ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL IS FILING HIS OFFICE’S FIRST HATE CRIME LAWSUIT. 

THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN CARROLL COUNTY AGAINST A MOTHER AND ADULT SON WHO ALLEGEDLY SPENT MONTHS HARASSING THEIR BLACK NEIGHBOR. THIS INCLUDED HANGING A BOUND AND CHAINED EFFIGY OF THEIR NEIGHBOR FROM A TREE IN THEIR FRONT YARD SAYS ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL.

THE SUIT SEEKS CIVIL PENALTIES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF. RAOUL SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE HATE CRIMES AND SEND A MESSAGE THAT HATE AND BIGOTRY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN ILLINOIS.