House passes historic legislation to make lynching a federal hate crime

The Hill logoThe House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed historic legislation that would classify lynching as a federal hate crime.

The Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which passed on a 410-4 vote, was introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.). It is named after Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy who was lynched in 1955 in Mississippi.

Independent Rep. Justin Amash (Mich.) and GOP Reps. Louie Gohmert(Texas), Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Ted Yoho (Fla.) voted against the bill. Continue reading.