Tracy Strombom

I believe SB464 would gut civil rights enforcement. It is already very difficult to prove any civil rights violation. The wording of this bill is incredibly vague and raises the burden of proof so high as to prevent successful litigation. How can a prosecutor prove that actions were "substantially motivated by hostility". What does that mean? Any defendant could claim that they were angry at the time of the action because of something that the person or persons might have done. They weren't "substantially motivated" just angry. In the case of racial discrimination any defendant can point to having a black friend or black co-workers and say they had no racist intent because of those relationships. The writing of a bill like this assumes that white people have suffered greatly from illegitimate claims of discrimination. That is not the case. It is incredibly difficult to get people to go forward with a complaint. I have served as a member of the Manchester branch of the NAACP. We take reports of discrimination and try to help people with those reports. When we hear about discrimination we tell people that they can file a complaint through our branch. Most of those people do not. They fear the repercussions. I can verify that even those who do file reports are afraid of what will happen to them if they file but decide to go ahead. Similarly women, disabled people and others fear repercussions whenever they stand up against discrimination. SB464 would cement that fear into New Hampshire law because anyone who had suffered discrimination would know that they would probably lose any case they filed and would pay for it dearly. Please vote against this bill.