Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee introduces bill that criminalizes criticism of any “non-White person” and other legislation
US Congresswoman introduced a bill that she alone sponsored that would make it a crime to post on social media, or other platforms, anything that might inspire another to commit a hate crime. One could be found guilty of “conspiracy to engage in white supremacy inspired hate crime” under her proposed legislation for crimes or plots they had no actual knowledge of.
US Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee represents the 18th district of Texas. Lee titled the bill “Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023.” It calls for a new type of federal hate crime conspiracy charge solely aimed at White people.
Anyone who criticizes immigration or vilifies any “non-White person or group” in an article or social media post can be charged with this crime. They would face this charge if someone they have never met or communicated with is accused of “planning, development, preparation, or perpetration” of a crime.
What does this mean, and could this bill actually become law?
While the remainder of the bill is not something that I disagree with, it is something that is redundant. It is already against the law to commit a hate crime, no matter what your race is. However, this proposed legislation is aimed solely at “White supremacy.”
The bill would also face tremendous backlash and would face numerous constitutional challenges, as the first amendment is solely on the chopping block if, and it is a big if, this bill was to be signed into law.
Let’s say that you are on Twitter, and you share a video that is depicting a fight between a white kid and several black teens. You share the video and say something along the lines that “this must end. Why does this have to happen in America?”
In all fairness, one could be asking why the violence in America continues to happen and why the overall situation is sad and disturbing. Does it have anything to do with race? To the original poster, it could have absolutely nothing to do with their race and everything to do with the violence they witnessed. And yet, you could still end up charged with a hate crime.
A guy in another state, clear across the country, sees your post and decides that he is going to “do something” about what he watched in the video, and he takes to the streets and starts randomly picking out Black teenagers to attack.
Did your post “inspire” him to commit a hate crime? Under this proposed legislation, you might be charged with conspiracy to engage in white supremacy inspired hate crime.
We all know our actions have consequences, but words also have consequences. Is this the answer? To legislate the masses not to have an opinion or to voice their concern about a situation that might include individuals that are not white?
Talk about a slippery slope.
This is not the only controversial move that the Congresswoman has made in recent days.
On the same day that Jackson introduced HR 61, she also co-introduced HR 40, which calls for a federal commission on reparations for slavery. Ultimately the purpose would be to give free money to Black Americans. A total of fifty-two Democrats are currently sponsoring HR 40.
