Black Man Shot At While Waiting To Go To Work Says South Carolina Needs Hate Crime Law

September 8, 2025

Jarvis McKenzie, a Black man in South Carolina, experienced a racially motivated shooting while waiting for his work ride, highlighting South Carolina's status as one of only two states without hate crime laws. About two dozen local governments in South Carolina have enacted their own hate crime ordinances to pressure the state Senate to vote on legislation that would increase penalties for crimes motivated by hatred based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or ethnicity. Despite pressure from businesses, Charleston church massacre survivors, and even some Republicans, state senators have repeatedly stalled the hate crime bill without allowing a vote.

Who is affected

Black residents of South Carolina like Jarvis McKenzie who experience racially motivated crimes
All potential victims of hate crimes based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or ethnicity in South Carolina
Local governments that have implemented their own limited hate crime ordinances
Law enforcement agencies like Richland County Sheriff's department working with limited tools to address hate crimes
Families of the nine Black worshippers killed in the 2015 Emanuel AME Church shooting

What action is being taken

About two dozen local South Carolina governments are passing their own hate crime ordinances
Business leaders are advocating for a statewide hate crime law
Richland County has charged the white man who shot at McKenzie under their local hate crime ordinance
Sheriff Leon Lott is pushing for hate crime ordinances at the county level
McKenzie is publicly sharing his story to raise awareness about the lack of state hate crime legislation

Why it matters

South Carolina's status as one of only two states without hate crime laws sends what critics call a "subliminal message" that could embolden white supremacists
Local ordinances are limited to misdemeanors with sentences capped at one month, while state legislation could add years to sentences for violent hate crimes
Federal hate crime laws exist but have limitations including inability to prosecute juveniles, limited resources, and decisions made far from local communities
The absence of state hate crime laws has become a significant issue following the 2015 Emanuel AME Church massacre and subsequent racial tensions
Victims like McKenzie now live in fear, with his attorney arguing the lack of legislation suggests South Carolina is a place where racially motivated crimes face less severe consequences

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint