Louisiana is expanding its hate-crimes law to include attacks on firefighters, police officers and other first responders. The bill, also known as the “Blue Lives Matter” bill, is expected to be signed into law by the governor, and according to CNN, will be the first of its kind in the country.
State Rep. Lance Harris authored the bill after Darren Goforth, a Texas sheriff’s deputy, was shot and killed. “It looked like it was strictly done because someone didn’t like police officers, like a hate crime,” Harris said. “If you’re going to have an extensive hate crime statute then we need to protect those that are out there protecting us on a daily basis.”
But the Anti-Defamation League isn’t happy about the bill, which has already cleared both chambers of the Louisiana legislature and is just awaiting the signature of Gov. John Bel Edwards. ADL Regional Director Allison Padilla-Goodman released a statement that, according to The Root, said: “Adding professional categories to the current hate crimes statute deters efforts from protecting against identity-based crimes.”
