Sunday, February 12, 2012
News Pittsburgh rallies for Brandon White; hate crime legislation to be introduced
Posted by Brandon English on Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Saturday's many speakers, including Congressman John Lewis, D-Ga., several elected officials and LGBT activists, told the crowd that the beleaguered neighborhood can no longer tolerate such senseless violence, no matter the victim's background.
"We must turn toward each other and not against each other," Lewis told the approximately 150 people who gathered in the bitter cold across the street from the convenience store where the attack took place. "People must not be allowed to get away with beating an innocent young person, elderly person, or any human being."
Speakers noted that simply capturing the culprits in White's case would not solve Pittsburgh's problems and stressed that preventative measures must be enacted to save the neighborhood. In addition to calling the police when they notice suspicious activity, community leaders said residents must work together and with public officials to strengthen the community burdened with vacant homes and crime. A common refrain during the event was "This isn't Jack City, this is Pittsburgh" — a reference to the gang White's attackers mentioned and identified themselves with on the videotape.
"We hold the solution," said longtime LGBT activist Pat Hussain. "In the long term, it's about making us safe and able to walk the street."
State Rep. Rashad Taylor, an openly gay Democratic lawmaker who represents parts of Atlanta, told the crowd that he would introduce hate crimes legislation in response to the attack.
Comments (5)
Showing 1-5 of 5
thank you! i think it's great that the people of pittsburgh are standing up and saying "we aren't going to tolerate this any more". the city and state government have been ignoring these communities for years and it's about time for some change. here's hoping officials are listening.
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dislikeThis is just complete crap. These guys should have their asses kicked but hard. What wanker goes out and beats up gay people. Im a straight person and I deplore people beating up gays, and other people for being different. I like beating up people for being assholes.
All Crimes are hate crimes, whether the victim is gay or straight, black or white, red or brown. We do not need to create another class of victim, we need to get rid of the criminal by what ever legal means necessary.
We need to punish them to the extent that they dare not commit another crime.
Actually, it must be like roses where you come from, Ric, if you think every crime is a hate crime. Of course there are different classes of victim. Especially gay people in the South.
Unless there is some straight white guy somewhere who lives in constant fear of going to public bathrooms or of being rudely confronted by strangers, or much, much worse when out in public with his girlfriend/wifey. Or beat the shit out of because someone could just tell that they were straight. Or have crops of them in middle school killing themselves because it's just so hard to be so straight and white.
It is the lack of distinguishing between victims that creates inequality under the law, not the other way around.
"All Crimes are hate crimes"
That's a cliche that happens to be unambiguously false. It only takes about 3 seconds of shallow consideration to figure out why, so it's astounding that it continues to find its way into discussions on this subject. Our society needs to do a much better job of ostracizing people who say things without thinking.
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