Anyone convicted could face upwards of 30 years in prison for their crimes.
Earlier this afternoon, POTUS tweeted, “This afternoon, I’m signing the long-overdue Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law – making lynching a federal hate crime.”
“Living up to our founding principles as a nation means coming to terms with the sins of our past. Today, we take another step toward that more perfect union,” he concluded.
Till’s cousin, Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr. was with him at the time of his death, and also happened to attend Biden’s Tuesday signing. In a statement, he shared that his family “was devastated that no one was held responsible for the abduction, torture, and murder of Emmett.”
This afternoon, I’m signing the long overdue Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law — making lynching a federal hate crime. Living up to our founding principles as a nation means coming to terms with the sins of our past. Today, we take another step toward that more perfect union.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 29, 2022
It’s been noted that lawmakers have spent the last century trying to pass nearly 200 anti-lynching bills, but didn’t find success until today. “We are heartened by this new law,” Parker Jr.’s statement went on.
“Which shows that Emmett still speaks in powerful ways to make sure that no one can get away with a racist crime like this ever again.”
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