Showing posts with label Hate crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hate crime. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

A Brooklyn Teen was left Blind in One Eye after an Anti-Gay Attack


At Roy H. Mann Junior High School in Bergen Beach, 14-year-old Kardin Ulysse was beaten by bullies so bad that he is blind in one eye.

Kardin has had two surgeries on his right eye since the beating in the school's cafeteria. Now, his parents are suing the city.

NY Daily News has more on the story:
Kardin, an eighth-grader, was set upon by a pair of seventh-graders who were calling him a “f-----g f----t,” a “p----,” a “transvestite” and “gay,” according to a Department of Education occurrence report.

While one schoolmate pinned the victim’s arms, the other rained punches on Kardin’s face, head and neck.

Kardin broke away and the fight continued in the cafeteria until school safety officers and school aides finally intervened.

The boy’s family has retained lawyer Sanford Rubenstein, who will file a notice Tuesday to sue the city for $16 million for failing to properly supervise the students.

Rubenstein also called for the authorities to investigate whether the attack is a hate crime and upgrade the criminal charges to felonies. Because they’re minors, the two alleged bullies were charged with misdemeanors in Family Court.


The city’s Corporation Counsel did not immediately return a call for comment.
Those bullies need some serious discipline and this school needs to be investigated. A school should not be a war zone.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

2 Men pleaded Guilty for the attack on Brandon White


New movement in the Brandon White assault. Two men pleaded guilty for attacking Brandon back in February.

GA Voice has the story:
 Dorian Moragne, 19, and Dareal Demare Williams, 18, pleaded guilty today in Fulton County Superior Court in the brutal assault Brandon White, a black gay man, on Feb. 4 in the Pittsburgh community.  Sentencing hearing will be held in July and the men face up to 15 and 20 years on each count.

During the hearing today before Fulton Superior Court Judge Bedford Jackson, prosecutor J. Gabriel Banks said the assault was instigated by another suspect, Christopher Cain, who alleged that the victim, White, 20, made a sexual advance toward him. Another suspect, Javaris Williams, was also allegedly involved in the attack that was videotaped and uploaded to a hip hop website.

"If this case were to go to trial the court would prove that the victim was walking to 'The  Pink Store' with a friend to get something to eat. They passed these defendants [Moragne and Williams] and the codefendants. At some point … Mr. Cain believed Mr. White made a sexual advance against him. Mr. white has firmly said no he did not,” Banks said.

“The sexual advance toward Cain led to Cain being offended. Cain got upset as Mr. White exited the store and struck him from behind. These two defendants [Moragne and Williams] began to hit stomp and kick Mr. White," Banks added. Moragne was also identified as the person who threw a tire on White as he was on the ground trying to shield himself from the constant blows.

“It is important to note that was all being videotaped as they all said, 'No faggots in Jack City,” Banks said. “Clearly in the state's view this is a hate crime.”
I'm glad to see this go forward and Brandon, possibly getting some closure.

source

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Transgender Woman Brandy Martell was Murdered, could be a Hate Crime -VIDEO

We lost another one. Brandy Martell was shot to death a block away from Oakland's City Hall. Her friends believe it was a hate crime.
37-year-old Brandy Martell was sitting behind the wheel of her car around 5:15 a.m. Sunday when one or two men walked up and began a conversation. A witness told ABC7 the conversation was cordial, but then a few minutes later, one of the men became angry and fired into the car right where Martell was sitting. 

 Until late last year, Martell worked as an outreach worker at the Tri-City Health Center in Fremont which serves the transgender and transsexual community. "When you don't provide a space in society for people who you think are the other or different, especially transgender women, especially transgender women of color, when you don't provide spaces for them to be in a safe environment or a safe space, whether it's socializing or services, this is what happens," Martell's friend Tiffany Woods told ABC 7
Friends gathered on Sunday to remember Brandy.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

A Man Convicted in the Murder of Marcellus Andrews


A man was finally convicted for the murder of 19-year-old Marcellus Andrews. Marcellus was beaten to death while being taunted by gay slurs in August.

