The First Amendment will be tested with newly introduced legislation that criminalizes “conspiracy to commit white supremacy,” including criticism of non-white people that influences an individual to commit a hate crime.
H.R.61, the “Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023,” was introduced last week by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and now sits with the Committee on the Judiciary. The bill’s text states that someone 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.”
The National Conservative reported, “It says individuals can be charged with a ‘conspiracy to engage in a White supremacy hate crime’ for crimes or plots they had no actual knowledge of.”
If the language stays as-is, and the bill passes, the legislation brings the thought police into action, as anyone who criticizes or vilifies any “non-White person or group” in a published article or social-media post can be charged with this crime.
The bill’s text is a direct attack on freedom of speech, as it states “white supremacy inspired hate crime shall be determined to exist” when it:
- “was published on a social media platform or by other means of publication with the likelihood that it would be viewed by persons who are predisposed to engaging in any action in furtherance of a white supremacy inspired hate crime, or who are susceptible to being encouraged to engage in actions in furtherance of a white supremacy inspired hate crime.”
- “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 inspired hate crime.”
- “was read, heard, or viewed by a person who engaged in the planning, development, preparation, or perpetration of a white supremacy inspired hate crime.”
That means anyone could be charged with conspiracy to commit a white-supremacy inspired hate crime if someone they have never met or communicated with is accused of “planning, development, preparation, or perpetration” of a crime.
Breitbart shared that the bill “also calls for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to gain ‘authority to conduct operations and activities pursuant’ to what it deems ‘necessary and appropriate to interdict, mitigate, or prevent such action from culminating in violent activity,’” adding, “the bill would grant the department authority to ‘prosecute’ persons engaged in such actions, with ‘records of white supremacy inspired hate crimes’ maintained and annual reports provided.”
This radical overreach of government control didn’t go unnoticed, as congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) tweeted:
Driving home the ludicrous nature of the legislation, one Twitter user wrote:
Another user tweeted:
Representative Jackson Lee also reintroduced H.R.40 on the same day as the “white supremacy” act. That bill is titled the “Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act” and was first introduced in 1989, and has been introduced in every Congress since then. This bill seeks a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery.
Thankfully, since Republicans have a slim majority and control the House, the Leading Against White Supremacy Act of 2023 will most likely never get out of committee or make it to the floor for a vote. What’s worrisome, though, is that Democrats support legislation such as Lee’s attempt to destroy the first amendment.
