Biden Signs Bill Named After Emmett Till, Making Lynching a Federal Hate Crime

President Joe Biden has signed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, which now makes lynching a federal hate crime for the first time in U.S. history. 

Now, a crime could “be prosecuted as a lynching when death or serious bodily injury results from a conspiracy to commit a hate crime,” per the Huffington Post, with those convicted facing upwards of 30 years in prison. 

“This afternoon, I’m signing the long overdue Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law — making lynching a federal hate crime, Biden tweeted. 

“Living up to our founding principles as a nation means coming to terms with the sins of our past. Today, we take another step toward that more perfect union,” he added.

This story is being updated.