Local Hate Crime Ignored by Media Surfaces After Guilty Verdict

RMNIXON · 01-27-2007, 02:48 PM

9 Youths Convicted in Halloween Beatings

By GREG RISLING

The Associated Press
Saturday, January 27, 2007; 4:17 AM

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Nine black youths were convicted Friday in juvenile court of beating three white women in a racially charged attack on Halloween night.

The youths, ranging from 12 to 18 years old, could receive sentences from probation to confinement in juvenile prison until age 25. All were charged with felony assault. The judge found eight of them guilty of hate crimes.

The attack occurred in an upscale area of the city known for its elaborate Halloween decorations.

Prosecutors said the confrontation began when a crowd of black youths threw objects at the three young white women. Some hurled racial insults and one was heard shouting "I hate whites," authorities said.
The group then attacked the victims, knocking them to the ground. The beating stopped when a black man driving by pulled the assailants away and shielded the women with his body, prosecutors said.

A 12-year-old girl was acquitted. And two 15-year-old boys face trial later on felony assault charges.

Defense attorneys tried to discredit a key prosecution witnesses, saying it was too dark and she was too far away to see the assailants. They also deemed a police identification procedure "tainted" because the victims and witnesses were not asked to describe the attackers until they were shown the 10 suspects.

About 100 people gathered outside the courthouse to learn the verdicts.
"Today's not a happy day," said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Brian Schirn. "The victims still have to undergo physical treatment, emotional treatment."

Mark Crouch, 43, whose 14-year-old daughter was convicted, said he disagreed with the hate-crime finding. "It's not right to say she doesn't like white people," he said. "All we can do now is move on."

A representative of the beaten women, Douglas Otto, said they felt vindicated by the verdict and hope the defendants will "admit their wrongdoing and let the healing begin."

Long Beach, 22 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, is a major cargo port with a racially diverse population of 475,000 people.

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This story has been in local Long Beach and Los Angeles area papers (Not LA Times) for months. No National Media attention until today. No visits from the Reverend Jesse Jackson. No National Crisis looming. What I have read only in recent weeks is how some prominent members of the Black Community of Long Beach have been supporting the "Guilty" for months now, claiming they are the racial victims and need comminity help to overcome "their" trama. Now you compare this with the PC Orgasm the media had with the phony Duke Lacrosse Case and tell me the media does not have tinted glasses when it comes to what stories have national importance and what does not? Even Fox News fell for the later.

RMNIXON · 01-27-2007, 02:52 PM

Long Beach Press Telegram:

Speaking out for accused minors
Relatives, supporters say civil rights were violated.

By Samantha Gonzaga, Staff writer

Article Launched: 01/24/2007 10:56:13 PM PST

INGLEWOOD - Relatives and supporters of the 10 black youths accused in the beatings of three white women on Halloween held a news conference Wednesday to demand "fairness, justice and equality" for the minors.

They also want to bring attention to what they believe are civil-rights violations suffered by the accused minors.
"We support the parents, we support the children," said Eddy Jones of the Los Angeles Civil Rights Association.

JaJae · 01-27-2007, 02:56 PM

It's refreshing to see minorities get hit with hate crime laws. If we're gonna have them there's no reason to be discriminatory about it.

Diamond Cross · 01-27-2007, 02:58 PM

I hope they throw the book at those sons of bitches. Fairness for the youths, fuck them. What about fairness for the women they attacked?

White people need a spokesman for them against this kind of bullshit, and should not let themselves be walked over in that name of "Fairness" which in this particularr case, and probably many other cases, means they should get away with the crime just because they're black and whitey fucked them over forr hundreds of years.

But the national media won't because it's not really sdensational enough.

But this should also show that hate crimes are real, and are not just thought crimes or that they strive to protect minorities only.

RMNIXON · 01-27-2007, 02:58 PM

Before the verdict, about 100 community activists and friends and family of the defendants held hands in a circle outside the courthouse.

