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Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh City Code, Title Six entitled "Conduct," Article I, entitled "Regulated Rights and Actions," Chapter 601, entitled "Public Order," to amend the title and substance of Section 601.17 currently reading "RESERVED. (Reserved for future legislation.)" with the title "Hate Crimes," and substantive legislation to provide for additional penalties for criminal conduct motivated by hatred toward certain characteristics of other persons, under certain terms and conditions.
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WHEREAS, the population of the City of Pittsburgh (the "City") is a diverse community of people of every race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability; and
WHEREAS, many among the population of the City, as individuals or as part of a group, have been subjected to acts motivated by hatred toward their actual or perceived characteristics; and
WHEREAS, the commission of criminal acts motivated by hatred toward an individual's or a group's actual or perceived characteristics is contrary to laws and policies of the City; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has enacted, as part of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Title 18, "Crimes and Offenses, Assault" a Chapter 27, entitled "Ethnic Intimidation" to make an additional offense the commission of certain there-specified crimes against persons or property "with malicious intention toward the race, color, religion or national origin of another individual or with malicious intention toward the race, color, religion or national origin of another individual or group of individuals;" and
WHEREAS, the City finds that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has not included within its definition of "Ethnic Intimidation" crimes motivated by hatred toward the actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability of an individual or group of individuals; and
WHEREAS, the FBI most recently publish...
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