A Virginia law, which went into effect on Tuesday, makes it a felony to vandalize private property with a swastika “with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons,” ARLnow reported.
The bill, HB 2783, passed the Virginia legislature in April.
The law creates a Class 6 felony for placing a swastika on someone’s private property without the owner’s permission.
If the swastika is “placed on a highway or other public place in a manner to place another person in reasonable fear or apprehension of death or bodily injury,” the action is also punishable under the new law.
Class 6 felonies carry prison terms of one to five years. They allow for lesser sentences, potentially with fines up to $2,500.
The law states that the Nazi swastika is different from similar symbols used to refer to peace and prosperity in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Native American religions.
“We are pleased to see how Virginia is tackling growing hate while being sensitive to minority groups that revere the swastika,” stated Nikunj Trivedi, president of the Coalition of Hindus of North America.
Under prior Virginia law, such an action was already a Class 6 felony to intimidate others by placing a swastika on a church, synagogue or other place used for religious worship, as well as any school, educational facility or community center owned or operated by a religious body.
