LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Michigan Hate Crime Act into law. Introduced by State Representative Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield), this landmark, anti-hate crime legislation marks the first time the Legislature has acted to address rising hate crimes since passing the “ethnic intimidation” law in 1988.
“Today’s signing of my Michigan Hate Crime Act marks a historic, long-overdue victory in Michigan’s decades-long battle against hate crimes, and I could not be prouder to see this gold standard legislation become law,” said Representative Arbit. “As a Jew in a time of rampant antisemitism, as a gay man in a time of uncertain rights, and as state representative for my diverse community, I promised the people of West Bloomfield, Commerce, and the Lakes that I would move heaven and earth to tackle rising hate crimes and extremism. Today, after two years of tremendous effort, battling disinformation, bigotry, lies, and political paralysis, I am so proud to have delivered on that promise with this law. The Michigan Hate Crime Act sets a national gold standard for tackling hate crimes by providing our state much-needed and long overdue tools to pursue justice for victims of hate crimes by strengthening criminal penalties for perpetrators of violent hate crimes to be the toughest in the nation, closing loopholes that have left communities unprotected, and creating opportunities to reduce hate violence through alternative sentencing. Michigan will be a safer, freer state because of the Michigan Hate Crime Act, and I could not be prouder.”
The Michigan Hate Crime Act – HB 5400 (Arbit) and HB 5401 (Grant) – overhauls the 36 year-old ethnic intimidation act, passed in 1988 following the targeted murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man, in Highland Park in 1982. The Michigan Hate Crime Act expands the basis on which hate crimes can be prosecuted in Michigan to include hate crimes committed against Michiganders with disabilities, LGBTQ+ Michiganders, and seniors – all classes of people excluded from protections from hate crimes under current law. In addition, the Michigan Hate Crime Act strengthens penalties for hate crimes to be among the toughest in the nation – increasing from a 2-year high court misdemeanor to a 5-year felony and a 10-year felony – and also builds in a restorative justice sentencing component for certain offenses. Developed in partnership with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Anti-Defamation League, and utilizing research from the Movement Advancement Project and the Brennan Center for Justice, the Michigan Hate Crime Act stands preeminent as a gold standard state hate crime statute, with the most up-to-date language and the strongest sentencing regime of anywhere in the United States.
“I am thrilled to see this bill passed,” said ADL Michigan Regional Director Carolyn Normandin. “Michigan’s former law was woefully inadequate. This is a truly positive step toward protecting Michiganders. We commend Representative Arbit’s tenacity, and I am very proud of the Michigan team for significantly supporting this effort.”
The Michigan Hate Crime Act builds on Representative Arbit’s successful effort last year to enact the Institutional Desecration Act, which prohibits the targeted defacement, destruction, and vandalism of institutions and communal property, including houses of worship, cultural or community centers, and businesses, and classifies such acts as hate crimes. The law provides a more appropriate tool for Michiganders to pursue justice and accountability for hate crimes targeting faith-based institutions and other communal properties.
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