Harrisburg, PA — A Pennsylvania legislator is spearheading an effort to strengthen the state’s ethnic intimidation law, a move prompted by growing concerns over hate crimes and the limitations of existing legislation. This initiative comes as prosecutors consider applying the current law to Cody Balmer,the individual accused of setting fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.

Understanding Ethnic Intimidation in Pennsylvania

Ethnic intimidation, Pennsylvania’s equivalent to a hate crime, is defined as the commission of a crime motivated, either in whole or in part, by hatred toward an individual or group based on race, color, religion, or national origin. However, some lawmakers believe the current statute falls short in addressing the full spectrum of hate-motivated offenses.

The Push for Expansion

Representative Dan Frankel, who chairs the state’s Jewish Legislative Caucus, is at the forefront of the effort to broaden the scope of the ethnic intimidation law. He emphasizes the need for more robust tools to combat various forms of hatred.

So we have an ethnic intimidation statute, which we believe is inadequate to do the things that we believe our communities need to have in terms of tools to combat hatred, not just anti semitism, but racism, homophobia, xenophobia.

— Representative Dan Frankel

Representative Frankel asserts that these issues are increasingly prevalent throughout Pennsylvania and the nation.

Representative Frankel highlights the alarming rise in hate crimes, particularly those targeting the Jewish community.

Hate crimes against Jews have reached an epidemic proportion,but it is not exclusive to the Jewish community.

— Representative Dan Frankel

Proposed inclusions and Enhanced Protections

The proposed changes aim to ensure thorough protection for all targeted groups. This includes extending the law’s coverage to individuals victimized due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and disability status.

We want to expand that and expand that to also include people as of their sexual orientation, gender identity expression, and people who are disabled.So those are classes of people that aren’t incorporated here, and we’ve seen acts of violence and harassment against those communities as well.

— Representative Dan Frankel

Addressing Law Enforcement training Gaps

Representative Frankel also points out deficiencies in law enforcement training regarding the identification and prosecution of hate crimes. He stresses the importance of equipping both law enforcement and prosecutors with the necessary skills to effectively address these offenses.

Strengthening Penalties and Providing Additional Tools

Lawmakers are considering increasing penalties and fines for ethnic intimidation offenses. Representative Frankel believes that enhanced penalties will provide prosecutors with additional tools to combat hate crimes effectively.

The Broader Impact of Hate Crimes

Representative Frankel emphasizes that hate crimes have far-reaching consequences, targeting entire communities and instilling fear.

A hate crime is meant to target an entire community and intimidate them. So when the gunman at Tree of Life murdered 11 of our friends and neighbors, It was not just a crime of murder against those 11 individuals, It was a crime that was meant to send a message to the Jewish community that it was generally targeted, and that is why we need to call out hate crimes separately, and if, in fact, this incident against the governor, which seems to be headed towards the in the direction of a potential hate crime, it needs to be called out as that, and the perpetrator ought to be subject to additional penalties because of that motivating factor into the crime.

— representative Dan Frankel