Heaven Forbid That Mikulski Should Do Something Good For People Today

[vraiblonde]

Maybe I do not understand what "lynching" is. Isn't that when a mob kills someone? The only acquaintance I have with lynching is from movies where the local KKK rousts some black farmer and hangs him. And it's my understanding that that sort of behavior is already against the law. So what is Mikulski talking about?

 

[Lenny]

Maybe I do not understand what "lynching" is. Isn't that when a mob kills someone? The only acquaintance I have with lynching is from movies where the local KKK rousts some black farmer and hangs him. And it's my understanding that that sort of behavior is already against the law. So what is Mikulski talking about?

Mikulski (and 100% of those who approved the resolution in the Senate) believes it wasn't against the law enough. The federal government didn't outlaw it (probably because it didn't fit the criterion for inter-state commerce) and make it a federal crime to lynch someone in the south. It was not made a federal crime to lynch a Native American who got off the reservation either (but they are a small voting block on Maryland anyway)

 

[aps45819]

Sure, why not. Some of them might still be registered voters.

Only in Baltimore

Maybe I do not understand what "lynching" is. Isn't that when a mob kills someone? And it's my understanding that that sort of behavior is already against the law. So what is Mikulski talking about?

Yes, a mob killing someone was already against state law, but there was no federal law against it. Southern senators always blocked it under the guise of State's Rights. The problem was some states didn't want to prosecute upstanding members of the community for getting rid of problem neighbors.

 

[Wickedwrench]

Maybe I do not understand what "lynching" is. Isn't that when a mob kills someone? The only acquaintance I have with lynching is from movies where the local KKK rousts some black farmer and hangs him. And it's my understanding that that sort of behavior is already against the law. So what is Mikulski talking about?

This is my thought exactly.

 

[Ken King]

There has been a Federal Murder Statute since 1948, from some quick research. Why Federal Prosecutors didn't take action when states didn't is open for debate, but it certainly wasn't because there wasn't a law for it.

 

[Tonio]

Maybe I do not understand what "lynching" is. Isn't that when a mob kills someone? The only acquaintance I have with lynching is from movies where the local KKK rousts some black farmer and hangs him. And it's my understanding that that sort of behavior is already against the law. So what is Mikulski talking about?

I once saw photos from the 1890s where white lynchers posed for photos while their black victim was being burned alive. They weren't wearing hoods, either, so they obviously had no fear of being prosecuted for murder.