Teens Burn Cross Outside Black Church, May Face Hate Crimes Charges
- Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:08pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Felony hate crime charges may be waged against an 18-year-old man and two younger boys who have admitted to burning a cross outside of a predominately African American church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
While authorities are recommending these legal penalties against the three white men, the Creek County District Attorney will have the final say. Currently, no formal charges have been filed an the three young men are currently free. Reuters has more:
“They were bored and it was something to do. That’s what the adult said,” [Lt. Charles Redfern of the Creek County Sheriff's Department] said of the suspects. “They did say they wish they hadn’t done it.”
The two juveniles were interviewed in the presence of their parents, he said. Their ages were not disclosed.
The cross, propped against a chain link fence outside St. Johns Baptist Church before it was set ablaze, was actually half of a wooden waterbed frame, Redfern said.
The Associated Press has more:
We are considering it a hate crime,” [Redfern] said. “Because the intent was there to build the cross, wrap it in what they wrapped it in, took it across the street to a church, set it up and set it on fire.”
He said the cross was wrapped in cloth and plastic, and then ignited.
“It’s unacceptable in this day and time.”
St. John’s Baptist Church members claim that they will not hold a grudge against the young men for their actions, though they certainly disagree with what was done. While these actions were certainly serious, there are some who may find the charges harsh in nature.
What do you think? Should these teens be charged with a felony hate crime for their actions?
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Comments (141)
101
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:42pmChilds play, spring break…not a fricken hate crime, the worse these kids are guilty of is maybe burning on a NO BURN DAY!
Report Post »leary1
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 10:19amI hope they do get charged with hate crimes, we need to stop this now before it becomes commonplace.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:41pmThis site is going to hell, changes suck, can’t get a post thru censers,
Report Post »nptden
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:41pmI someone can burn the American Flag, I don’t see a problem with this burning. What’s the difference between one or the other they are both hate crimes? OK for commies, socialists, Marxists and progressives to burn our nations flag and they are not punished. Yet if it relates to a race it is punished? Why?
Report Post »checkit
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 1:48pmVery interesting comment. That appears to be a valid claim to me, good post.
I would argue why should these boys be punished when there are SEVERAL blacks that have not been punished even after being convicted, example, black panthers.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:40pmAlinsky at work- Either these are Liberals doing the alinsky shuffle OR they are just plain everyday Racist Liberals/progressives. These people are despicable! When they are found out they better still be prosecuted….
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:40pmLittle baby klansmen in training. Their parents ought to be onvestigated and charged right alongside them.
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 10:43pmUnto the seventh generation, right?
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 11:17pmAnd every Black Panther or Nation of Islam member that spouts “Kill Whitey” should be jailed and the key thrown away.
Report Post »Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 1:45pm@ Baikonur
Using your reasoning, saying the parents should be tried along with the kids…. well, using your skewed logic.. I guess we can try all the Democrats for treason, since they are the enablers of Islamic terrorism on our soil.
Report Post »FuturePresident
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:40pmAre we really this politically correct? I’m not defending those kids actions because it was dumb and wrong. But that’s the problem. When does wrong become illegal? I can’t burn a cross in my back yard? Hate crime laws were made to stop black people from being lynched. Not to stop stupid kids from setting flame to a cross outside a church. Is this freedom of expression? One could argue that, but what I think we should do is get rid of hate crimes. Come on white people get mugged and killed every day by black people and that’s not a hate crime…Only when white people are on the dealing end of racism does anyone care. It is bull crap, blacks need to stop complaining or go back to Africa, whatever suites them better. EVERYONE has a chance in this country. END AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND HATE CRIMES.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:38pm@264win writes: “So are these white teens? Beacuse that is the only race that can be changed for hate crimes according to Eric Holder DOJ”.
Is this the case due to the interpretations of the hate crimes laws, or is this the case because of our current head of the DOJ? Very interesting
Report Post »264win
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:34pm• According to the latest annual report on murder by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, most inter-racial murders involve black assailants and white victims, with blacks murdering whites at 18 times the rate that whites murder blacks.
I do not condone any these actions but we also need a level playing field.
Our great community organizer divider Imam Obama and the rest of the liberal turds in washington can take some credit for alot of the action going on the our country now.
what about “Flash Mobs”???????????????????????????????
