Spartanburg Advocacy Group Pushes for Hate Crime Ordinance as Statewide Law Remains Absent

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A local advocacy group is calling on Spartanburg leaders to take action where state lawmakers have not. The Spartanburg Initiative for Racial Equity (SIREN) is urging the city council to adopt a hate crime ordinance, pointing out that South Carolina is one of just two states without a statewide hate crime law.

Calls for Local Action

Despite federal protections, SIREN leaders argue that local ordinances are essential for making residents feel safe and included. Tony Tanner of SIREN said the proposal is about more than punishment — it’s about affirming the city’s values.

“This pertains to their residents. This is making their city feel safer. It’s also telling them that, hey, you can live in the city and be who you are and be safe.”

According to FBI Crime Data Explorer, the Spartanburg Police Department reported five hate crime incidents in December 2023. While the number may seem small, SIREN insists that even a single case is too many.

Proposed Ordinance Modeled After Other Cities

SIREN has already drafted language for a local ordinance. It would impose additional penalties for crimes committed with a hate component, similar to measures passed in Greenville and other South Carolina cities.

Colby King of SIREN explained the group’s intent:

“As we have drafted it, it would add additional or create additional penalties for crimes where someone is committing a crime with a hate component.”

In other cities, those penalties have included misdemeanor charges and fines up to $500, designed both as punishment and deterrence.

Support From Local Leaders

Spartanburg City Councilwoman Meghan Smith expressed support for the ordinance, saying it would allow the city to act where the state legislature has stalled.

“When our state legislature fails to act on these important things, it’s up to us at the city and the local level to pass an ordinance to express our values, that we are a welcoming place.”

For supporters, adopting a hate crime ordinance would send a clear message that the city stands against targeted violence and discrimination.

What Happens Next

Although no date has been set for when the ordinance will be placed on the city council’s agenda, SIREN leaders have pledged to keep pressing until the measure is heard. They said they will continue advocating at upcoming meetings to ensure that the ordinance is prioritized as a tool to enhance community safety and inclusivity.

Do you think Spartanburg should take the lead on passing a hate crime ordinance while South Carolina continues to lack a statewide law? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.