3/13/17
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) sent a letter to Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin urging him to veto H.B. 14, which would include peace officers and other first responders within the coverage of Kentucky’s hate crimes statute. While LDF supports efforts to advance policing practices that ensure the safety and wellness of both law enforcement and the communities they serve, H.B. 14 is a profoundly inappropriate and misguided proposal for the following reasons:
Hate crimes laws are intended to address crimes motivated by a person’s status as a member of a historically persecuted group.
Kentucky law already confers ample protection to law enforcement.
H.B. 14 is polarizing, harms community-police relations, and does not improve officer safety or wellness.
Read our full letter here.
