Racist Attack Spurs Hate Crime Law Push | JQJO

Jarvis McKenzie, a Black South Carolina man, is advocating for state-level hate crime laws after a racist attack. On July 17th, Jonathan Felkel allegedly fired a rifle at McKenzie, shouting racial slurs. Felkel was arrested and charged under Richland County's hate crime ordinance, though the county's law has limited penalties. South Carolina is one of only two states without statewide hate crime legislation; a bill with stronger penalties has passed the House but stalled in the Senate.