A recent diversity presentation highlighted the concept that intent is more important than damage in hate crimes.

A discussion Thursday in the Charles V. Park Library Auditorium involved new legislation that will come before the Michigan House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee on Sept. 10.

To inform the public on the issue, the Mount Pleasant Area Diversity Group and the Office for Institutional Diversity held the presentation “Understanding the Michigan Anti-Bias Crime Bill.” Daniel M. Levy, chief legal officer for the state’s department of civil rights, conducted the lecture.

“We are excited about having this so we can educate the local community about this House bill,” said Laura Gonzales, chair of the diversity group. “It promotes a greater understanding of this bill.”

More than a dozen people showed up to listen to Levy, who travels across the state to inform groups about civil rights issues. He said it was the first time he’s spoken on House Bill 6341, which is called the Michigan Anti-Bias Crime Statute.

The legislation would not create a new or separate crime, but it would give judges the option of enhancing sentences on hate crimes. It would also include discrimination against disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression of gender as a bias-motivated crime.

Right now, there is no difference between a normal crime and a hate crime, he said, making it difficult for prosecutors to discipline discriminatory acts. The pending legislation would include tougher punishment for crimes in which there is malicious intent. The current law requires injury to a person or property in order for a crime to be charged.

The legislation would not have changed an incident at CMU last November when a 28-year-old male engineering student hung four nooses made of plastic tubing in a classroom in the Industrial Engineering and Technology building. Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick found no evidence of malicious intent in that case.

But if he had, stronger punishment could have been levied at the perpetrator, Levy said.

He told a story – one that the CMU community can relate to – to illustrate his point.

“If I hang a noose from a tree in your front yard,” Levy said, “it should not depend on if the bark on your tree is damaged. It should depend on my intent to hang it.”

While informing the public on the legislation is important, he said, informative presentations also help fight against disinformation. Opponents to the legislation might say it will infringe on free speech, “which is false,” Levy said.

Will Westerfield, secretary of the diversity group, thought the presentation was valuable.

“The goal of the bill is to promote a unified Michigan, and to promote diversity,” Westerfield said.

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