"We're gonna see our babies walk out of that door," said Mollie Bell of Compton. "You got to keep praying."

When the verdict came down against nine of the 10 defendants, activists outside the courthouse denounced the ruling.

"We're very disappointed with the verdict," said Eddie Jones, president of the Los Angeles Civil Rights Association, before leading a chant of "No Justice, No Peace."

"There's a double standard in the whole system," said Tony Muhammad, regional minister for the Nation of Islam, who led part of the prayer. "I'm saying I don't think all of them are guilty."

Muhammad argued the case is being closely watched all over Southern California and that blacks are treated differently than whites in the justice system.

"It's very important because this case shows the double standard," he said.
Muhammad urged those interested in the case not to act out in reaction to the verdict.

"We're doing all we can to ask for calm," he said. "We should not get out of hand."

Naomi Rainey, president of the Long Beach branch of the NAACP, released a statement denouncing all forms of violence.

"The NAACP encourages the community to remain calm and respect the court's decision," Rainey said.
Rainey also called for unity to find remedies to "end all forms of violence, bigotry, racial hatred, stereotypes and judgements that lead to ethnic or other conflicts."

Press-Telegram - `Tragedy for all concerned': L.B. reacts to the verdicts

Diamond Cross · 01-27-2007, 03:02 PM

Racial harmony? I don't think there is such a thing. The truth is the races don't want to learn to live with each other. And blacks don't really want to learn to live with whites.

But eventually it will only hurt people in the long run. As things will get only more violent.

RMNIXON · 01-27-2007, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

I hope they throw the book at those sons of bitches. Fairness for the youths, fuck them. What about fairness for the women they attacked?

White people need a spokesman for them against this kind of bullshit, and should not let themselves be walked over in that name of "Fairness" which in this particularr case, and probably many other cases, means they should get away with the crime just because they're black and whitey fucked them over forr hundreds of years.

But the national media won't because it's not really sdensational enough.

But this should also show that hate crimes are real, and are not just thought crimes or that they strive to protect minorities only.

Did you hear anything about healing and Unity when the Duke Lacrosse case broke by the activist community? Or did you see the same lynch mob demanding Guilty verdicts who have now become invisible as the Prosecutor goes to court?

RMNIXON · 01-27-2007, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

It's refreshing to see minorities get hit with hate crime laws. If we're gonna have them there's no reason to be discriminatory about it.

I don't support Hate Crime Laws. Motive should not be considered until a sentence is given. A reason why a judge should be given some latitude. But you are right. If they are on the books then it should apply with equal force in any case where race or gender is a clear motive. In a section of Los Angles we had a 14 year old black girl just get shot dead by hispanic gang youth as she walked on the border of what is known as black/latino gang territory. Obviously the majority of people in these areas are not racist, but clearly an active youth segment with gang ties are just that.

Diamond Cross · 01-27-2007, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

Did you hear anything about healing and Unity when the Duke Lacrosse case broke by the activist community? Or did you see the same lynch mob demanding Guilty verdicts who have now become invisible as the Prosecutor goes to court?

In the previous post, a quote by Rainey calling for calm.

kinggovernor · 01-27-2007, 04:05 PM

I believe hate crime laws are unconstitutional but this shows what is what with black representative groups. They spend the day fighting for some scumbags rather than focusing on people that are doing good.

northhunter · 01-27-2007, 05:57 PM

Sounds like the "black community" mentioned in the article was against the idea of the youths who did the attack being held accountable at all let alone charged with a hate crime. I mean wanting to "see our babies walk out of there" isn't very realistic.
I had to go back and edit because the leader of the local NAACP did say to respect the decision. My above comment refered to others in the black community.

JaJae · 01-27-2007, 06:08 PM

Mark Crouch, 43, whose 14-year-old daughter was convicted, said he disagreed with the hate-crime finding. "It's not right to say she doesn't like white people," he said.

