Let's see: "KKK" is spray-painted on the wall of a mostly black church: Not a hate/bias crime

[MnFats]

first story:
http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20080225/NEWS/802250324/1011



second:

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20080226/NEWS/802260336/1011

Racial graffiti that was painted during the weekend on the door of New Pisgah AME Church apparently was done by vandals and was not a hate crime.

"From what we've been able to determine since we started the investigation is that we believe at this time what was painted was done more as vandalism than in the nature of a hate crime," said investigator Richard Richey, of the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office.

On Sunday morning, church members, the majority of whom are black, found the green spray-painted lettering on the door of the church, which is at the intersection of Lauderdale 6 and Cloverdale Road (Alabama 157).

[TCJ70]

1. Nit Pick...

...everyone has a bias, whether they recognize it or not. Is that REALLY a good way to classify crimes? By bias?

[RedCappedBandit]

6. Of course not!

Of course we shouldn't punish people for committing crimes based on bigotry or racism. I mean after all, theres nothing *wrong* with racism to begin with!


:sarcasm:

[provis99]

2. how can they decide if its a hate crime until they know who did it?

Hypothetically speaking if it turns out its a disgruntled former church employee looking to embarrass the church, does that make it a hate crime?

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

3. Do know how many letters in an Skinhead's alphabet?

three
k
k
k















I know....boohiss

[MrCoffee]

4. Sounds like the police interviewed the perpetrators and found them too stupid

to commit a hate crime.

It's up to the DA to charge them. Unless they have prior felonies, there's a little added time with a hate crime designation.

[AlinPA]

5. It was probably some conservative republicans just having a little fun.

[nealmhughes]

7. Lauderdale is a Democratic stronghold and not noted for racial tension at all.

That is not to claim that "home" is not de facto segregated in housing areas: there is the West Side and the rest of the city, but the apartment complexes and rental homes around the campus are integrated. The churches are not, except for the Catholics and Episcopalians.

When the rash of church fires were raging in Alabama and Mississippi a few years ago (three White frat boys from an exclusive Methodist college in Birmingham), the many Black churches on Gunwaleford Road were actually protected by a group of White and Black men with walkie talkies, spotlights and hunting guns.

The area where this happened is very isolated. It is several miles from town and filled with Black churches for some reason, instead of in town... It is where the Tennessee River makes its bend to flow north towards Tennessee/Kentucky to meet the Ohio and most of this area is a large private farm on the bottom lands of the river, formerly cotton lands but now cattle and hay.

The chief investigator for the county sheriff is a friend of mine, and he would not cover up a hate crime. I do not know why it was ruled not to be one at all. There is no more info than what the Times Daily reported.

When I see him next, I shall ask him what happened in the investigation and why the ruling of not a hate crime was made.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

8. Must mean they were kids

Just spraying the most offensive thing they could come up with.

They should still be sent for a little rejumacation.