Natural State News

Edmond Davis, the director of the Derek Olivier Research Institute (DORI) for the Prevention of Violence, recently voiced his opinion on Gov. Asa Hutchinson's decision to proclaim March 5 Wrightsville 69 Memorial Day.

According to THV 11 News, Hutchinson recently declared March 5 Wrightsville 69 Memorial Day, a day to honor the victims of a racist attack on March 5, 1959 when 69 boys at the Negro Boys Industrial School woke to find the school set on fire and the exits locked. The March 5, 1959 fire claimed the lives of 21 students and forever scarred the lives of their families and the survivors. Davis said this proclamation was needed, but that the governor could do much more to address issues of racial violence.  

"I firmly disagree with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for signing the SB 24 Stand Your Ground Bill & for not advocating for Arkansas to have a Hate Crime Bill," Davis said in a March 5 Facebook post. "Both of these measures are more important than this Proclamation yet it was needed. Arkansas is a better state without SB 24 and with a Hate Crime Bill signed. African American males and other minorities of color are at an even greater risk now with nine more Gun Shows forthcoming to central Arkansas. Less accountability and more gun deaths is what this means."

A current proposal for an Arkansas Hate Crime Bill would impose up to 20% in additional jail time or fines for targeting someone because of factors, including race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. Hutchinson supports a Hate Crime Bill, but efforts to implement one are currently in jeopardy because conservatives object to including protections for LGBT individuals, according to AP News. 

Arkansas is one of only three states in the U.S. to not have a hate crime bill, the other two being Wyoming and South Carolina.

The controversial SB 24 Stand Your Ground Bill allows armed individuals to use deadly force to defend themselves if they believe they are in imminent danger.