Victims in Horry County cross-burning press for South Carolina hate crimes law at Statehouse rally
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW) — A Black Conway couple who were subjected to a cross burned in their direction over Thanksgiving weekend pressed South Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday to finally adopt a hate crimes bill.
Monica and Shawn Williams were invited guests of State Sen. Ronnie Sabb, a Greeleyville Democrat, at a Liberty and Justice Rally promoting progressive causes and racial equality.
The Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act is currently awaiting action by the full Senate. It approved there and signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster, it would enhance penalties for people convicted of committing a crime based on somebody’s race, color, gender, sexual orientation and other factors – adding fines of up to $10,000 and five years in prison for violators.
Currently, just South Carolina and Wyoming are without a hate crimes bill on the books.
Alexis Paige Hartnett and Worden Evander Butler, both of Conway, have been charged with second-degree harassment in connection with the Nov. 24 incident. They are accused of using racially abusive language toward the Williams’ and setting a cross on fire that faced their neighbor’s home.
They’re both due in court on March 6.
FBI agents last month searched the Corbett Drive home that Butler and Hartnett share as part of an “ongoing civil rights investigation,” the agency said.
The cross burning incident has spurred previous calls for the South Carolina General Assembly to move forward with a hate-crime law that has lingered without approval in the Legislature.
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
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