From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Help  

Burning crosses would be a crime under a bill given first round approval in the House

March 16, 2004
By: Monica Walter
State Capital Bureau

The Missouri House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to a bill making cross burning a crime. Monica Walter reports from the state Capitol.

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Burning a cross with the intent to intimidate someone would mean jailtime.

Supporters of the bill say there have been a few recent cases of cross burning in Missouri.

St. Louis area Representative Esther Haywood says the bill defines the crime....making it easier to prosecute.

Actuality: Haywood2
RunTime: : 11
OutCue:
Contents: " This bill lets people know that if you do it, you will be punished."

Criminals would face up to a year in jail for a first offense and up to seven years for a second offense. From the state Capitol, I'm Monica Walter.

mrw

Date:03-16-04

By: Monica Walter

State Capital Bureau

Burning a cross with the intent to intimidate someone would be punishable by jailtime under a bill approved Tuesday by the Missouri House of Representatives. Monica Walter reports from the state Capitol.

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Sponsors of the bill say Missouri is one of the last states without a law against cross burning.

St. Louis County Representative Esther Haywood says she was surprised to find out that this was not a crime.

Actuality: Haywood1
RunTime: :16
OutCue:
Contents: We were dumbfounded when we found out this wasn't a law, someone could burn a cross in your yard and get away with it.

Haywood says there have been a few cross burning cases recently in Missouri. From the state Capitol, I'm Monica Walter.