Reps. Taylor, Bacon, Cisneros, and Moulton Introduce Legislation to Make Lynching a Federal Crime

Press Release

Today, Representatives Van Taylor (R-TX-03), Gil Cisneros (D-CA-39), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), and Seth Moulton (D-MA-06) introduced bipartisan legislation amending the United States Code to criminalize lynching and provide for enhanced sentencing under existing federal hates crimes statutes.

H.R. 3536, the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019, would recognize that a lynching offense is a tool used to intimidate and deny civil rights based on personal prejudices - making the act of lynching a federal crime.
"While no legislation can undo the atrocities of our nation's past, we can take steps to ensure such transgressions never occur again," said Rep. Taylor. "I'm proud to work with my colleagues to heal the wounds of America's past."

"It is unacceptable that Congress has failed to acknowledge the horror and violence of lynchings and seek justice for victims," said Rep. Cisneros. "Our nation has no room for hate. Congressional action to pass anti-lynching legislation is long overdue, and I look forward to working with Representatives Bacon, Moulton, and Taylor and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this much needed legislation to the President's desk."

"One of the most depressing experiences I've had in the last year is visiting the The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. It's deeply disturbing that American communities across this country essentially condoned hate-filled murder, and it wasn't all that long ago," Rep. Moulton said. "Near the end of the memorial, I spoke with a black mother with two young kids, and I said, 'I can't imagine how you explain this to your children.' We have a lot of work to do as a country to atone for these crimes and their legacy of oppression through discriminatory voting rights, unfair housing policy, and unjust criminal sentencing. This bill is a small step in the right direction."

"Sadly, my own District has a horrible stain in its past with the lynchings of Will Brown and George Smith, both murdered at the hands of lawless and angry mobs in Omaha," said Rep. Bacon. "We cannot simply wash away the past, but we can try to honor the victims by acknowledging that lynching is a terroristic crime that was frequently used to intimidate and oppress African-Americans. I'm proud to have Reps. Cisneros, Moulton and Taylor join me in this rightful redress of those barbaric lynchings so we can reflect the words written on Will Brown's tombstone, "Lest We Forget'."

Dating back to 1918, there have been 200 failed attempts to pass anti-lynching legislation and now is the time to for Congress to right this shameful failure to criminalize this act. It is an instrument of terror and intimidation. According to the Tuskegee Institute, 4,743 people were lynched in the U.S. between 1882 and 1968 of various ethnicities, the majority being African-American.

The complete text of H.R. 3536, the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019 can be found here.

Companion legislation to H.R. 3536 was introduced by Senator Kamala Harris. S. 488, the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2019 was passed by the United States Senate on February 14, 2019.

A 7th generation Texan, Congressman Van Taylor is a dedicated family man, successful businessman, and decorated Marine Officer. Taylor served Collin County both in the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate. Today, Taylor is proud to serve on the House Committee on Education and Labor as well as the House Committee on Homeland Security.

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