Here is the latest news:


A Black Hawk County jury has convicted a man of voluntary manslaughter in the beating death of a college student in Waterloo. 
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier  says the jury returned the verdict Friday afternoon in the case against 20-year-old Paris Anding. He was charged in the August beating death of 19-year-old Marcellus Andrews during a fight.
Prosecutors say Anding swung a baseball bat and hit Andrews in the head. The defense claimed Anding was protecting his aunt.
Andrews’ death drew nationwide attention from gay rights activists after witnesses were quoted in local media saying Andrews was taunted with anti-gay slurs. Waterloo police said there was no indication of a hate crime. Andrews’ family and friends downplayed the idea and said he wasn’t gay.
Voluntary manslaughter has a max of 10 years, and there is no minimum. I hope this helps the Andrews family. Paris should pay for this horrible crime.


source

Thursday, March 22, 2012

In Mississippi: A Teen gets 2 Life Sentences for Racial Murder


Last June, Deryl Dedmon killed James Craig Anderson because he was Black. He was encouraged by friends to find a Black person and attack them. This foolishness led to Deryl running over James in his pickup truck and killing him.

Today, Deryl was sentenced 2 life terms in prison.

Deryl, however, did apologized to the family of James during the hearing.

I hope he learned something from all of this.

source

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Change Atlanta apologizes for their Foolish actions against Brandon White


After their foolish actions blew up in their face, Change Atlanta front apologizes for 'appearing' to turn his back on Brandon White.

GA Voice reports
Many in Atlanta's LGBT community are criticizing Change Atlanta on Facebook and various websites for the group’s apparent about-face in its support of Brandon White, the young gay man who was beaten in a filmed attack that went viral on the internet.
Now one of the leaders of the fledgling group says he has “learned his lesson” in how he dealt with the incident, which he acknowledges included questioning whether White was lying about knowing the attackers, “cuddling up” with one of the suspect's defense attorneys on TV and not understanding that many in the LGBT community have been victims of anti-gay violence.

"Yes, we have gotten some flack. And I'm glad I'm learning this lesson at 21 rather and not at 41,” Devin Barrington-Ward said told the GA Voice in an interview Feb. 28. “My youth and immaturity played into this. I will always reflect back on this when I'm 60 or 70.”

Change Atlanta is not specifically an LGBT advocacy organization but has several gay leaders. Ward said he wants to take responsibility for his actions, and how he deals with his mistake will determine if he will be welcomed back into the larger LGBT community.

"This is a touchy subject in the LGBT community. Many people have told me they have been victims, their friends have been victims or their family members have been victims. I'm a young man and I made a mistake,” Ward said.
Yes, you did make mistake and it was costly. Change Atlanta's rush to judgment could have frighten many LGBT victims to stay silent. They should have known better to hold two televised press conferences using assumptions and rumors.

Perhaps next time, they will think before they act.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

My Rant: Change Atlanta, What the F**k are you Doing?


Yesterday, I posted this clip from an Atlanta news program. 
The gay activist group called, Change Atlanta went on the air saying that Brandon White, the gay man who was beaten by three other men, was lying about his story.

The members of this group said that Brandon knew these men and he was beaten because he threatened to out them as gay. So, according to Change Atlanta, this wasn’t a hate crime. This was an act of revenge and Brandon had it coming.

I’m not making this up, y’all. Here’s a piece from the article:
Gary Nichols said he and several other members of the community searched for White's attackers before they were arrested.

Nichols said when they interviewed witnesses and those in the Pittsburgh community who know White and his alleged attackers, he found out new details about White's prior relationship with some of his attackers.

"I would tell the Atlanta community we were duped. We were all duped and it's a shame. It's a bitter shame," Nichols said.

Nichols said the attack was not a hate crime. The motivation was revenge.

