x
Breaking News
More () »

Kaine, Warner push for 'NO HATE Act' passage

Both of Virginia's US Senators are pushing for the passage of the 'Khalid Jabara-Heather Heyer NO HATE Act,' which aims to counter the rise in hate crimes.

WASHINGTON — US Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with several other Senators, are pushing for the passage of the "Khalid Jabara-Heather Heyer NO HATE Act."

The bill's goal is to curb the recent rise of hate crimes in communities across the country. It's named in part for Heather Heyer, a counter-protester who was killed during the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville back in 2017.

RELATED: 2 years later: Charlottesville preaches unity on anniversary of deadly riots

One of the main goals of the "NO HATE Act" is to improve hate crime reporting. The bill would provide money for states to set up their own Hate Crime Hotlines, hopefully giving people a place to report incidents and learn about local support services.

Credit: AP
Susan Bro, the mother of Heather Heyer, holds a photo of Bro's mother and her daughter, Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Joshua Replogle)

Law enforcement agencies would also receive training to better identify, investigate, and report suspected hate crimes. They'd also learn new ways to build relationships with communities that are targeted by these crimes.

Under the bill, judges would also get more leeway with how they sentence people convicted of hate crimes. In some cases, it would send them back into the communities they targeted to receive education or do community service.

RELATED: After her daughter’s death in Charlottesville – Heather Heyer’s mom writes children’s books and fights fake news

Before You Leave, Check This Out