Charlottesville effect: Rep Frankel wants Pa.’s hate crime laws expanded
“‘We want a comprehensive reaction to [the events in Charlottesville], and one of the ways to do that is to finally address hate crimes in Pennsylvania in a comprehensive way,’ said State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, speaking Monday morning at a press event at Freedom Corner in the Hill District.
“Mr. Frankel and state Reps. Paul Costa, Jake Wheatley, Dan Miller and Ed Gainey attended, along with a number of religious leaders. . . .
“They spoke in support of House Bill 505 and Senate Bill 96, both of which are in the Judiciary committees of their respective chambers. The bills would “expand the offense of ethnic intimidation to include malicious intention against the actual or perceived ancestry, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity of another individual or group of individuals,” according to a memo seeking cosponsors for the bill.
“Mr. Frankel said the current law leaves out many types of hate crimes that were previously covered and said there is a need to restore those protections.”