Atlanta faith leaders + others rally for passage of Georgia Hate Crimes Bill

Photos by William Thomas

Georgia AME Sixth District Bishop Reginald T.  Jackson along with faith and community leaders rallied on June 15 at the Georgia State Capitol, calling for passage of Hate Crimes legislation. The rally was held as Georgia lawmakers reconvened to complete this year’s Legislative Session, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When I was assigned in 2016 as Bishop of more than 500 African Methodist Episcopal Churches in Georgia, I was stunned to discover the state did not have a hate crimes law,” Jackson said in a statement. “Speaking before the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus conference (GLBC) in August 2017. I challenged the GLBC (Georgia Legislative Black Caucus) to sponsor Hate Crimes legislation, pledging I would work to get faith leaders across the state to support it. For two years, Hate Crimes legislation has been before the legislature. It passed the House only to be derailed in the Senate.

“It is a national disgrace to the state of Georgia that it remains one of only four states to not have a Hate Crimes law.”