Bacon proposes bipartisan anti-lynching legislation

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) on March 10 sponsored bipartisan legislation that would specify lynching as a federal civil rights offense.

“While we cannot undo the injustices of the past, we can ensure that those committing this terroristic crime in the future will be sentenced accordingly,” Rep. Bacon said. 

The congressman introduced the Emmett Till and Will Brown Justice for Victims of Lynching Act, H.R. 1727, with original cosponsors U.S. Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Van Taylor (R-TX). 

If enacted, H.R. 1727 would amend the United States Code to criminalize lynching and bolster sentencing under existing federal hate crime statutes, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Bacon’s office.

“Over 100 years ago, lawless and angry mobs in Omaha murdered Will Brown and George Smith by lynching and burning their bodies,” said Rep. Bacon. “I’m thankful to Reps. Moulton and Taylor for joining me in this rightful redress of those barbaric lynchings.”

Since 1918, there have been more than 200 failed attempts to pass anti-lynching legislation in Congress, according to Rep. Bacon’s office, which cited data from the Tuskegee Institute reporting that 4,743 people were lynched in the United States between 1882 and 1968, the majority being African American.

“We have a lot of work to do as a country to atone for these crimes and their legacy of oppression through discriminatory voting rights, unfair housing policy, and unjust criminal sentencing,” Rep. Moulton said. “This bill is a small step in the right direction.”

The measure has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.