After a white man allegedly shot at a Black man because of his race, a South Carolina community continues to deal with the consequences of the lack of hate crime laws. Now, lawmakers are proposing legislation that could finally address the state’s troubled history with racism.
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On July 17, a Black man was jogging in Richland County when he was approached by an unknown vehicle around 6 a.m. Surveillance footage captured Jonathan Felkel, a white man, sitting in the driver’s seat of the dark-colored car, according to S.C. Public Radio. That’s when he allegedly grabbed a rifle from his passenger’s seat and fired one shot at the Black man jogging by.
Police say Felkel then put his car in drive while shouting “Keep running, boy” at the victim. The man was not physically harmed during the incident. Police also noted the victim and Felkel live in the same neighborhood but do not know each other. “I was going to shoot at him. I was,” Felkel later told investigators. “I was going to shoot at him.”
During his interview, Felkel allegedly referenced his intent to terrorize the victim. This coupled with other evidence led police to arrest and charge the 33-year-old with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, possession of a weapon during a violence crime and hate intimidation under the Richland County hate crime ordinance, according to Richland County court records.
Felkel is the first man to be charged with hate intimidation in Richland County, according to WIS10. The local hate crime legislation was passed in June as part of ongoing efforts to protect minority groups and hold residents accountable. Despite local efforts in Richland County, South Carolina remains one of only two states without a state-wide hate crime bill.
The CEO of civil rights organization Columbia Urban League, JT McLawhorn, told WIS10, “When we don’t have a hate crime bill, it really sends the impression that it’s not a priority for us… it can have a very detrimental impact on the state of South Carolina on our well-being.” He added, “We must realize is that a race is not given to the swift, but it’s given to those who persevere. So, perseverance is going to be the key to having the state of South Carolina enact a hate crime bill.”
A judge set Felkel’s bail to $1 million, according to News19. Felkel also declined his right to a public defender. He is set to appear in court on Sept. 26, court records show.
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