Governor Bruce Rauner is announcing new plans to step up the state’s efforts to fight hate crimes. The Governor says we live in turbulent times, citing recent acts of hatred like cemetery vandalism and bomb threat at a Jewish Day School in Chicago. Governor Rauner laid out initiatives to curb hate fueled violence at a dinner held by the Illinois Holocaust Museum, such as a bill creating tough penalties for hate crimes committed against churches and religious centers.
Rauner says he also wants to expand anti-hate education in schools and to create a standardized training program for police statewide on responding to hate crimes.