Mississippi murder looks to be a hate crime

[Jared Lash]

Came across this while reading the news headlines this morning.

What is alleged is that a group of white teens left a party with the intent of driving down the highway to Jackson and attacking the first black person they saw. And they did, beating auto plant worker James Anderson and then killing him by running him over with their truck.

Video shows white teens driving over, killing black man, says DA - CNN.com

I read this story with disgust and didn't really think of posting it on TB until I read Brad Johnson's comment on another thread that there was no thread on this story.

This may be viewed as an isolated incident by a small group of young, dumb and hate filled people. And in terms of things escalating to the level of murder it is. But it makes me wonder how many people are just as racist and hate filled but never elevate those feelings to the level of violence?

Every story like this reminds me that race relations in this country are not nearly as advanced as people (myself included) wishes or often thinks that they are.

[Bassguy61]

As, sadly, a transplant for the past 15 years to the Jackson, MS area, I can speak to some of your comments. I don't know that things have changed as much as people would like to have you believe here. I think the racisim has just gone "underground" more. It's probably almost as prevalent, just not openly displayed so we can seem "advanced and PC".

I came here from the midwest, and though I'm sure racisim is there too, I was raised in an area where there it really wasn't obvious at all. (Or it could just be that my folks raised me to not notice, dunno...) Anyway, when I came here I was shocked at how many people (not "rednecks", but professionals and leaders), once the thought you were "safe", would spout off about the "good ole days" and how much better things were when "they kept them boys on the farm". Quite an eyeopener.

As for the crime itself, it seems the main kid is a bad seed from the get go. Aside from this, a local pastor also tried to warn the police about him in relation to bullying his son. Seems to be sadly a kid gone wrong in every sense. I hope the grand jury goes back and indicts the other kids that were there as well...

[Dr. Cheese]

Now that i see you have mentioned this story, I will delete a post in my thread that has a link to the video.

As for the crime, no one should be surprised that their are still people capable of this sort of thing. The Civil Rights battles of the Sixities ended about 40 years ago although the major episodes ended around 1968. Any teenager could easily have been raised or exposed to people who are still very bitter about the social changes that have happened.

This case, IMO, is very open and shut. My only issue is that so far only two of the group have been charged, and apparently the death penalty is not in play. Personally, I do not support the death penalty, but in a part of the country where it is extremely popular, it is odd that it is not being invoked here unless the murder is one that is not covered by the death penalty statute.

[MJ5150]

Saddened by the loss of life? Indeed. Shocked/surprised at the reason why it was allegedly done? Not at all.

-Mike

[PerlNinja]

I'm with MJ; **** like this doesn't even surprise me any more, which should be saying something. Hate and intolerance are growing, world wide. Heck, try telling people you're a muslim these days...

(I am, in fact, a muslim ... a pasty white geek bass playing muslim. Beat that... :P)

[MatticusMania]

I'd like to think that the occurence of racially charged brutal crimes such as this one are not such a common occurence, but I can't honestly atest to that. From what Ive witnessed growing up (in LA) I'd like to think that things are getting better. Dr. Cheese made a good point, the Civil Rights battles ended not that long ago from a Historical Standpoint, and its easy to see that some people opposed to those views are still around and breeding. Sadly, ignorance and intolerance will only beget ignorance and intolerance.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

This case, IMO, is very open and shut. My only issue is that so far only two of the group have been charged, and apparently the death penalty is not in play. Personally, I do not support the death penalty, but in a part of the country where it is extremely popular, it is odd that it is not being invoked here unless the murder is one that is not covered by the death penalty statute.

It's one that isn't covered by the death penalty in Mississippi.

Only capital murder and aircraft piracy are subject to the death penalty in Mississippi, and capital murder is the following:

The killing of a human being without the authority of law by any means or in any manner shall be capital murder in the following cases:

(a) Murder which is perpetrated by killing a peace officer or fireman while such officer or fireman is acting in his official capacity or by reason of an act performed in his official capacity, and with knowledge that the victim was a peace officer or fireman. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "peace officer" means any state or federal law enforcement officer, including, but not limited to, a federal park ranger, the sheriff of or police officer of a city or town, a conservation officer, a parole officer, a judge, senior status judge, special judge, district attorney, legal assistant to a district attorney, county prosecuting attorney or any other court official, an agent of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the State Tax Commission, an agent of the Bureau of Narcotics, personnel of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the employees of the Department of Corrections who are designated as peace officers by the Commissioner of Corrections pursuant to Section 47-5-54, and the superintendent and his deputies, guards, officers and other employees of the Mississippi State Penitentiary;

(b) Murder which is perpetrated by a person who is under sentence of life imprisonment;

(c) Murder which is perpetrated by use or detonation of a bomb or explosive device;

(d) Murder which is perpetrated by any person who has been offered or has received anything of value for committing the murder, and all parties to such a murder, are guilty as principals;

(e) When done with or without any design to effect death, by any person engaged in the commission of the crime of rape, burglary, kidnapping, arson, robbery, sexual battery, unnatural intercourse with any child under the age of twelve (12), or nonconsensual unnatural intercourse with mankind, or in any attempt to commit such felonies;

(f) When done with or without any design to effect death, by any person engaged in the commission of the crime of felonious abuse and/or battery of a child in violation of subsection (2) of Section 97-5-39, or in any attempt to commit such felony;

(g) Murder which is perpetrated on educational property as defined in Section 97-37-17;

(h) Murder which is perpetrated by the killing of any elected official of a county, municipal, state or federal government with knowledge that the victim was such public official.

