Orangeburg City Council voted to approve a hate intimidation ordinance during its meeting Tuesday night aimed at protecting residents from acts of intimidation or harassment based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and other protected classes.

Making it unlawful for any person to cause fear of harm, injury or damage to a victim or property, penalties for violating the ordinance include:

A fine of up to $500

A misdemeanor charge or up to 30 days in jail, or both at the discretion of the judge

Emphasizing the significance of the ordinance, Orangeburg Mayor Michael C. Butler said, “Passing the Hate Intimidation Ordinance is a major step in ensuring that every resident of Orangeburg feels safe, respected, and valued in our community. Our city stands firmly against acts of hate a

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