Comments on: Black Woman Tortured for days in West Virginia, Hate Crime

By: joey123

joey123 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:06:05 +0000

We should all pray for Megan and her family. No one should have to go through something like that. I hope one day she can find peace. Also, a prayer should be said for Christianson and Newsome. Unfortunately they never will be going home. We can’t move forward as a society if we justify rape and torture. It is wrong in any context.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:59:40 +0000

This crime against Meghan Williams was awful in the true meaning of the word – horrific. I never heard the crime about the young couple that was tortured. I am sickened and quite saddened by the sadistic nature of our community at large. Not only are there people on this site that made excuses for one crime versus another but it was almost a sense of “oh well.” I can’t imagine the torture and utter pain this couple went through nor that of Ms Williams. There is enough racism in this world without pulling slavery in every crime a black person commits as an excuse of their behavior. I understand institutional racism – guess what – people have the ability to choose right from wrong. There is no excuse for condoning anyone being tortured and murdered because they are white. The history of America includes slavery and all forms of racism but that can’t be made up for by killing innocent people nor is it an intelligent response. There were white people that worked as abolitionists during slavery so it negates the fact that all white people are bad and deserve what’s coming to them because of slavery. Even if America is intelligent and fearless enough to elect a brilliant person like Senator Obama as president – racism will still exist but it paints a portrait that says “most of America” is ready to move on. More hate doesn’t show people another path –more hate breeds more hate. Love is the only thing that kills hate – that is what Jesus taught HIS people. If you don’t HIM – oh well. I feel the pain as a black person when I see someone like me who is mistreated just because they are black, but honestly vigilante justice breeds more of the same. I believe in GOD and he will handle all of my enemies. He died on the cross and showed the world how to forgive your enemy. I will wait for the end and see if the Bible was right, cause if it is all true-there are so many people who will pay for horrible things especially people who have committed crimes against it’s own. Towards the end of the age the world will become a much more bitter, evil place but certainly God has given us the ability to be forgiving and choose to make more loving decisions about others. Get ready, people Jesus will be back soon.

By: c

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:41:13 +0000

If justice in this land was equitably applied, then this wouldn’t even be a discussion.

It amazes me that folks just won’t realize that the system of racism is intricately woven throughout every facet of american life- the media, education, the justice system, economic structure, etc. It is easy to “be silent”. It is easy to call people names.

America steps in around the world on behalf of ‘justice’. It is not silent, regardless of the feelings of those it seeks to aid.

By: Bottom Linez

Bottom Linez — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:57:00 +0000

Letz face it people and i mean my people of color,
anything they do is justifiable.like the case of the WHITE women teacher having sexual relationz with those 14yr old boyz.Any normal human would say molester,molester but phyc and others say she not a pedifile due of her lack of childhood.she was never molested and her father was and still is a priest,u do the math im out..bOTTOMz

By: NaeNay

NaeNay — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:39:34 +0000

It is unfortunate that whenever there are race crimes, Americans retreat to the racism issue. What else can we do? Push for JUSTICE, irregardless of who the victim or defendent may be. Until an American can honestly fight for EVERY AMERICAN’s equal-justice, he or she should (1) be silent and just except that he or she is really a hater – at some level, and (2) not expect AMERICA to be what you refuse to be.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:59:54 +0000

I’m a 43 year old white man, OMG… My heart goes out to poor Megan and her family. This should not happen to anyone regardless of skin color.

I’m outraged the the judge/prosecutor will not add HATE crime to the charges… I guess they are both WHITE. I guess the system still does not acknowledge that their state has HATERS among them.

OMG just look at those six inbred creatures, not even human… They should all be ‘Put Down’ like a rabid dog for what they have done, so the seeds of their behavior don’t get planted into others to perpetuate the hatred…

I don’t care from what background you come from or what qualifies as entertainment to some people, this is plain wrong. If the courts don’t do right by Megan, there should be justice on a vigilantly level. I’m so ill by this I can’t write anymore….

Dave

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:57:26 +0000

This is a person! A person that should never be treated in such a manor. The reason it is a white on black issue is because these 6 people made it one. Megan Williams is not trying to “play the race card”.

By: Shaaronie

Shaaronie — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:25:51 +0000

Oh come on. This is not a contest between which race has the most sickos. Every time something like this happens, you can bet some fool starts defending these other racist fools by demanding a talley. “They didn’t report this black on white crime or that white on black crime”. The people that commit these crimes are animals. I am just as appalled when they are committed by Black human animals as White human animals. I wish all such crimes were reported so we Human Beings of all races, can know who they are and possibly keep ourselves safe.

