Confusion Lingers Over Hate Crimes
(CLICK TO ENLARGE) Brilliant sunshine bathes a plastic Madonna hanging from a traffic signal on the southeast corner of H and 8th Streets NE on April 29, 2006. The symbol hangs within yards and in plain view of residential homes where people of all races and sexual orientation live. It is part of the Saturday ranting by the men from the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge (ISUPK) (Copyright © 2006. David Klavitter)The Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post report the University of Maryland campus police have opened a criminal investigation about a possible hate crime after "a noose was discovered last week hanging near a building housing several black campus groups."
Whether the noose is someone's idea of a sick joke, overt harrassment, or a serious threat, I've never been more confused about the definition of a hate crime.
For several years, residents in one northeast Washington, D.C., neighborhood have faced a similar display nearly every weekend. Some have complained to city officials, but to my knowledge, no official investigation has resulted.
posted by Klav at 10:09 AM
2 Comments:
I saw these guys on the Mall this weekend. Talk about hate speech! If another group did this they probably would get arrested. They virtually attacked a Catholic priest. Got right in his face screaming. He kept his cool and did a great job. They couldn't respond to a thing he said and they came across as loud boorish morons. It was a real contrast and the priest won hands down. When the cops showed up these "brave" "men" suddenly became very quiet and polite. They aren't very brave when confronted by the law. These people are just ignorant bigots and those who saw them were horrified at their racism and anti-Catholicism. It was a real negative for the event. The FBI needs to be looking at this group as a possibly violent cult of maniacs.
I really think you should send this in to the Washington Times and/or Post. With all the recent publicity about nooses this should be addressed. Please consider it. If we are going to have hate crime laws then they should apply to everyone. Thanks.
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