FAYETTEVILLE, Ark — The Fayetteville City Council passed a hate crime ordinance Tuesday (Oct. 20).
The ordinance will add a hate crime component to certain misdemeanors.
This will allow prosecutors to present evidence that shows these crimes were hate-based and potentially lead to stiffer penalties.
Intimidation, harassment, violence or vandalism directed at a victim because of racial, religious or ethnic animosity are considered hate crimes.
Senator Jim Hendren co-authored that bill. He says he believes this a step in the right direction although he says Arkansans need to ask state legislators to support the state-wide hate crimes law.
“We need the state legislators to step up on this problem," Hendren said. "There are 47 other states that have done this. Arkansas does not need to be one of the only three that hasn’t or potentially the other one that hasn’t."
City Councilmember Teresa Turk voiced her opinion Tuesday saying Fayetteville needs to send a strong message to residents assuring those that the city does not tolerate that behavior.
“I think it’s time that we enacted something like this," Turk said. "Little Rock has already gone ahead and done a similar ordinance and I know there are cities that are looking at similar ordinances."
One of those other cities that has already passed an ordinance is the town of Harrison.
“They have a reputation that they are so desperately trying to shake of the racist city," Hendren said. "Those of us who know people Harrison, there’s some good people in Harrison and obviously there’s some bad people who make a lot of noise so they are very involved in this effort."
Click here to read the full ordinance.