In Illinois, Attorney General Kwame Raoul has set a clear precedent with a recent legal victory in a civil hate crime lawsuit. According to the Illinois Attorney General's office, a Carroll County Circuit Court judge ordered two individuals to pay upwards of $90,000 for what has been described as a racially motivated campaign of intimidation against their Black neighbor.
"This behavior is shocking, racist and un-American. I appreciate the judge’s order that shows such despicable behavior will not be tolerated in our state," Raoul stated. These forceful words reflect the gravity of the offense committed by Chad Hampton, 49, of Victoria, Illinois, and Cheryl Hampton, 70, of Rock Island, Illinois. The pair was found guilty of violating the Illinois Hate Crime Act through their intimidation and disorderly conduct towards Gregory Johnson, their neighbor.
A comprehensive lawsuit was filed by Raoul's office in June 2022, detailing the Hamptons' engagement in a persistent barrage of racist acts designed to intimidate their neighbor. Instances included the display of a racial slur placed prominently in front of a Confederate flag and the presentation of swastikas. However, the escalation peaked with a grim tableau: a noose used to hang an effigy of a Black man, an action grossly reminiscent of America's darkest histories of lynching, was staged within view of Johnson's residence.
In the wake of these disturbing events, Chad and Cheryl Hampton faced a significant penalty, with each required to pay a $5,000 civil penalty and additional actual and punitive damages amounting to $45,000 each to the victim, Gregory Johnson. The damages, totaling over $90,000, mark a firm response from the judicial system in the face of hate-based transgressions. The public should be forewarned that the related complaint and evidence presented in court are of a nature that may be upsetting to many.
This case signifies the first utilization of expanded authority granted under a 2018 amendment to the Illinois Hate Crimes Act, which permits the Attorney General's office to prosecute via civil lawsuits against hate crime offenders. The landmark ruling underscores the reinforced capabilities of Raoul's Civil Rights Bureau, which the Attorney General asserts will continue to be leveraged in combating hate crimes within Illinois.
Individuals experiencing discrimination or witnessing hate crimes are encouraged to reach out to the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau. Engagement with the bureau can be initiated through an email to [email protected] or by calling the Civil Rights Hotline at 1-877-581-3692. The pursuit of justice proceeded on the efforts of Deputy Bureau Chief Mary Grieb and Assistant Attorney General Angelys Torres McBride, marking a decisive step forward in the state's stance against racial hate and intimidation.
