Black boys (BB) go to a party that they were invited to but were denied entry when they got there by a group of whites. The whites beat up the blacks using fists and beer bottles. Only 1 white man charged, and that was a misdemeanor battery charge. The white man served no time, paid no penalty & was given probation. No hate crime was filed although he said the party was for whites only. I personally believe the charges fit the crime. 2 days later one of the white boys racially mocks of one of the BBs who got beat up at the party. White boy then gets punched in face. There’s conflicted testimony re: if white boy lost consciousness. He was hit multiple times. Fight occurs at school so white boy goes to hosp. & is released within 2 hours with no damage except for a swollen eye and a few bruises. BBs are charged with a Felony assault bec. "a tennis shoe was a deadly weapon". BBs have huge bond, go to jail. These charges don't fit.
Tennis shoe vs beer bottle, which is deadlier?
2007-09-20 10:44:37 · 6 answers · asked by halestrm 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Sorry this was rough to read, had to edit down to 1000 characters.
The vast difference in the charges is why I believe racism is involved.
2007-09-20 10:45:38 · update #1
I do not believe the first group should have been charged with a hate crime, same with the second group. I do believe the first group meant it when they said "whites only are allowed" prior to beating up the black boys.
Coragryph. I mostly agree, but remember, they were invited, and the group keeping them out were not the owners of the property, they were guests.
2007-09-20 11:21:07 · update #2
Calling a tennis shoe a deadly weapon is silly. I don't see how the prosecutor is going to make that stick.
But -- "almost the same thing" -- that is the key.
Attacking someone who is trying to enter a private residence -- that is one set of facts. Attacking someone who is simply saying words (no matter how insulting) -- that is a different set of facts.
And the difference is legally very significant. Using force to deny someone entry to private property is allowed. Using force to punish someone for saying things you don't like is not.
But it still should be simple battery -- the "tennis shoe is a deadly weapon" argument is ridiculous.
2007-09-20 10:53:07 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not up to speed on this case, but from your question I think I find one of the deciding factors for the charges. The GROUP of wb's at the party fought the GROUP of bb's. The GROUP of bb's fought a LONE wb at the school. This is a key difference for prosecutors as the group mentality is a far deadlier on when focused on an individual, the dynamics are totally different. Secondly, the bb's attacked at a school, where the rules are different and also the manner of charging crimes is different, and there are many cases of law backing stricter charges for crimes on school grounds. Also, the school officials pressed charges in the second case, not police or individuals involved in the fight. Lastly, just to be honest, I must admit that I feel the charges are weighted racially regardless of all the above.
2007-09-20 11:01:03 · answer #2 · answered by avatar2068 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could be missing some information here. If they kicked the white boy, then that is assault with a deadly weapon (shod foot). If they hit him with just the shoes than that is most likely misdemeanor assault. A beer bottle is not considered a deadly weapon, unless it is broken. There may have been insufficient evidence as well. Bond is based on passed actions. If the African American boys have prior arrest records, it is possible that their bond will be more than that of the white boy. Was the crime out of hate? Did anyone admit to that? Unless the white boy is a known member of a hate group, or admits to hating African Americans, it would be difficult to prove that his actions were racially motivated.
2007-09-20 10:52:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cuz people are racist. Bottom line. EVERYONE is racist, even if you try not to be, you cant help it. People are programed to like people that look and act like themselves. Its just a fact of nature. People fear things that are different. Fear leads to hate. Hate leads to violence and discrimination. Yoda spelled it all out, just watch Star Wars.
2007-09-20 10:54:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah whatever, dey be keepin the brother down, yada yada yada. Maybe if blacks didn't go out of their way to be pushy and obnoxious this stuff wouldn't happen.
2007-09-20 10:59:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
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2015-02-04 20:52:27 · answer #6 · answered by Nicholas 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