Utah Man Forced to Drink Bleach, Had 'Die Fag' Carved Into Arm in Horrific String of Anti-gay Hate C

[TexasTowelie]

Utah Man Forced to Drink Bleach, Had 'Die Fag' Carved Into Arm in Horrific String of Anti-gay Hate Crimes

A 22-year-old Utah man has been the victim of a series of anti-gay hate crimes over the past four months that, according to Q Salt Lake, have been given scant media attention so far.

Rick Jones, a resident of Delta, Utah (population: 3,500), was first attacked by an unknown assailant while closing up his pizzeria on April 25. Jones was subsequently slammed into the wall and passed out from the head injury.

“I remember waking up and I was lying on the floor,” he recalled. “Someone was on my chest and legs and they were trying to force me to drink bleach.”

When Jones regained consciousness again, he was being treated by a medical team for a concussion and the words "Die Fag" cut into his arm.

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2015/06/utah-hate-crime-gay.html

[valerief]

1. Some church must be so proud.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. "have been given scant media attention so far"

Shocker!



Seems gays aren't just the important.

[SusanCalvin]

5. Really.

You'd think it would be big news that there's a crazy person on the loose. In a rational world.

[collinsrent]

11. agree

it seems like alot of violence against glbt people just gets swept under the rug

[nomorenomore08]

14. Or simply isn't prioritized the way it should be.

A lot of people take the attitude of, "If it ain't happening to me, so what?"

[nomorenomore08]

13. In a place like he lives, a lot of people probably just shrug and yawn at it.

"Well if they wouldn't be so in-your-face about blah blah blah I'm a fucking idiot..."

[shenmue]

3. ...

Some asshole needs to get life in prison for that. Attempted murder, pure and simple.

[chillfactor]

4. good god...

how can anyone be so cruel to another..makes me sick inside....the attacker has deep mental issues

[nomorenomore08]

15. Yes, someone obviously has very deep-seated psychological problems.

Not necessarily relating to their sexuality, mind you - I won't contribute to the facile "He-must-be-closeted!" narrative - but something is clearly very wrong with that person.

[nightscanner59]

6. Exactly the sort of savagery I ran away to escape from the midwest at 16 years old

Much as I cannot know whether the numerous death threats amongst injurious violence I was subject to in high school would have become reality, I didn't hang around to find out. Idiots in such areas haven't progressed one whit in attitudes for a century.
It was only via progressive articles in a friend's Rolling Stone magazine that I discovered there was likely relatively safe shelter from extremist bullying (religiously backed, btw) in San Francisco. I did not return to the state until recently to help care for my aging parents.
This sort of thing sickens me. These are devout "religious" bastards that are pushing for violence against anyone different. They are no better, to me than the middle eastern terrorists when I read crap like this.

[Joe Magarac]

7. FWIW, here is some mainstream media coverage.

Utah cook victim of arson, assault, robbery, homophobic threats
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/13/us/utah-hate-crime-rick-jones-delta/index.html

[Newsjock]

8. Police say Utah man admits to vandalism, injuries originally reported as anti-gay attack

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

An investigation into a string of purported hate crimes, which included "Die Fag" being carved into the arm of a gay Delta man, took a detour on Tuesday after police said the man admitted to harming himself.

Millard County Sheriff Robert Dekker said attorneys for Richard "Rick" Jones made the admission to his office last week.

"Our client is responsible for all of the incidents and that would include the cutting of his own skin," Jones' attorney, Paul Burke, confirmed to The Tribune on Tuesday.

But Burke said characterizing Jones' actions as a hoax would be inaccurate. Jones is member of family that loves him, but is struggling with the acceptance of his sexual orientation, he said.

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/2683196-155/police-say-utah-man-admits-to

[collinsrent]

12. how accurate is this story?

my concern is he got scared and decide to claim responsibility.

[nomorenomore08]

17. He *drank bleach* as part of a hoax? That doesn't quite pass my bullshit detector... n/t

[collinsrent]

10. not sure if i should post this

but this is how i feel

feel free to hide if you think its inappropriate

[nomorenomore08]

16. I have no problem with gun ownership, generally speaking.

Anyone who feels they need a weapon for protection should be allowed to carry one, provided they pass a background check.

[collinsrent]

18. you'd be surprised

most gun owners agree with you.