Anti-Lynching legislation first made it's way into Congress in 1922. It was filibusters and never passed. Subsequently, the language of the 1922 Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill was the foundation of multiple Anti-Lynching Bills presented to Congress. All of which failed.

June 2018, Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) presented the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act. A bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime. It was voted on by the Senate but failed to be acted upon by the House. This past February 2020, the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Bill was passed. It was introduced by Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL). Between the Justice for Victims of Lunching act and the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Bill, it was assured that there would finally be measures taken against those that would commit such atrocious racial terrorism that has already claimed over 4,000 African American lives. 

Today, this bill is still on hold as Sentor Rand Paul has objected to it's passing. He considers the language "too broad," despite the bill being accepted as a bipartisan effort. “Under the statute as written, bruises could be considered lynching. That’s a problem, to put someone in jail for 10 years for some kind of altercation. And it also I think demeans how horrible lynching actually was,” - Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)

To that, I say to Senator:

How dare you?

Your opinion on the definition of lynching doesn't matter. Nobody asked you because you never had to go through it. If some escaped a lynching with a few minor bruises. They're still a lynching survivor. To only make lynching the most extreme case is the exact problem America has. America has constantly minimalized the experiences of Black Americans. You've generalized our history into oversimplified digestible chunks that you can spew when it serves you. That is why MLK's legacy is misappropriated. That is why we are told, "Slavery was long ago." 186 Black bodies were brutilized by lynching in the very state that you serve. Your opposition to this bill speaks volumes to the Black Kentuckians that you serve. Furthermore, you are using this bill as a prop for personal political visibility. You are bringing attention to yourself and your base on the 4,000 lynched Black bodies. You have zero grasp of the depth and range of lynchings in America. So, you DO NOT get to set the bar on what is too little and too great a definition of it is. You DO NOT get to be the tone police for this bill. It is best that you sit behind your desk, sign the bill and be quiet.

With this petition I demand that you sign this bill into law. If Rand Paul insists on obstructing justice and a form of reconciliationfor Black Americans, I demand of Senator Mitch McConnell to bring it to the floor for a vote.