Special Pleading: On the Identity Politics of "Blue Lives Matter"
"Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is currently poised to approve
House Bill 953, which the State Senate approved 33-3 last Tuesday,
following a 91-0 approval in the State House. Known as the 'Blue Lives
Matter' bill, HB953 will extend the list of 'protected classes' recognized by existing Louisiana hate crimes legislation
to include law enforcement professionals and firefighters. In other
words, present or past employment as a cop (or a prison guard, a traffic
officer, etcetera) will now stand alongside 'race, age, gender,
religion, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, national origin,
or ancestry' as a category of identity awarded special protection
against victimization under the law.
Although Louisiana, like most other states, already penalizes people
for assaulting police or interfering with their activities, HB953 will mandate
up to an additional five years of jail for felonies committed against
police and their property, up to six months for misdemeanors, and
escalated fines for both."
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