Black student faces hate crime charge (Wrote "Whites Only" by water fountain)

It sounds to me that this minor crime of vandalism may have actually been a protest against racism, but I could be wrong:

Black student faces hate crime charge

November 16, 2006

SEYMOUR, Conn. --A black student at Seymour High School is facing a hate crime charge for writing "whites only" on a wall near a water fountain.

Police said the 17-year-old senior was arrested Wednesday and charged with breach of peace for a separate incident at the high school.

Police said that while the student was in custody, he confessed to writing the message, which was found during the homecoming dance on Saturday.

Police will apply for an arrest warrant for a separate charge of breach of peace and possible other charges, including vandalism and bigotry, Capt. Paul Beres said.

Under Connecticut law, a person is guilty of third-degree bigotry when they, with the intent to intimidate or harass because of race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, damage or deface property or threaten by word or act.

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More:
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2006/11/16/black_student_faces_hate_crime_charge/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News
Information from: Republican-American, http://www.rep-am.com

vandalism - sure, much else? I don't think so.

spellcheck is your friend.

why he did it.

they don't care why he did it, it is a chance yo cry "reverde discrimination" or whatever

because blacks are NEVER EVER racist.

I think anyone can be racist, but racism has more to do with Power. I'm not black, but I'm not surprised if a black person is racist or hates white people - I think that Blacks have more reason to be angry at white people than other races.

Its not just anger over the history of slavery, but of being forced into poverty and conditions that perpetuate poverty whether it is poor education/schools, discrimination in job hiring and lack of job opportunities, poor communities with high crime rates.

So the question is not why Blacks cannot be racists, but how can they not be angry.

...have just as long a history of racism as whites. When you put large amounts of people together, they'll find a reason to hate each other. Acting like white have been the oppressors and blacks the oppressed throughout history is ridiculous, blacks from North Africa kidnapped white Europeans for use as slaves as well. History is full of violence, not just from one side.

they could be charged with hate crimes, too?

they were white. Rich and white.

But the important difference would be that they weren't committing a crime in the process of selling the cookies. I find it difficult to believe that CT has a "hate crime" law against bigotry.

As for the vandalism charge, the motive is irrelevant.

I don't think hate crime statues were meant to apply who were just thought it would be funny to write "Whites Only" on a water fountain. The statute was created to punish those who deliberately want to intimidate non-whites by writing that on something.

How you prove that said person meant to do one vs the other is almost impossible.

I'm also not clear where the definition of hate crime begins and ends. I probably need to spend more time reading on it.

would be on the national news if a white kid put that message on a fountain.

Nothing more.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2675339

LONG BEACH, Calif. Nov 23, 2006 (AP)— Eight black youths have been charged with hate crimes and felony assault in the brutal beating of three white women on Halloween night.