SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee has signed legislation to update the state's hate crime law to include defacement of public property.
The bill was originally introduced by Sen. Andy Billig in response to the vandalism of LGBTQ+ landmarks in Spokane in October. The legislation reportedly closed a loop hole in the state's current law by redefining the hate crime statute to include destruction and vandalism of public property.
In September of last year, the Pride crosswalk outside of Odyssey Youth Movement in the Perry District was vandalized. Then, just one month later, the pride crosswalk in front of Riverfront Park was vandalized with white splashes of paint.
"Our state has passed important laws to protect people targeted for what they look like, who they love, or how they pray,” Billig said. “This legislation strengthens our hate crime laws by adding our shared public spaces and symbols of inclusion while sending a strong message of unity against these heinous attacks.”
According to Billig, to be found guilty under the statute, a person "must act maliciously and intentionally based on a person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, or mental, physical, or sensory disability."
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