Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-423 — Burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate; penalty; prima facie evidence of intent

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 5: Activities Tending to Cause Violence, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-423

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-423Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons, to burn, or cause to be burned, a cross on the property of another, a highway or other public place. Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any such burning of a cross shall be prima facie evidence of an intent to intimidate a person or group of persons.

Official sources

Official section text (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate is a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-423.

Which Virginia statute covers burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate?

Burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-423 (Burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate; penalty; prima facie evidence of intent).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.