South Carolina State House rally pushes for a hate crimes law

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Activists on Wednesday held a “Hands Around the State House” rally in favor of a hate crimes bill.

South Carolina is one of two states without a state hate crimes law, and many people say it’s time for that to change.

MORE FROM NEWS 12

South Carolina: Latest from the State House

1. Groups pen letter opposing gambling bills to be considered in S.C.
2. What’s next for S.C. treasurer after senators vote to remove him
3. Bill aims to attract South Carolinians to second careers as teachers
4. S.C. state treasurer files petition with State Supreme Court
5. S.C. bill would require doula care to be covered under Medicaid
6. After years of resisting, S.C. moves toward hands-free cellphones while driving
7. Gambling expansion draws increased attention at S.C. State House

One of the arguments that opponents of enacting a state hate crimes law in South Carolina make is that it’s unnecessary, with federal statutes already in place.

ers of this legislation say a state statute would allow more resources to go toward investigation and prosecution – for example, from solicitors and the attorney general’s office.

The ralliers are looking to H.3039/S.247, commonly called the “Senator Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act.”

If ed, the law would increase penalties for violent crimes motivated by hate, require proof bias in court, track hate crime offenders and provide protection for victims of hate crimes.

The bill gets its name from the late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who represented District 45 from 2000 until 2015, when he and eight others were murdered by a white supremacist during a mass shooting at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston.

On June 17, it will have been 10 years since the shooting at Mother Emanuel.

“In the 10 years since the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history, the South Carolina General Assembly has failed to any effective legislation to protect victims of hate crimes or send a clear message to those who would commit acts of racial violence,” said Palmetto Hope in a news release.

The nonprofit noted versions of the “Senator Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act” have ed the South Carolina House of Representatives three times in the past but have always stalled in the Senate.

They said they hope lawmakers will act quickly, seeing as this legislative session ends on May 8.

South Carolina and Wyoming remain the only two states in the United States that do not have a hate crime law.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.