44-1027. Same; unlawful act; penalties. (a) No person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall by force or threat of force willfully injure, intimidate or interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with:

(1) Any person because of such person's race, religion, color, sex, disability, familial status, national origin or ancestry and because such person is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing or occupation of any real property, or applying for or participating in any service, organization or facility relating to the business of selling or renting real property;

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

(A) Participating, without discrimination on account of race, religion, color, sex, disability, familial status, national origin or ancestry, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in subsection (a)(1); or

(B) affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate; or

(3) any citizen because such citizen is or has been, or in order to discourage such citizen or any other citizen from lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, religion, color, sex, disability, familial status, national origin or ancestry, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in subsection (a)(1), or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate.

(b) Violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment, except that:

(1) If bodily injury results, such violation shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both such fine and imprisonment; and

(2) if death results, such violation shall be punishable by imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

History: L. 1970, ch. 193, § 13; L. 1972, ch. 194, § 13; L. 1991, ch. 147, § 16; January 1, 1992.