The Washington Post Featured Historical Insight from Sociology Faculty Amy Kate Bailey on Making Lynching a Federal Hate Crime
Historical insight and comments from Amy Kate Bailey, UIC associate professor of sociology, are featured in The Washington Post's “Morning Mix” blog story about the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote next week to make lynching a federal hate crime, which was originally considered by the House in 1900. Bailey, who is co-author of "Lynched: The Victims of Southern Mob Violence," says that white lawmakers used "states' rights" as an excuse to refuse to support anti-lynching legislation for decades as Congress failed to pass similar bills almost 200 times since. While the upcoming House vote may be symbolic to a certain extent, it is particularly important to the descendants of lynching victims and not an issue that is “somehow buried in the past,” she said. "Anyone who wants to suggest that we're actually beyond a point of racial tensions that could spill over into some sort of violence, I think they're fooling themselves," she told the Post. "I think we need a federal protection, particularly given the level of rhetoric that seems to be gaining currency again today." https://wapo.st/32qrhBL (subscription may be required)