Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) has introduced the Leading Against White Supremacy (LAWS) Act of 2023, a bill that would criminalize speech around certain topics and label it “hate speech.”
The Texas Democrat filed HR 61 “to expand the scope of hate crimes” and “to prevent and prosecute white supremacy inspired hate crime and conspiracy to commit white supremacy inspired hate crime,” the bill reads.
The bill’s text states that anyone who publishes “material advancing white supremacy, white supremacist ideology, antagonism based on ‘replacement theory’, or hate speech that vilifies or is otherwise directed against any non-White person or group” could face criminal penalties.
Published material refers to any information posted online, including “a social media platform or by other means of publication.”
A person could be charged with a crime if the published material was “read, heard, or viewed by a person who engaged in the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of a white supremacy inspired hate crime” against any nonwhite person or group.
Additionally, a person could also face criminal charges even without acting on any threat if they publish material that “could, as determined by a reasonable person, motivate actions by a person predisposed to engaging in a white supremacy inspired hate crime or by a person who is susceptible to being encouraged to engage in actions relating to a white supremacy hate crime.”
The bill alleges that white supremacy is the motivating factor behind mass shootings and other hate crimes.
“Mass shootings and other hate crimes motivated by white supremacy have been increasing in frequency and intensity,” the bill states. “These heinous and virulent crimes are inspired by conspiracy theories, blatant bigotry, and mythical falsehoods such as ‘replacement theory.’ All instances must be prevented and severe criminal penalties must be applied to their perpetrators.”
The congresswoman did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