By: blair

blair — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:50:00 +0000

The Megan Williams case seems to be turning into a case of horrific domestic abuse rather than a hate crime. She has lodged charges against one of the accused, Bobby Brewster, before. Police investigated a disturbance at the house before the current incident and arrested Brewster on charges of domestic battery and assault against Williams. Some of the police officers recognized Williams from the early incident and never believed her claim that she barely knew the defendants.

All of the defendants have criminal records, including violent offenses against white people. Frankie Brewster was charged with first-degree murder in 1994, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in the death of an 84-year-old woman. She was released in 2000 after serving five years in prison. At age 12, Bobby Brewster shot and killed his stepfather. Are six are not facing serious charges of kidnapping, sexual assault, malicious wounding and assault. If convicted, they will are going to spend a lot of time in prison.

By: COTTRELL

COTTRELL — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:59:19 +0000

ITS REALLY A SHAME WHEN THE BEST PEOPLE CAN DO TO THROW REALLY HORRIBLE INCIDENTS AT EACH OTHER. NO ONE BLACK OR WHITE DESERVES TO BE TREATED THIS WAY, BUT WHEN ITS DONE BY WHITES ITS EXPLAINED AWAY. WHEN BLACKS DO THESE TYPES OF CRIMES OUT COME THE NOOSES. SORRY PEOPLE, BUT THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPED MURDER, AS THE JENA SIX WAS AND ALSO AS THE MEN THAT KILLED THE WHITE WOMAN AND THE WHITE MAN, WERE CHARGED WITH MURDER. RACISM IA ALIVE AND WELL IN AMERICA

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:12:04 +0000

Let me begin by expressing my deep sorrow for Megan Williams, Channon Christian, Christopher Newsome, and their respective families. The crimes committed against them are beyond atrocious. With respects to the comments regarding racism, reverse racism, hate crimes, etc., let me begin by providing a generalized legal definition of a hate crime.

A hate crime is a crime directed at a person or persons on the basis of characteristics such as race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. In many U.S. states, once a crime has been classified as a hate crime, additional penalties are mandated for violent crimes motivated by bias or bigotry against particular groups. Based on my limited knowledge regarding the crimes against Ms. Christian and Mr. Newsome, there has been no indication that the crime committed against them were racially biased, or that the persons who committed the offenses would not have done so had the victims been black. This does not downgrade the horrific nature of the offense, it simply doesn’t elevate the penalties.

The crimes committed against Ms. Williams appear to be racially motivated, based on the information provided about the statements made by the persons who committed the offense, and as such, would face elevated penalties as a hate crime.

Whether the victims or perpetrators of the above crimes are black or white does not negate the fact that the crimes are heinous in and of themselves; nor does it diminish the fact that racism still flourishes in today’s society. I have witnessed racism involving whites against blacks and blacks against whites. I am a black female and have experienced various degrees of racism throughout my childhood and adult life. I’ve even witnessed and experienced discrimination among my own race. There are those among my race who discriminate because my skin coloring is too dark, or that my skin coloring isn’t dark enough – talk about ludicrous. Regardless of what I’ve experienced and witnessed, that doesn’t mean that I blame every single white person in existence for the actions of the bigots or racists in existence; nor do I discriminate among my own race. It merely means that I am cognizant of the ugly truth that even in 2007, hatred and bigotry still flourish. It never ceases to amaze me how human beings can inflict such pain and sorrow against one another.

Gabriel, I agree with your remarks that 400 years of slavery in the past is not a justification for caring more about black victims than white victims. I’ve worked with victims and no victim should undergo what Ms. Williams, Ms. Christian, or Mr. Newsome experienced. Under no circumstance should slavery in the past be a justification for crimes committed today. Again, I must reiterate that their doesn’t appear to be a correlation that the crimes against Ms. Christian and Mr. Newsome were racially motivated, unless someone has additional information that I’m not aware of. Please, also keep in mind that the effects of slavery are still burdensome to carry, even today. I don’t have the time to regurgitate every aspect of racism I’ve experienced, as recently as 3 weeks ago, but rest assured it still flourishes.

By: Kelly H

Kelly H — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:28:41 +0000

Whether you know it or not, or should I say, whether you choose to believe it or not, racism is alive and kicking here in America. Our ancestors were put through hell and just because they are no longer physically with us doesn’t mean their pain does not endure from generation to generation. We will NOT forget. Fortunately, we are a strong people and by the grace of God, we will overcome. John 14 says: Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God and be believe in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you because I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, again do I come and will take you to myself, in order that where I am you may be also. And where I go you know the way. We have hope and that will NOT be taken away from US. So before you say “get over it”, get a clue.