Democrat introduces bill to make 'conspiracy to commit white supremacy' a hate crime offense

Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is introducing a bill aimed at tackling 'white supremacy' by criminalizing certain forms of hate speech.

The Texas Democrat's Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023 would allow someone who shares white supremacist online to be prosecuted for hate crimes even if they don't act on their threats.

That has triggered an outpouring of anger from conservatives, who accused her of an attack on the First Amendment.  

'In case you weren’t aware of what the Democrats were prioritizing in the 118th Congress, just take a look,' tweeted far-right Rep. Lauren Boebert, linking to an article that claimed it would criminalize criticism of non-white people.

'When they're not bankrupting our country, they're busy making a mockery of the First Amendment.'

Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has triggered controversy with her 'Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023' which extends criminalization of certain forms of hate speech

Jackson Lee introduced her bill last week, at the start of the 118th Congress. With Republicans in control of the House, it has no chance of ever becoming law

Jackson Lee quickly hit back, suggesting that it was time Boebert read some of the bills she tweeted about.

'Or, maybe even hire someone who could help you. This tweet is inflammatory and fact-less and you know it,' she wrote in a thread.

'For starters, it took me about 32 seconds of reading the article you cited to understand that none of you know what you are talking about. 

'H.R. 61 simply deals with adding white supremacy to a list of reasons to be convicted of a hate crime.' 

Her bill states: 'A person engages in a white supremacy inspired hate crime when white supremacy ideology has motivated the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of actions that constituted a crime or were undertaken in furtherance of activity that, if effectuated, would have constituted a crime.'

Conservatives including hard-line Republican Lauren Boebert attacked the bill

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said the bill would 'gut the First Amendment'

And a conspiracy exists where a person published material advancing white supremacy and it was 'read, heard, or viewed by a person who engaged in the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of a white supremacy inspired hate crime.'

Such a move would 'gut the First Amendment, according to George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley

'Even in today's anti-free speech environment i Congress, a recent proposed by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Tx.) is a menacing standout... ' he tweeted.

'The bill is an almost impenetrable word salad of convoluted provisions. However, what is clear (perhaps the only clear thing) is that the "Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023" would gut the First Amendment and create effective thought crimes.'

However, with Republicans now in control of the House, her bill has little chance of ever becoming law.