posted May 15, 2007
After an article was brought to my attention regarding the murder of two young adults named Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom from the Knoxville area, I searched further throughout the net trying to find out why I had not heard of such a gruesome crime so close to my home here in Chattanooga. I read on only to learn about how they were tortured, raped, had private body parts dismembered while still alive, how they poured bleach down Channon's throat to rid her body of evidence, shot and burned her boyfriend's body before discarding him by nearby railroad tracks, and leaving her to die. I couldn't bring myself to cry, to be mad, to be anything but just stunned and speechless and sick to my stomach. How does someone, a human, think to do such horrible things to their own kind?
I want to go ahead and give my disclaimer, as I do not condone any crime, whether it be black on white, white on black, purple on yellow, or pink on green. These acts of violence are far more extreme than I think any normal human being could imagine.
The suspects Lemaricus Davidson, Letalvis Cobbins, and George Thomas were all charged with 46 counts of various forms of murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and theft. Vanessa Coleman faces 40 counts of various forms of murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and theft and Eric Boyd, 24, was arrested as being a part of the fatal carjacking. He only faces federal charges as an accessory after the fact.
'Why the silence on the Christian-Newsome Case?" I have been asking myself this question since last week when I read this story from another local news webpage, since I had heard absolutely nothing about it. I researched the case on-line and found many stories. However, the stories I read were mainly from media in Knoxville or forums discussing this most heinous crime. Nothing mentioned anywhere else along the lines of CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX, MSN, or CBS.
As I searched further throughout the net, I stumbled upon a website that I felt was just as sickening as the crime itself. This website's banner states: Sexiest and Hardest Ghetto Black Male Felon Bragging Rights Competition 2007. I found this only because Lemaricus Davidson was submitted by one of his admirers. Can I point out that white people aren't solely responsible for racism? I think this website proves my point. We all need to get past the racism and look at the problem at hand.
I have thought about this for over a week now and I, too, debated on bringing this to one's attention on the Chattanoogan. In this week's time, I have shared the story with my friends, family, and co-workers. I wanted everyone to know that these crimes do exist and to be careful everyday. I wanted feedback on why they thought it hadn't been flashed all over the news throughout the country. I wanted to know where Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson was to stand up for what's right, not against what is white. I assumed two African American men would want their race to rise above this type of behavior. That they, too, would want to see the African American community turning towards education and higher employment now that affirmative action is in place. To stand back and let criminals like this represent a heritage that African Americans are so proud of is beyond me.
The only conclusion I came up with, like it or not, is this type of crime is very common amongst the misguided individuals within the African American communities. Not only against white people, but against their own race. I don't want to say it has been kept hush-hush because the media is trying to cover it up for them, that the government has some kind of control over it going public, or that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would find a way to punish the media for reporting something like this, but who knows? Maybe I am naive, but I don't want to believe that. I think this happens all of the time and we don't hear about it because this is not uncommon. It's no accident that while African Americans only make up approximately 17% of the American population, they make up the majority of the population in America's overcrowded jails and prisons. I wish it weren't that way, but it is. Any educated and hopeful African American would agree that, for their race, it is a shame. I know African American individuals embarrassed by these facts and look forward to a brighter day. They do not condone this type of behavior and pray for the day that it will cease.
In a time like this, I would hope that everyone in this nation would want every individual (again black, white, mixed, purple, yellow, pink, or green) to be aware of these type of crimes in order to protect themselves and our loved ones in the future....to teach our children, no matter what color we are, that this behavior is unacceptable and these criminals should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I hope that once this case gets to trial, which I believe is scheduled to be soon, the media hears the outcry for their attention and tells the world what happened to these poor kids. This case should not be ignored.
K. Bennett
Hixson
* * *
If nothing else, Mr. Bennett, for a civilized nation America has taught its young men well in the art of savagery. The alleged brutal crime of the Knoxville couple has nothing to do with the African-American community, Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. It has more to do with a deep sickness in a society that crosses all racial, social and economic lines.
Who'd have thunk a group of allegedly well trained soldiers, allegedly trained in the art of fighting a war honorably, would instead use their training to allegedly brutally gang rape, torture, murder then burn the dead corpse of a 14-year-old Iraqi virgin then murder her entire family, including her five-year-old sister? Then attempt to make it appear "insurgents" committed the crime to cover their track? The alleged ringleader was a white soldier named Steven Green.
Steven Green and some in his unit had allegedly developed the "hots" for the young Iraqi girl who had to pass their checkpoint daily. It's said the young girl had an almost unearthly beauty and the soldiers at the checkpoint she had to pass through daily often made crude sexual remarks that frightened her and her family, so much so that her parents were too afraid to allow her to sleep in their home. They would instead often send her to spend the night at a neighbor's house. Many Americans have attempted to justify this crime and others committed by American and allied soldiers by saying this is war and the soldiers were stressed out.
Yes, sir. Those alleged murderers of the couple from Knoxville are but symptoms of a greater illness in a civilized society.
Margaret Holind
margaret_hawaii@mail.com
* * *
I was a senior at the University of Tennessee at the time of the heinous murder of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, and I just read the opinion article entitled "Stand Up for What's Right, Not Against What's White." I, too, was shocked that there was no national coverage of this awful crime. However, I disagree with the assertion of Mr. Bennett; I do not think the crime was not reported because such crimes are “common" in the African American community.
I think the absence of the story from national media outlets had much more to do with political correctness. Had this been a crime that five white individuals perpetuated against a young black couple, the story would have been all over the news. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would have a field day, and everyone would be crying "hate crime." However, since the crime was committed by five black individuals against a young white couple, there's not a peep in the national media because media outlets fear that reporting extensively on such a story will be interpreted as being politically incorrect or racist.
It's ludicrous that race would play a part in media coverage of a heinous murder at all. A horrible crime is a horrible crime, no matter what race the victims and perpetuators are, and media coverage should be consistent. Channon and Christopher's lives ended in an unimaginably violent manner, and the individuals who committed this crime are despicable excuses for human beings whether they are black, white, yellow or green. It's a shame that the national media hasn't reported on this issue at all. Shame on media outlets for not reporting on this.
Allyson Masie
amasie@utk.edu
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