California to make attacks on homeless a hate crime

[Amerigo Vespucci]

California to make attacks on homeless a hate crime

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/07/93712/california-to-make-attacks-on.html

Posted on Friday, May 7, 2010

By Jim Sanders | The Sacramento Bee

Californians' civil right to be homeless would be given new legal protection under legislation approved Thursday by the Assembly.

Basically, the measure would deem violence against homeless people or their property as a hate crime for civil litigation.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal said her proposal would crack down on beatings, stabbings and shootings that target an extremely vulnerable population.

"There is just a tremendous amount of violence perpetrated against homeless people because they are easy prey," Lowenthal said.

The measure, Assembly Bill 2706, would add homelessness to civil rights protections for victims of violence based on race, color, religion, sex, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or involvement in a labor dispute.

Fatal attacks against Californians living or sleeping on the streets in recent years have included the stabbing last month of Bernice Nickson, 68, while she slept on a downtown Sacramento bench, and the burning of John Robert McGraham, 55, who was set afire in Los Angeles two years ago.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. If only all states did that.

[Dappleganger]

2. This needs to happen here in FL as well.

Too many kids are targeting homeless just because they want to take advantage.

[Starry Messenger]

3. About damn time!

[WhiteTara]

4. good. n/t

[mr_liberal]

5. This is ridiculous

Theyre making some attacks on people a worse crime than attacks on others. It should just be the same rules for everybody.

[slackmaster]

6. Violence against anyone should be regarded as a hate crime

I think it's ridiculous to keep adding more and more groups to the list of "protected" categories.