ATLANTA – The Senate Judiciary Committee has twisted the Hate Crimes bill (HB 426) to chill freedom of speech and the right to protest to redress grievances – using the bill to affirm the state’s power to use violence against its own citizens with impunity.
“In the wake of the death of Rayshard Brooks at the hands of a police officer and the failure of police to arrest the killers of Ahmaud Arbery, the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee chose to add the occupation of law enforcement to HB 426 Hate Crimes bill.
By adding first responders, the bill has become a restraint on freedom of speech and the rights of protesters.
“This is not conjecture, law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania have added hate crimes charges for offensive speech, punishing people who get angry when they are arrested.
In his testimony Friday before the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee, former Douglas County Chief Assistant District Attorney David Emadi confirmed that the first responder language was unnecessary saying, “The first responder sub[titute] is something we have never encountered as a problem.
