US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      (a)      Whether or not acting under color of law it is unlawful for any person, by force or threat of force, to willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with:

            (1)      Any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, or national origin and because the person is or has been:

                  (i)      Selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing, or occupation of any dwelling; or

                  (ii)      Applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings;

            (2)      Any person because the person is or has been, or in order to intimidate the person or any other person or any class of persons from:

                  (i)      Participating without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, or national origin in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or

                  (ii)      Affording another person or class of persons the opportunity or protection to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or

            (3)      Any person because the person is or has been, or in order to discourage the person or any other person from:

                  (i)      Lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, or national origin, in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or

                  (ii)      Participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

      (b)      (1)      Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, any person who is convicted of violating subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 1 year or both.

            (2)      A person who is convicted of violating subsection (a) of this section shall be:

                  (i)      If the violation results in bodily injury, fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 10 years or both; or

                  (ii)      If the violation results in death, subject to imprisonment for any term of years or for life.