"Brandon was agitating these young men about personally exposing them for being DL gay - on the down low possibly gay. The young men responded because they don't want their families to know," Nichols said.

Jackson said he spoke directly with one of the suspects, Dorian Moragne, who also confirmed that they knew White.

"He was very clear about being sure that Brandon White in fact knew the other attackers in question," Jackson said. Jackson and Nichols said the attack was centered around a video that's supposed to be on White's phone. The video of the attack shows one of the men grab White's phone.

"It's a video of somebody performing a sexual act with one or a few of these young men," Nichols said. "That's why the cell phone was a target. They didn't just beat him up because he was gay," Jackson said.
Seriously? This claim is based on rumors. Can I say it again, RUMORS! The funny part about this story is how they talked to one of the attackers, taking his word over Brandon’s. And the big winning belief... The attack was not a hate crime; it was an act of revenge, so it’s okay. Free pizza for everybody! 

Sorry, Change Atlanta, but you were wrong to go on TV and state this claim as truth. You were wrong in thinking this ‘act of revenge’ erases the fact that Brandon was beaten like a dog by three men. Change Atlanta, you were wrong to turn you backs on Brandon and somewhat take the side of the attackers.

Change Atlanta, you were just plain wrong!

Who appointed this group as the voice of the LGBT community in Atlanta? They just got started, so Change Atlanta have no true legs to stand on. Their attempt to ‘be seen’ has our community questioning their actions and their purpose. 

Seriously, what were you thinking?

I hope Change Atlanta take this misstep as opportunity to really think about what they stand for. Because if they are gay activists, I’d hate to see what anti-gay activists look like.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Gay Activist Group claimed to be duped by Brandon White - WATCH


Are you kidding me? So, I guess this makes it right? Please, this is a bunch of she said, he said mess.

Rod 2.0 reports that the gay activist group are not trying to make Brandon the bad guy
CHANGE ATLANTA activists claim this was not a hate crime—it was revennge. Activists claim that Brandon White knew his attackers and was not telling the truth when he said at a news conference that he did not. "We were all duped and it's a bitter shame," Gary Nichols told CBS Atlanta. "Brandon was basically agitating these young men about personally exposing them for being 'DL' … on the 'down low', possibly gay. He really knows who these guys are and I just feel like he absolutely lied to us."
Regardless of this info, Brandon was still beaten.If he knew something or not, he did not deserved to be attacked. I hope there is more discussion about this issue.

source Thanks NG for the heads up.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

The 3rd Attacker of Brandon White surrenders in Erie, Pa





This is good news for Brandon White. The 3rd and final suspect turned himself in to the cops in Erie, Pa.

Dareal Demare Williams ran off to Erie to hide, however folks helped the FBI find him. Dareal is a member of the Pittsburgh Jack City Gang.

Lord, these kids and these silly gangs.





source

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Another Attacker of Brandon White has been Arrested





Another man has been arrested for beating Brandon White. Dorian Moragne actually turned himself in to Atlanta police this weekend.

Dorian will be charged with robbery and aggravated assault.

Monday, February 13, 2012

One of the Men who attacked Brandon White has been Arrested


One of three suspects was caught this weekend. Christopher Cain, 18, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and robbery.

Christopher was one of the fools who beat up Brandon White because he is gay. The other two men have been identified, but not arrested yet.

source

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The Gay Man Attacked by an Atlanta Gang speaks out


I posted the graphic video of the gay teen being attacked by some gang in Atlanta. Today, the young man, Brandon White, speaks out the beating

Yes, you are the brave one, Brandon

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

In Atlanta: Street Gang Members involved in Brutal Hate Crime - WATCH

This video catches some silly gang attacking a man because he was wearing skinny jeans. Also you can hear them say that their are no faggots in their neighborhood. Somebody needs to tell this gang that we own the ATL.

