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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA man poured boiling water on a gay couple. Georgia won't charge him with a hate crime.
Last edited Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:17 AM - Edit history (1)
Anthony Gooden and Marquez Tolbert were sleeping in Gooden's apartment on February 12 when Martin Blackwell, the boyfriend of Gooden's mother, walked in. According to Tolbert, Blackwell poured boiling water on the men, causing severe burns that required surgery to treat. Blackwell, who didn't live in the apartment, told Tolbert, "Get out of my house with all that gay shit."
...
Blackwell said the men were having sex when he poured hot water on them, Sarah Kaplan reported for the Washington Post. But Vickie Gray, a friend of Tolbert's, said they were sleeping, although the attack wouldn't be justified if the men were having sex.
Blackwell is currently in jail, charged with two counts of aggravated battery.
The full article is here.
Here is one of the victims talking.
Here is the Go Fund Me Page to help him pay for his medical bills.
Here is the second Go Fund Me Page to help pay for medical bills for the second victim. Thanks to csziggy for sharing this one.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)So sad and ugly.
.
mythology
(9,527 posts)csziggy
(34,120 posts)Marquez's Burn Recovery Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/hrrpb9e4
Anthony's Burn/Medical Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/t8umr5as
Meldread
(4,213 posts)Thank you. I updated my OP to include the second victim.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)there is no hate crime law in Georgia.
Not for LGBTQ. Not for anyone.
nadine_mn
(3,702 posts)I know here in Minnesota, people have been outraged when someone hasn't been charged with a hate crime but that is because the most you can be charged with is a misdemeanor instead of a felony (this is clearly a felony assault).
That said, I am not at all assuming Georgia is progressive enough in its laws to say they want a stiffer penalty when it comes to crimes against LGBTQ.
I am just throwing out there that not charging with a hate crime is not in and of itself indicative of a prosecutor not taking the crime seriously.
Oh and one more thing - fuck that fucking waste of space asshole that did this to those men. I cannot even begin to express how disgusted I am that I walk on the same planet as that piece of shit.
brer cat
(24,402 posts)GA doesn't have hate laws. That needs to change, but only if it has real teeth, as you noted for MN.
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)We need to DEMAND this man is charged with a hate crime!
Behind the Aegis
(53,833 posts)It is one of 5 states that do not have hate crime statutes. It is a very weird situation. GA had hate crime laws, but they got "repealed" when they were trying to strengthen them. There is some info on the web about it. It is a strange situation.
The best we can do at this point is hope they treat this as the serious crime it is.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)This is an atrocity.
Behind the Aegis
(53,833 posts)There is certain criteria that have to be met for the feds to get involved.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Also found this article: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/atlanta_man_accused_of_throwin.html
He's being charged with aggravated battery, though and I just looked it up, he could get between 1 and 20 years: http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/criminal-defense/criminal-offense/georgia-aggravated-assault-laws
Hopefully the gets the highest sentence possible. This should've been attempted murder, but I expect the prosecutors are going for the sure thing.
NBachers
(17,007 posts)on someone. This is a crime of intention and preparation.
LostOne4Ever
(9,267 posts)brer cat
(24,402 posts)It is hard to conceive of having that much hatred.
Meldread
(4,213 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)I wouldn't do this to my worst enemy
montana_hazeleyes
(3,424 posts)I too feel this monster who did this should be charged with attempted murder. He has in a way taken away much of these young men's lives forever!
How on earth could he think this up and actually carry it out?!?
Really, anyone who could do this should be locked up for the rest of his miserable life!!!