(a) A person has the right to engage in lawful activities without being subject to actual or threatened:

1. (1) Physical force or violence against him or her or any other person, or

2. (2) Damage to, destruction of or trespass on property,

   any of which is motivated by race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation or disability.

(b) Whenever any person, whether or not acting under the color of law, intentionally interferes or attempts to interfere with another person's exercise or enjoyment of rights secured by this article or §16B-18-1 et seq. of this code, by actual or threatened physical force or violence against that person or any other person, or by actual or threatened damage to, destruction of or trespass on property, the Attorney General may bring a civil action:

1. (1) For injunctive or other appropriate equitable relief in order to protect the peaceable exercise or enjoyment of the rights secured, or
2. (2) For civil penalties as specified in subsection (c) of this section, or

3. (3) For both equitable relief and civil penalties.

   This action must be brought in the name of the state and instituted in the circuit court for the county where the alleged violator resides or has a principal place of business or where the alleged violation occurred.