(Columbia, SC) - Hate crimes legislation will be considered by the full South Carolina Senate.
The Clementa Pinckney Hate Crimes Act would enact additional penalties for crimes targeting the victim based on race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality or religion.
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the measure 15 to 8 after survivors of the Mother Emanuel AME Church massacre spoke in favor of the bill.
It was already passed by the South Carolina House earlier this month.