On the Chattanoogan's police blotter, there was a story about Joyce Russell of Wheeler Street who was accosted and beaten by a group of black males. During the attack, it was reported that she was called a 'white b----' and afterwards, she felt the attack was racially motivated.
If the roles were reversed, this would surely be classified and investigated as a hate crime. Is this incident receiving any attention from local law enforcement or any other agency that would investigate a hate crime?
Where are the victim's advocates in the media? Why isn't this considered to be "news?"
Gregg McGraw
Hixson
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I am a concerned citizen and it has come to my attention that a helpless white female has been assaulted and victimized by a group of black males who targeted her first because she is white and second because she is female and obviously stood no chance of defending herself against these criminals.
I certainly hope this matter is taken seriously and if the perpetrators are caught, this is tried as a 'hate crime' as it should be.
Lately this black on white crime appears to be the rising trend and at a very alarming rate.
The incident on Wheeler Street is obviously another random "hate crime" and deserves the utmost attention. I am aware that if this were the other way around it would likely be on the national news. It seems to me no matter which way it is that it should be taken very seriously.
Denise Garceau
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Not every cross-racial crime is necessarily a hate crime just because someone may have been used a racially insulting word. Just as not every crime committed against person of a different religion can be considered a religiously motivated hate crime or if a heterosexual person attacks a homosexual person or if the insult and assault were reversed. Cross-racial, religious, gender crimes happen all the time, but that doesn't necessarily mean the alleged crime committed had anything to do with either.
If I had a penny for each time I've been called a S.I.B.B. (Stupid, ignorant, black bit....) I'd be a very wealthy woman. If someone had been prosecuted under the hate crime law each time I've been physically attacked while uttering those words, there would be a lot of folks behind bars charged with a racially motivated hate-crime.
Brenda Manghane-Washington