Coeur d'Alene City Council to consider hate crime ordinance

The Coeur d’Alene City Council will consider a new chapter to the city's municipal code to combat hate crimes when it meets Tuesday.

The new chapter will create a separate offense if a person commits a current offense, such as malicious injury to property and disorderly conduct, "because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or national origin," according to a city press release on Thursday.

A city report said, "The criminalization of this behavior will enable the city to prosecute racially motivated crimes, leading to separate charges and enhanced penalties in appropriate cases."

"The proposed chapter demonstrates the city’s commitment to ensuring that our citizens and visitors are treated with respect and dignity," the release said.

The city has had two reported racial incidents this year, one involving the University of Utah women's basketball team in downtown Coeur d'Alene that received national attention, and one involving students from the Coeur d'Alene Tribal School at McEuen Park.

“It is imperative that the City of Coeur d’Alene does everything possible to protect the rights of all individuals," said Mayor Jim Hammond in the press release.

Councilmember Amy Evans said, "Hateful behavior will not be tolerated in our community."

She added that this new chapter of the code "is a critical step to show our ongoing commitment to fighting racism and discrimination in Coeur d’Alene.”

The city council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Coeur d'Alene Library Community Room.