He's right. Which is why I'm against hate crime laws. We have laws on the books, if there are mitigating or aggravating factors, they should be looked at on a case by case basis. However, it does appear they wouldn't have attacked had the victims been black. And just because one made a racist claim doesn't mean they're all guilty of a hate crime. The whole thing is backwards.

"We support the parents, we support the children," said Eddy Jones of the Los Angeles Civil Rights Association.

They support the criminals? What about the victims? Of all the people's rights who were violated, why support the criminals? It's ridiculous to call themselves a "Civil Rights Association." They should call themselves "Supportive of minority criminals regardless of circumstance."

RMNIXON · 01-27-2007, 06:23 PM

It is possible she was just going along with her friends in the frenzy of the moment? What can you prove? That is why hate crime gets so dangerously close to "thought crime" and mind reading by a jury.

6SpeedTA95 · 01-27-2007, 06:46 PM

I've never understood this type of thing...first of all "hate crimes" are rather odd in and of themselves. Abuse/beating/assult of someone regardless of race is a crime.

I find it disturbing however, that so many black groups rush to the rescue of a bunch real street trash bugs me. Similar deal happened with the guys in the duke rape case. Everyone jumps down their throats, come to find out it was a HUGE cover up that was racially driven and supported by a corrupt DA to get re elected.

motivez · 01-28-2007, 11:00 AM

I agree with JaJae, as long as we have to have "hate crime" laws on the books, it shouldn't just be used against people going after minorities.

Minorities going after majorities for the same racially (etc) motivations should be treated equally.

Diamond Cross · 01-28-2007, 03:00 PM

I don't agree. This is a way of acknowledging the motivation behind the crimed. Motivation is one of the most important way of determining if a crime has been committed. Ut's often said if there's no motivation, there's no crime. It's important to aqcknowledge motivation otherwise why should there be any difference between an accidentaql death or a pre-meditated one if motivation is not important?

It's not thought crime. If it were true thought crime, whyh do cities still allow groups such as the KKK to hold their rallies and express their views? If it was thought crime, then groups like the KKK would never be allowed in the first place and the prisons would be overflowing worse than they are today.

7960 · 01-29-2007, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

I agree with JaJae, as long as we have to have "hate crime" laws on the books, it shouldn't just be used against people going after minorities.

Minorities going after majorities for the same racially (etc) motivations should be treated equally.

Exactly. There should be no debate about this. If they beat them because they were white then it's racially motivated and it's a hate crime. It actually seems to me most of the people of color who are commenting are choosing their words carefully.

I've never quite understood this... if a black kid keys my car and I catch him and beat him then I'm wrong...ok, I get that. But if I use the word "black" while I'm beating him them why is it worse?

AVengeance · 01-30-2007, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Diamond Cross

I hope they throw the book at those sons of bitches. Fairness for the youths, fuck them. What about fairness for the women they attacked?

White people need a spokesman for them against this kind of bullshit, and should not let themselves be walked over in that name of "Fairness" which in this particularr case, and probably many other cases, means they should get away with the crime just because they're black and whitey fucked them over forr hundreds of years.

But the national media won't because it's not really sdensational enough.

But this should also show that hate crimes are real, and are not just thought crimes or that they strive to protect minorities only.

I'm going to start an organization, called SNAB - survivors network of those abused by blacks. (SNAP - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) I'll copy that site, and just put "black" in place of "priest" everywhere.

RMNIXON · 02-11-2007, 06:00 PM

As a follow up which I doubt went beyond local news: All of the defendents found "Guilty" were given the minimum probation and community service. Even though one of the white girls was so badly beaten she was hospitalized with a broken eye socket and other fractures. There were reports of defendents giggling in the court. Many continued to plead innocent after the conviction and identification by a number of witnesses. This including one brave black girl who knew the defendents and was there when the incident happened. Her reward was the need of police protection after gang threats and her car was totaled while parked in front of her own home! There was never an apology or sign of remorse by a single defendent involved. And the reward is that they all got away with it!

motivez · 02-11-2007, 06:20 PM