Harassing homeless now a crime in Seattle

In a unanimous vote, the Seattle City Council on Monday passed a measure that makes harassing a homeless person a hate crime.

Under a law sponsored by council president Nick Licata, homeless people are now among those protected by the city's hate crime law prohibiting malicious harassment. The law already bars malicious harassment based upon gender identity, marital status, political ideology, age and parental status.

The law also makes it illegal to damage the belongings of a homeless person.

The move was considered largely symbolic because the city rarely charges people with malicious harassment. If a case is serious enough, it is typically forwarded to the King County Prosecutor's Office for possible charges under the state's law on malicious harassment.

Still, the proposal enjoyed the support of the full council, City Attorney Tom Carr, Mayor Greg Nickels and advocates for the homeless.