JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new anti-hate legislation is being introduced by Jacksonville City Council members eight months after a racially motivated mass shooting.
The bill creates a zero-tolerance stance on hate and antisemitism in the city.
"We stand here declaring hate is insidious and we must root it out," said Jimmy Peluso, Jacksonville City Councilman, District 7.
Councilmembers and community members stood at the same corner on Almeada Street Monday, where they stood last August after a 21-year-old white man entered a Dollar General and shot and killed three Black people.
On that tragic day, they stood in the same spot calling for action and change. Now, they said the work begins, by introducing new anti-hate legislation.
"I think this hate crime legislation means that everyone matters no matter who they are where they’re from or what side of town they live on," said Dr. Rahman Johnson, Jacksonville City Councilman, District 14.
"If you are promoting animosity, hostility or malice to anyone based on their race, religion, ethnicity, orientation, identity or national origins there will be very real penalties," said Peluso.
The penalties range from a $500 fine to 90 days in jail, depending on the severity of the crime, more jail time, and a bigger fine.
Johnson said he wanted to help introduce the bill since this shooting hit so close to home.
"Injustice amongst or toward one person regardless of why is injustice toward every person is," said Rahman. "I will never, I will never forget that moment."
Johnson was a professor at Edward Waters University, just blocks away from where the Dollar General shooting happened.
"I won’t forget I stood in the street just steps from here and started to pray because there was nothing else I could do. We have to make sure these crimes must stop bias against people in the transgender community, the LGBTQIA community, the Black, the Asian American community, and this bill pushes it further," said Johnson.
District 13 Florida State Representative Angie Nixon is calling on elected officials on all levels to lead by example and pass the bill.
"It starts with us and it starts with the entire community," said Nixon. "I’m happy to have been here and standing in solidarity with these leaders and I want us to continue to move forward."
The bill will be introduced Tuesday night at the Jacksonville City Council meeting and will go through committees and two readings before a final vote.