If you ever need convincing that South Carolina desperately is in want of a hate crimes law, all you have to do is watch a despicable video taken on Sullivan’s Island last week.
Simply put, it showed hate, vitriol and malice spewing from the mouth of a White man jeering at a pair of Latino workers in a vehicle. The 33-year-old man was obviously trying to scare the driver and passenger that they were about to be deported — and their fear was palpable, even over a video.
“You got caught, bo,” the man poked in a one-sided exchange that went viral. “Where you from, Mexico? You from Mexico? You’re going back to Mexico.” Then the man switched to a bad Hispanic accent, further pressing, “You can’t drive. You got no license.” And then, the man reached in and took the vehicle’s keys out of the ignition.
It’s easy to imagine this incident happening 75 years ago during Jim Crow and the civil rights era in Alabama, Mississippi and, yes, South Carolina. But today? Not acceptable.
Fortunately, somebody called this bully on his bullshit after he upped the ante and called Sullivan’s Island police, complaining that someone was operating a vehicle on Ion Avenue without a license.
It didn’t take long for police to get a fuller picture through what they called a “disturbing” video. “This video displayed possible criminal actions by the caller that were not initially reported to police while on-scene.”
Police arrested Sean Michael-Emmrich Johnson, 33, of Huger, on Jan. 31 on a felony count of kidnapping and three misdemeanors – impersonating a law enforcement officer, larceny/fraudulent removal or secreting of personal property, and assault and battery in the third degree. On Feb. 3, police added two more kidnapping charges. Johnson posted a total bond of more than $231,000 and is out of the county jail pending court.
Almost 10 years ago, another hater, Dylann Roof, shot and killed nine worshippers at Emanuel AME Church. And still, South Carolina still does not have a hate crimes law. It’s only one of two states without such legislation.
In the case of Johnson, it’s clear authorities used kidnapping charges to send a serious message about what happened that afternoon on Sullivan’s Island, particularly after removal of vehicle keys made it impossible for the victims to leave.
South Carolina lawmakers need to move with all haste to pass a hate crimes law so police have more tools to deal with hate. In our nation’s highly charged political climate today, racism, hate, retribution and vengeance make headlines on a daily basis. Law enforcement authorities need to be able to root out societal evil by having the tools they need to do their job.
South Carolina legislators: Stop sitting on your hands. Pass a law against hate crimes now, just like 48 states already have done.
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