This has GOT to stop

[donheld]

http://www.towleroad.com/2012/05/duluth.html

[GObamaGO]

1. Pure evil.

Nobody should have to withstand anything like that just because of who they are.

[alittlelark]

2. KnR ...

Sick F'ed up shits......

Perhaps one will run for office someday......

[WillyT]

3. fuck...

[jberryhill]

4. Two arrested after alleged beating of gay man

http://www.pinejournal.com/event/article/id/232760/group/news/publisher_ID/36/

Pelofske said he initially declined to have an ambulance take him to the hospital because he lacks health insurance. After answering questions for police, Johnson drove Pelofske to the hospital, where he remained until 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

There, he said he consented to a CAT scan at the urging of medical staff.

“I didn’t want one at first because of the cost,” he said. “I can barely afford my cell-phone bill.”

After reviewing the result of the scan, Pelofske said, “They told me I was very lucky.”

News of the altercation spread quickly on social media websites Facebook and Twitter, with some characterizing it as a hate crime. But authorities declined to confirm that.

“After they’re arraigned and charged, the assault charge should show whether it’s a crime of bias,” Sgt. Brent Donahue of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department told the News Tribune. “It’s an open investigation at this point.”

[jberryhill]

5. And this one...

Minnesota man beaten after saying he's gay

http://www.xtra.ca/blog/national/post/2012/05/28/Gay-Minnesota-man-beaten-after-saying-hes-gay.aspx

Pelofske's and Johnson's account is at odds with that of another witness, identified as Megan Bird, who told the News Tribune that Pelofske is the one who started the confrontation, alleging he stole drinks, threw a bottle that hit another person and pushed one of the men, who was later arrested. Bird says she didn't hear anyone ask Pelofske if he was gay, the report states.

[Control-Z]

6. Stories like this one

make me cry.

I'm not sure if it is the hatred and brutality this young man suffered for NO REASON, or the love and honor his friend showed for him, both in fighting these cruel boys off and in posting the strong, honest feelings he has about it.

[wial]

7. From the town that's the subject of Dylan's Desolation Row

I guess some things don't a-change near fast enough.

[Brickbat]

18. The lynching was in Duluth, not Proctor.

[harmonicon]

8. Using facebook? I agree. (nt)

[FreeState]

9. Seriously?

I think there are better posts to use as a staring point of attacking Facebook. Hate crimes are not funny.

[harmonicon]

10. A low quality picture of a facebook post does not confirmation make.

Hate crimes are not funny, but the extent to which people will willingly believe anything on the internet is. I won't jump simply because someone says "jump."

[KurtNYC]

12. Okay how about this...

http://www.minnpost.com/glean/2012/05/arrests-made-duluth-area-gay-beating

[harmonicon]

14. Thanks for the link.

This one, which that links to, goes into more detail:
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_20727464/northern-minnesota-gay-man-alleges-hate-crime-assault

There are clearly two very different sides from that. If either is true, the world is a fucked up place. If the accuser is telling the truth, a vicious hate crime was carried out. If the witness with a completely different story has it right, there are people in the world who would sink as low as falsely accusing someone else of a hate crime. Maybe the truth isn't either, or is somewhere between the two accounts. In any case, I hope the truth comes out. I also hope you can understand my unwillingness to accept "fuzzy photo of facebook post full of run-on sentences and spelling errors" as a reliable source of information.

[donheld]

16. I trust TowlerRoad

You seem determined to discredit the gay guy. Why?

[harmonicon]

20. I don't want to wrongly discredit anyone.

I refuse to hold a shitty photo of a barely legible facebook post as evidence of anything. Following through on links that were eventually posted here, it's very clearly that there are strongly conflicting stories surrounding this incident. I don't know about you, but I've known people who have been wrongly accused of egregious crimes. It takes far more than accusations to make me get up in arms about an anecdote.

Two men have been arrested regarding this incident. I'd rather just wait and see what comes out in the legal proceedings before passing judgement.

Make no mistake, I'm all for equal rights for all people, but I refuse to have my feelings exploited for false gain. i.e., I've learned to be a very suspicious person.

[BlueIris]

11. Bigotry kills.

I feel so bad for the victims here. This is unacceptable.

[99Forever]

13. ALL of these attackers should be..

... sitting behind bars awaiting trial for their felonies.

[Mr Dixon]

15. SMH

Cowards hang in packs; the pack reinforces this type of shit, very Sad.

[Brickbat]

17. There was a rally in Proctor yesterday to support Pelofske. No charges have been filed yet.

[Rex]

19. I blame the creators of South Park

They took the word 'gay' and gave it a completely negative connotation and it stuck! Not making excuses for young people actions, just that is where it all started imo.