So - kill a cop/fireman/government official, or a kid, or someone while doing something nasty to a kid - and it's capital. Otherwise, no death penalty for you.

[macaroni tony]

I gotta say, I'm pretty pissed.

It's like watching Mississippi burning again, but in real life

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Now that i see you have mentioned this story, I will delete a post in my thread that has a link to the video.

As for the crime, no one should be surprised that their are still people capable of this sort of thing. The Civil Rights battles of the Sixities ended about 40 years ago although the major episodes ended around 1968. Any teenager could easily have been raised or exposed to people who are still very bitter about the social changes that have happened.

This case, IMO, is very open and shut. My only issue is that so far only two of the group have been charged, and apparently the death penalty is not in play. Personally, I do not support the death penalty, but in a part of the country where it is extremely popular, it is odd that it is not being invoked here unless the murder is one that is not covered by the death penalty statute.

Personally, I am VERY surprised. Not because they targeted a black man, but they targeted another human being with the intent to cause them this kind of harm. It's pretty sick.

*edit* Actually, and here I go being a hypocrite in one post, I can't say I'm too surprised. This kind of stuff happens so often that I'm (as bad as it sounds) use to it. I just don't understand why people feel the need to do this kind of stuff. It's truly sickening.

[Bassguy61]

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

It's like watching Mississippi burning again, but in real life

It sure is... What's really sad is that there seems to be so much resentment just under the surface that I'm actually surprised to an extent that it doesn't happen more often here.

The only hope I see is that maybe in each generation at least a few minds are swayed so that fewer kids in following generations are raised this way. May be misplaced hope, but I really don't see what else will break the cycle.

[macaroni tony]

Like has been mentioned here before, it's only been about 40 years. I guess the sad reality is, these kinds of things are to be expected...

[hachi kid]

I used to live right outside of Jackson in a town called Madison for 9 years, and a small town about an hour/hour and a half away called Collinsville for 5 years prior. I do have to say, the actions of a hate crime aren't common now days, but the speech sure is if you get around the right people. I didn't keep those people around me, though, so I might have been a bit more oblivious to it all.

horrible, though. those f***ers should fry.

[Smokin' Toaster]

This is reprehensible, and, if and when found guilty, those guilty should be put to death, IMHO.

Racisim is still alive everywhere. Jackson Mississippi, New York, Chicago, LA. Look at the White Aryans in the Northwest. The south does not have a monopoly on racisim. I know no one said it, but the impression is always in the undercurrents when an incident occurs in a southeastern state.

I'm was born and raised in Alabama, I've lived in Mobile and Birmingham. I was born in 1958. I grew up in the 60's. We had national guard enforcing integration, we had riots, we had Bull Connor hosing down civil rights protestors. Desegregation was forcefully accelerated in the south. You didn't have national guard in the blueblood areas of Boston making sure there were black people in the finest schools in Boston. What I'm saying is that due to this forced acceleraton, in some ways we came through a crucible and emerged more racially integrated than some areas of the country. Sure, there are exceptions and there are radical racists in the south. There are in all areas of the country. But if you walk down the street in Mobile, Birmingham, Jackson, or any other southern city you will see people of all races getting along just fine. Again, there are racists out there, but they know they had best keep their racisim to themselves when on the streets and among the common folk. If you doubt it, I invite any one of any ethnic group to come visit me, walk down the streets with me, go out for a meal or a beer, and see if we even raise and eyebrow. I have friends of all races that I do these things with on a regular basis, and I've yet to hear a racial slur or any evidence or racisim. I'm not living in fantasyland, I know there are racists among us, but I'd say they are relatively rare. Unfortunately in this Jackson incident, they popped up and did their worst.

Hate crime? When one human being intentionally harms another human being, in my book it's a hate crime. Maybe they hate the color of the persons' skin, maybe they hate the fact that the 7-11 clerk has a $20 and they hate the fact that they're going through crack withdrawal. To call one worse than the other or punish one more severely than the other goes against the concept of "without regard to the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character". Until we use that as a yardstick, we are, by definition, racists.

Death and injury have no color. Punish violent crime, regardless of motivation, and punish it severely.

Regarding the death penalty: It is 100% effective. No one who has been put to death has ever come back and comitted any further crime.

[Clark Dark]

What would really be worse & perverse is if it's a crime that these "teens" could expect release from prison upon reaching the age of 21.

[IconBasser]

what a bunch of dicks. The stupidity of humans never ceases to sadden me.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

But if you walk down the street in Mobile, Birmingham, Jackson, or any other southern city you will see people of all races getting along just fine. Again, there are racists out there, but they know they had best keep their racisim to themselves when on the streets and among the common folk. If you doubt it.....

