Bill Summary
The Civil Rights Legacy Protection Act aims to prevent the destruction of civil rights memorials and other structures that commemorate important events and figures from the Civil Rights Movement and other social movements. The Act adds a new section to the United States Code, which prohibits intentionally defacing, damaging, or destroying these protected memorials, and establishes penalties for those who do so. The Act also requires the United States Commission on Civil Rights to develop and maintain a list of covered civil rights events and figures, which will be published on the Department of Justice website. This Act serves to protect and preserve the physical representations of the fight for civil rights in the United States.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect people by preventing them from intentionally defacing, damaging, or destroying protected memorials commemorating covered civil rights events or figures. This could potentially lead to fines, community service, or imprisonment for those who violate the law.
2. The United States Commission on Civil Rights may develop a list of covered civil rights events and figures, which could potentially include events and people that are not currently recognized or celebrated. This could bring attention to lesser known individuals and events in the civil rights movement and honor their contributions.
3. The list of protected memorials and figures may be subject to yearly review and modification, potentially leading to the addition or removal of certain memorials or figures. This could spark debate and discussion about which events and people should be recognized and could potentially lead to controversy.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6026 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6026
To prohibit the destruction of civil rights memorials, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2020
Mr. Cohen (for himself and Mr. Thompson of Mississippi) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the destruction of civil rights memorials, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Civil Rights Legacy Protection
Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON DESTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY.
(a) In General.--Chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 1370. Prohibiting destruction of civil rights memorials
``(a) Destruction of Property.--Whoever, in a circumstance
described in subsection (b), intentionally defaces, damages, or
destroys a protected memorial under subsection (c) or any structure,
plaque, statue, or monument on public property that commemorates a
covered civil rights event or a covered civil rights figure shall--
``(1) in the case that such defacement, damage, or
destruction is in an amount that is equal to or less than
$5,000, be required to complete up to 300 hours of community
service, fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than a
year; or
``(2) in the case that such defacement, damage, or
destruction is in an amount that is more than $5,000, be fined
under this title or imprisoned not more than 3 years.
``(b) Circumstances.--A circumstance described in this subsection
is that--
``(1) in committing the offense described in subsection
(a), the defendant travels or causes another to travel in
interstate or foreign commerce, or uses the mail or an
instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce; or
``(2) the structure, plaque, statue, or monument described
in subsection (a) is located on property owned by, or under the
jurisdiction of, the Federal Government.
``(c) Protected Memorials.--The following are protected memorials:
``(1) Emmett Till Memorial, Mississippi.
``(2) Mississippi Freedom Trail Markers, Mississippi.
``(3) Edmund Pettus Bridge, Alabama.
``(4) Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, Alabama.
``(5) Civil Rights Memorial Center, Memorial to Peace &
Justice, Alabama.
``(6) Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, Virginia.
``(7) Landmark for Peace Memorial in Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Park, Indiana.
``(8) Harriet Ross Tubman Memorial, Massachusetts.
``(9) National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel,
Tennessee.
``(10) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument, Colorado.
``(11) Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National
Monument, Maryland.
``(12) African American Civil War Memorial, Washington, DC.
``(13) Freedom Riders National Monument, Alabama.
``(14) African Burial Ground National Monument, New York.
``(15) Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument,
Ohio.
``(16) Reconstruction Era National Park, South Carolina.
``(17) George Washington Carver National Monument,
Missouri.
``(18) Medgar and Myrlie Evers National Monument,
Mississippi.
``(19) Markers on the Civil Rights Trail.
``(d) Restitution.--Whoever is convicted of an offense under this
section shall be ordered to pay restitution.
``(e) Covered Events and Figures.--In this section--
``(1) the term `covered civil rights figure' means any
figure on the list submitted by the United States Commission on
Civil Rights pursuant to section 3(a) of the Civil Rights
Legacy Protection Act; and
``(2) the term `covered civil rights event' means any event
on the list submitted by the United States Commission on Civil
Rights pursuant to section 3(a) of the Civil Rights Legacy
Protection Act.''.
(b) Table of Sections.--The table of sections for chapter 65 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following item:
``1370. Prohibiting destruction of civil rights memorials.''.
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the United States Commission on Civil Rights shall develop
and submit to the Attorney General a list of covered civil rights
events and covered civil rights figures as follows:
(1) Covered civil rights event.--For purposes of developing
a list of covered civil rights events, the United States
Commission on Civil Rights shall include on the list any event
that--
(A) memorializes the struggle to secure equal
rights for groups suffering from discrimination on the
basis of race, religion, disability, gender identity,
or sexual orientation during the Civil Rights Movement
and other social movements; and
(B) left a positive impression on a unit of local
government, a State, or the United States.
(2) Covered civil rights figure.--For purposes of
developing a list of covered civil rights figures, the United
States Commission on Civil Rights shall include on the list any
person who--
(A) is known for dedication and advocacy toward
expanding personal civil liberties and ending racial
and other forms of discrimination, disenfranchisement,
and segregation; or
(B)(i) worked to secure equal rights for groups
suffering from discrimination on the basis of race,
religion, disability, gender identity, or sexual
orientation during the Civil Rights Movement and other
social movements; and
(ii) has left a positive impression and legacy on a
unit of local government, a State, or the United
States.
(b) Modifications to List.--The United States Commission on Civil
Rights shall review annually and modify as necessary the list submitted
by the Commission pursuant to (a).
(c) Publishing List.--The Attorney General shall ensure that the
list submitted by the United States Commission on Civil Rights pursuant
to subsection (a), and any modifications made by the Commission
pursuant to subsection (b), shall be made available to the public on
the Department of Justice website.
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