Anywho this tape has been passed to the Atlanta police. Tonight, members of the LGBT community will be gathering at the Phillip Rush Center at 6pm to discuss the incident.

WATCH- very graphic

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Was FAMU's Student Death a Hate Crime?


In November, FAMU suffered a death of a student through hazing. Robert Champion was found dead on a traveling bus from severe hazing. According to FAMU, this was a normal ritual within their marching band. But Robert's death may have a sign of a hate crime.

Today, Robert's parents reveals that Robert was gay.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Marcellus Andrews' Death will NOT be investigated as a Hate Crime


Even with the testimonies of anti-gays slurs being hurled at Marcellus Andrews, the cops will not investigate his murder as a hate crime. 

Here's more:

Officials from One Iowa and Iowa Safe Schools denounced the homicide Tuesday as an apparent hate crime. The groups advocate acceptance for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals and work against bullying and hate speech.

“The hurtful rhetoric used was the language of hate,” said Troy Price, executive director of One Iowa. “That kind of derogatory language does not have a place in our state.”
However, authorities don't believe the killing was a hate crime, said Lt. Michael McNamee, Waterloo police spokesman.

“We've done multiple interviews and we have heard those allegations, but this was not because of his persuasion or the perception of his persuasion,” McNamee said. “These were all people who knew each other, and there was some bad blood between the two parties involved.”
This was a hate crime, clear and simple!

source

Monday, August 22, 2011

Marcellus Richard Andrews was Taunted and Beaten to Death


I hate to close out on a sad note, but I have to post this. Marcellus Richard Andrews was beaten and taunted to death in Waterloo, Iowa.

Here is some more info from a witness:
The two women hadn't made it as far as Adams Street a block away when they heard yelling back at the house. They ran back and found a truck stopped in the street, and the occupants were taunting Andrews, calling him "faggot" and "Mercedes," a feminization of his first name, Simpson said.

The arguing and name calling continued, said Simpson, who admitted throwing the first punch, striking a girl.

"She kept saying it, and I hit her," Simpson said.

From there, the fight was on, with Nakita Wright and the others joining in, according to their account.
At some point during the scuffle, Nakita Wright felt her leg brush against something on the ground. She looked down and saw Andrews.

"I tried to help him up, and then this boy ran back and kicked him in his face," Nakita Wright said.
After the brawl ended, she tried helping Andrews to his feet. He appeared dazed. She grabbed one arm and coaxed him as she lifted. He pushed up with his other arm, but then gave up. Nakita Wright dialed 911.

He was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for treatment.
And he died there. 
Marcellus was going to studying interior design at Hawkeye Community College and was a member of the Crusaders, a drill team.
I can't help but think about where this happened. This horrible incident happened in Iowa, where being gay is hell and folks have no problems spreading their hate around. Less than 2 weeks ago, the GOP candidates were there talking about their views on gay marriage. In some way, that energy and the hatred caused this. I know it.
My heart goes out to family of Marcellus.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Musician Brontez was Gay Bashed in Oakland, CA


Cali based musician Brontez Purnell was attacked outside of a bar in Oakland this week. He and his bandmate was beaten because Brontez is gay.

The Advocate reports:
Brontez reported the attack on his Facebook page: “Got gay bashed last night. Me and my bandmate, Adal, were leaving the Paradiso in downtown Oakland when two dudes with ... accents and dreadlocks started calling us ‘batty boys’ and saying that if we were in Jamaica we’d be dead.”

Brontez alleges that he yelled back at the men and attempted to swiftly pedal away on his bicycle. “One of the guys chased me, punched me in the head and I fell of my bike. The other dude punched Adal fracturing his face in two places and now he has to have plates put in.”

The musician says he’s fighting back and “not sleeping on this shit. Oakland [police department] is not gonna care about us getting gay bashed. I can’t even get them on the phone for a follow up.”
I'm glad Brontez is okay and I hope the cops find something. This cannot happen again.

go here for more info