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LONG #GaPol THREAD: The #HateCrime bill was just passed out of committee, but sadly not before it was hijacked by GOP members & the LG to include specific protections for police.
For people who are normal & don't like watching committee livestreams like I do... here's a recap:
For people who are normal & don't like watching committee livestreams like I do... here's a recap:
Sen. Cowsert introduced the new version of the bill, which removed a few things (like a tracking database) and added protections for "first responders."
Included in that is, of course, police officers.
Included in that is, of course, police officers.
Sen. Jones (a black atty) asked several questions about why this was suddenly so important to Cowsert (a white atty) and other Repubs. Cowsert explained that the #AhmaudArbery case and other recent events have made it clear we need to do something.
At one point, Cowsert pontificates about if these things (meaning Black men being murdered by police, and the resulting protests) have just now suddenly escalated or if they've been happening all along.
After some polite pushback by Jones, Cowsert replies "I live in your world."
After some polite pushback by Jones, Cowsert replies "I live in your world."
There is more back-and-forth, all quite polite, between Cowsert and Jones. Which is why I'm confused later when both Cowsert and another R, Sen. Brian Strickland, make comments about how there's "a lot of emotion here" and we should all think rationally and pass the new version.
Other quick note: Cowsert spends a good deal of time commending MLK for peacefulness & suggests Jones watch a video of the "very powerful moment" when King and Lewis walk across the bridge.
Cowsert has now sufficiently turned hate crimes into a diatribe on protesting and APD.
Cowsert has now sufficiently turned hate crimes into a diatribe on protesting and APD.
Their exchange ends (I would still suggest watching it here:
https://livestream.com/accounts/26021522/events/8743306/videos/207667135) and then Sen. Elena Parent requests to make a comment...
https://livestream.com/accounts/26021522/events/8743306/videos/207667135) and then Sen. Elena Parent requests to make a comment...
Parent (a white atty) details concerns with adding police protections, focusing on the fact that an OCCUPATION is not an IMMUTABLE CHARACTERISTIC. Harm done to police doesn't belong in this bill. (In fact, 3 yrs ago #BackTheBadge bill was passed to increase their protections.)
Parent acknowledges APD's low morale, explains that her caucus does not disrespect the hard job police do every day and they are amenable to later discussion on increasing pay for police/teachers or protections in another bill, but adding it here completely "misses the moment."
She continues by citing again the FBI list of people who are most frequently the victims of hate crimes:
1. Black people
2. Jewish people
3. LGBTQ people
She says that adding police protections here to this bill is completely disrespectful to people in these categories.
1. Black people
2. Jewish people
3. LGBTQ people
She says that adding police protections here to this bill is completely disrespectful to people in these categories.
Parent proposes an amendment that strikes the police protections.
Strickland comments that he supports the version w/police protection because it makes the bill stronger and now is the time for us to take action. He commends the LG for wanting to do more than other states have.
Strickland comments that he supports the version w/police protection because it makes the bill stronger and now is the time for us to take action. He commends the LG for wanting to do more than other states have.
They vote on Parent's amendment to strike police protections.
Amendment fails.
(R's have the majority on this committee as they do in the full GA Senate and House)
Amendment fails.
(R's have the majority on this committee as they do in the full GA Senate and House)
They go to a final vote on the whole bill, which includes police protections.
Jones makes one final, hail mary comment: this is "very disappointing."
The bill passes.
Jones makes one final, hail mary comment: this is "very disappointing."
The bill passes.
It will now likely be rushed through Rules committee & to the floor (surprisingly, this Senate which normally takes Fridays, holidays, and Master's wknd off is indeed working through Juneteenth/Father's Day).
The Senate will likely pass the bill on a party-line vote.
The Senate will likely pass the bill on a party-line vote.
Here's what gets me.
GA GOP didn't care about hate crimes until like last week. Suddenly, the LG declares himself a "subject matter expert" and Senators are talking about how we have to pass a "strong bill," knowing full well that a change this late in the game derails passage.
GA GOP didn't care about hate crimes until like last week. Suddenly, the LG declares himself a "subject matter expert" and Senators are talking about how we have to pass a "strong bill," knowing full well that a change this late in the game derails passage.
Whitesplaining MLK to a Black Senator on #Juneteenth 
and spending QUITE a long time talking about how police feel scared right now (without once mentioning the centuries of fear/discrimination Black people have faced) is SO MESSED UP.
and spending QUITE a long time talking about how police feel scared right now (without once mentioning the centuries of fear/discrimination Black people have faced) is SO MESSED UP.
If you are as pissed as I am, please tell all your friends. Call your GA Senators and Reps. Don't sit down and be quiet. Parent and Jones kept their cool but we, as constituents, can get ANGRY. And we should. Let your white male Senators know what happened today is not ok.
And for bonus points, send a quick thank you @HaroldJonesII and @elenaparent for trying their best. They work way harder behind the scenes than y'all will ever know.
END THREAD. (But hopefully the beginning of more protests.)
END THREAD. (But hopefully the beginning of more protests.)
