Significant changes to the Illinois Hate Crimes Act co— sponsored by State Reps. Larry McKeon, D— 34, Jeff Schoenberg, D— 58, and Tom Cross, R— 84, were passed in the House of Representatives. House Bill 3430 creates the offense of conspiracy against civil rights as a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 2 felony for a second offense. This legislation is another tool in McKeon’s work to combat hate crimes in city neighborhoods.
In addition, the bill addresses the problem of mixed motive in the commission of hate crimes. This issue was addressed last year in an article written by openly gay candidate for 46th Ward Democratic Committeeman Jim Snyder. The issues identified by Snyder are addressed in the legislation passed by the House and clarifies the issue where mixed motives are involved in hate crimes. Snyder was personally involved in hate crimes involving members of the GBLT community where police and prosecutors failed to take appropriate action in mixed— motive incidents.
This legislation was prompted by numerous anti— gay incidents in the Chicago area and the July 4, 1999 rampage that resulted in the shooting of six Hasidic Jews in Chicago, an African— American man in Evanston and an Asian man in central Illinois.
McKeon spoke to the bill during the House floor debate, sharing his experience as the victim of an anti— gay hate crime. The bill was passed with an overwhelming 93 votes in favor. The bill now moves to the Illinois Senate.