This is nice and all, but you even said yourself why it is not evident on the streets. Racist people know better and realize the days of public protests are not a good idea. So now you get these offensive websites popping up, and people like these kids who go out at night, to enforce their beliefs.

-Mike

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

This is reprehensible, and, if and when found guilty, those guilty should be put to death, IMHO.

I don't think so.

The law is the law - and under the law, they aren't eligible for the death penalty. Maybe that needs to be changed, but there is a reason the Constitution prohibits ex post facto laws.

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

Racisim is still alive everywhere. Jackson Mississippi, New York, Chicago, LA. Look at the White Aryans in the Northwest. The south does not have a monopoly on racisim. I know no one said it, but the impression is always in the undercurrents when an incident occurs in a southeastern state.

The South absolutely doesn't have a monopoly on racism.

The Southeast does have a higher proportion of admitted racists, a higher number of SPLC recognized hate groups per capita, and a much darker history with regards to race relations though.

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

What I'm saying is that due to this forced acceleraton, in some ways we came through a crucible and emerged more racially integrated than some areas of the country.

This is an interesting thing about the south - they have some of the MOST integrated cities, and some of the least.

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

Death and injury have no color. Punish violent crime, regardless of motivation, and punish it severely.

So you don't think premeditated murder should be treated differently than a murder of passion?

[burk48237]

Sadly I think this "new racism" is occurring at all levels of society. While many in the main stream media don't won't to address it there has been a clear increase in racially based African American "flash mobs" who attack white people for no other reason than because they are white. This has happened, in NYC, Philly, Chicago, and Mil. The most recent case was at the WS State fare.

Milwaukee has recently fallen victim to multiple race riots involving black youths brutally attacking white people at random. Opening day at the Wisconsin State Fair ended with nearly 300 black youths randomly attacking and robbing white people as they exited the fair. These attacks are clearly race related thus making it a hate crime,

Wisconsin State Fair Race Riots - CNN iReport

What connects the three city crackdowns are teen-perpetrated crimes that are part opportunistic, part thrill-seeking, and, some residents fear, part racially motivated: dozens of black teenagers collectively targeting, and attacking, white people they don't even know. Resentment fueled by dogged segregation, poor unemployment opportunities for young black men, and historic inequalities may all be playing into an atmosphere of racial discontent, sociologists say.

Are young blacks involved in racially motivated 'flash mobs' around the country? | Alaska Dispatch

Sadly I believe the country is more divided now perhaps as a result of economic conditions.

[TinIndian]

Friggin' morons. If you can't get them on capital punishment, lock them up forever. I can't stand this kind of stupidity.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Smokin' Toaster

This is reprehensible, and, if and when found guilty, those guilty should be put to death, IMHO.

Racisim is still alive everywhere. Jackson Mississippi, New York, Chicago, LA. Look at the White Aryans in the Northwest. The south does not have a monopoly on racisim. I know no one said it, but the impression is always in the undercurrents when an incident occurs in a southeastern state.

I'm was born and raised in Alabama, I've lived in Mobile and Birmingham. I was born in 1958. I grew up in the 60's. We had national guard enforcing integration, we had riots, we had Bull Connor hosing down civil rights protestors. Desegregation was forcefully accelerated in the south. You didn't have national guard in the blueblood areas of Boston making sure there were black people in the finest schools in Boston. What I'm saying is that due to this forced acceleraton, in some ways we came through a crucible and emerged more racially integrated than some areas of the country. Sure, there are exceptions and there are radical racists in the south. There are in all areas of the country. But if you walk down the street in Mobile, Birmingham, Jackson, or any other southern city you will see people of all races getting along just fine. Again, there are racists out there, but they know they had best keep their racisim to themselves when on the streets and among the common folk. If you doubt it, I invite any one of any ethnic group to come visit me, walk down the streets with me, go out for a meal or a beer, and see if we even raise and eyebrow. I have friends of all races that I do these things with on a regular basis, and I've yet to hear a racial slur or any evidence or racisim. I'm not living in fantasyland, I know there are racists among us, but I'd say they are relatively rare. Unfortunately in this Jackson incident, they popped up and did their worst.

Hate crime? When one human being intentionally harms another human being, in my book it's a hate crime. Maybe they hate the color of the persons' skin, maybe they hate the fact that the 7-11 clerk has a $20 and they hate the fact that they're going through crack withdrawal. To call one worse than the other or punish one more severely than the other goes against the concept of "without regard to the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character". Until we use that as a yardstick, we are, by definition, racists.

Death and injury have no color. Punish violent crime, regardless of motivation, and punish it severely.

Regarding the death penalty: It is 100% effective. No one who has been put to death has ever come back and comitted any further crime.

I just don't understand the resistance among many to the idea of hate crimes. It is simply recognizing another category of aggravated crime. These categories allow prosecutors to give harsher sentences to offenders. The case in MS is a perfect example of how a cold blooded murderer will escape the needle because what was clearly a crime committed under aggravating circumstances will be treated like a bar room killing because I don't think MS recognizes hate crime the way it recognizes child rape or killing a peace officer.