Hate Crime??? : Shocking attack, torture of mentally disabled man posted on social media
Police say a man from Crystal Lake was abducted, taken to a Chicago apartment, and tortured. The ordeal was recorded, and the video has been widely viewed and shared on social media. | Screenshot
Chicago Police detectives are questioning four African-Americans suspected of torturing a white mentally disabled man and recording the attack, while someone yelled “F— Trump!” and “F— white people!”
Police officials did not specify which formal charges they were seeking, though they did not rule out classifying the attack as a hate crime.
The case’s executive officer, Steven Sesso of the Harrison District, said officers on patrol Tuesday near Homan and Lexington encountered the man.
“They saw clearly that this individual was in distress and he was in crisis. And they cared enough to do something about it.”
One reason officers initially stopped to talk to the man was that he was wearing shorts despite the day’s frigid temperature, Guglielmi said.
Several videos of the incident were posted on Facebook. In one of them, on a woman’s Facebook page, a man threatens the victim with a knife. Someone tells the victim, “kiss the floor, b—-!” and “nobody can help you anymore.” At one point, someone tells the man, “say ‘I love black people.’ ”
The politically motivated language may have been “stupid ranting and raving,” but police are looking into if the four were sincere and, if so, that could factor into potential hate crime charges, Duffin said.
Sincerity ? THAT is a criteria for determining the extent of a crime? Oh, well, if they did it but really really really didn't mean it, that is different.
In November, the day after the election, an online video showed a man being attacked in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side, while bystanders taunted him, saying he had voted for Donald Trump.
Eventually, four people were charged in connection with that attack.
I personally don't like the idea of hate crimes as it is very evident when some people commit such crimes as this it makes the news as a hate crime and when others do the same thing it is always questionable whether it was a hate crime, usually fading from public view and never becoming a hate crime. It should just be a crime and treated as such.
You probably won't see many if any hate crimes on Southern Poverty Law Centers site.
You should be able to see where this is likely to produce more hate crimes.
I don't think it has been beneficial to our society.
Hundreds if not thousands of threats and crimes against minorities have been reported to SPLC and most without any evidence, but still reported making it misleading and promoting division among the people.
This particular crime will be hot for a day or two on the right wing sites, completely ignored by the left wing sites and MSM. It shouldn't be this way. All crimes of this nature should be treated the same.
The AP report on this didn't mention the race of the people involved or the racial and political invective hurled by the attackers. Remember that the next time someone says the media doesn't have an agenda.
4 Charged With Hate Crimes Over Beating Live-Streamed On Facebook - Four people have been charged with hate crimes for allegedly carrying out an assault, live-streamed online, in which a man was tied up, hit and cut with a knife by several assailants.
Thanks for that link-- lots of details in that article from npr. I found this part to be interesting:
"Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the suspects made 'terrible racist statements' during the attack, but that investigators believe the victim was targeted because he has special needs, not because of his race.
I saw this reported last night on CNN, including the facebook feed. I'm not sure how anyone could come to any other conclusion but a hate crime. It's absolutely disturbing.
I'm not sure how anyone could come to any other conclusion but a hate crime.
Simple.
One word: "Political correctness".
Yes, PC has caused so much damage to this country and has played a huge part in the current division that exists between Americans.
There is no excuse, nor justification for this.
WRONG IS WRONG IS WRONG!
All hate crimes are wrong.
No. All crimes are wrong. Hate is a right.
No. All crimes are wrong.
Obviously.
Hate is a right.
Wow ! So is anger and fear. Is that how you want to live ?
Odd. I don't see where I espoused that view. Are you making things up again?
Saw this on FB, one of the best responses to this hate-filled act:
James T. Harris Speaks on this Hate Crime