ‘Meet the Faucis’ ;
“The NIH has benefited from ‘$1.4 billion in secret third-party royalties over the past 12 years,’ the whistleblower said”—
https://www.foxnews.com/media/russel-brand-interviews-fauci-whistleblower-big-pharma-corruption-family-ties-meet-faucis
Speaking of white supremacy, it looks like the wise ones in SF have hatched a plan to ratchet up pan-handling a notch or two…empty the city of most of its productive citizens, and even turn a huge number of people—OF ALL COLORS—into…that’s right!—white supremacists….
“San Fran City Panel Urges Reparations Of $5 Million Per Black Adult”—
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/san-fran-city-panel-urges-reparations-5-million-black-adult
(Know anyone who’s left SF recently?)
Actually, when you come to think of it, it’s an ingenious way to eliminate overcrowding in urban areas…
(Great way to kill cities, too, while they’re at it.)
E.g.:
“Seattle business owners left to fend for themselves on crime take matters into their own hands;
“Seattle business owners ‘begging for help’ from city government amid crisis”—
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/seattle-business-owners-left-to-fend-for-themselves-on-crime-take-matters-into-their-own-hands
SJL is one racist, bigoted, execrable, not-quite-human life form.
She and others like her should seriously consider renouncing their US citizenship and permanently leave the USA.
Why they keep living in a country they really hate, a country they deeply believe is racist and imperialistic baffles me. I am sure she can find another nation on earth where she would prefer to live.
Then again, this would apply to about 50% of all democrats.
This is as tiresome as it is predictable. Ms. Lee, or whichever one of her staffers actually wrote the bill, purposely worded the bill in such a way as to facilitate prosecution of right-leaning whites for having bad thoughts, or allowing bad thoughts to be posted on the social media platform they run, to wit Andrew Torba and Gab.
Some of you might remember the old word association skit on SNL with Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor. The writers and performers of that skit would be charged and prosecuted…oh wait, they’re good leftists so never mind.
This is today’s Democratic Party. It understands the definition of “slippery slope” but pretends it doesn’t to obtain votes.
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