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:34pm@264win, wow. I do not know why you singled out 1992, but otherwise very interesting
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:33pm(hate crime) for burning a waterbed frame cross they made ? what they did was wrong but there was not any human or property damage………let throw them in jail for life for not being PC
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:33pmNow, now, let’s not jump to conclusions. Perhaps the young fellows were just trying to provide some kindling for the black church members to use for their cannibal boiling pot. Probably takes a lot of wood to get a big pot like that boiling.
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:31pmI don’t like the idea of hate crimes. Its too much like thought crimes. What those teens did was undoubtedly very wrong. It also may have been more an act of teen foolishness than callous hate. Perhaps those teens should be given the chance to do some volunteer work alongside members of that church. They might just discover that the black folks are more like them than they realized.
Report Post »ecurbyy
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 5:42amFine idea. I do recall doing some very foolish things myself as a child. If I got caught and any amends were to be made I had to make them under the supervision of my parents. I learned many things.
Report Post »wodiej
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:30pmSounds like it was a harmless prank. How do they know they were just burning a cross in front of a church or because it was predominantly black. All crime comes from inner hate of the perp so we don’t need special laws for certain segments of society. Based on some great stats someone posted, whites are victims of hate alot more than blacks but how often do blacks get charged for a hate crime? Not often.
Report Post »holy ghostbuster
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:30pmWhat these odors did was despicable, however, equally deplorable is that we have a government that criminalizes certain thoughts, which is what separates a “hate”crime from other crimes.
Report Post »nvestnbrass
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:30pmHate crime my ass! I’m so sick of that crap. Not that I’m a fan of cross or flag burning. I’m just tired of the hate crime BS. What does a white male have to do in order to make it on the hate crime victim list.
Report Post »RebeccaRyan
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 10:51amIn Hawaii there have been cases where white people we victims in a hate crime case. So there goes your theory that it’s some kind of liberal agenda law….
Report Post »sooner12
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:29pmAren’t all crimes have a characteristic of hate? Therefore, there is no need to have a specific designation.
Report Post »TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 11:30pmI hate OU. So there.
Report Post »Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:27pmFreedom of speech. Let me get this straight? It’s OK to burn the American flag, to have Muslims and liberals stand on the corner and call for the downfall of America and capitalism, for Black Panthers to stand outside of voting booths threatening white people (and AG Holder said he wouldn’t charge
“his” people with voter intimidation), but it’s not ok to burn a cross?
I think felony charges are a crock of crap in this situation.
If the cross was burnt on church property, charge the racist idiots with vandalism or something.
But a hate crime? Why is it that only white people can be charged with “hate” crimes. Justice is supposed to be blind.. which is why she is blind-folded. Unfortunately, in this insane politically correct society, Justice has had her blind-fold removed, and whites have become the new minority.
And before any of you liberals tell me I’m a racist for my comments… I’m Jewish, and despise white supremacy. Now white pride I have no problem with. If you are proud to be of some white European lineage, good..everyone should understand and honor their heritage.
Report Post »Copout
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:44pmAmen
Report Post »Jesse Tampa, FL
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 10:00pmI second that.
Report Post »RIGHTHOOK
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 10:14pmI have to say I am on board with your points!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 11:43pmTalmid of Yeshua
Well Said!!!
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 9:16amI believe to carry and preach from a book telling people to kill Christians and Jews is a much more of a “ hate crime ” than reckless endangerment of personal property.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 9:24amAnd, it‘s sad that their parents didn’t teach them respect for other races!
Report Post »freeweever
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 10:21amThis person is totally correct reverse discrimination is a disease being perpetuated and spread by the progressive left in order to make white prideful americans feel guilty all the time. So while they are robbing your country of all dignity, booty and sovereignty, you set in the corner quietly feeling bad for something you had nothing to do with at all“ period”. I think this is going to have to get ugly real ugly . Hooraa
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 1:21pmI totally agree with you Talmid… I was thinking the same thing as I read the story. How is it ok to burn other things like a bible, a koran, or the American flag and yet you can’t burn a cross for charges of hate crime? (I’m a Christian too, so it’s not like I condone this type of behavior, I just see the hypocrisy).
Report Post »Non-regulator
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:27pmThe leftists made hate crimes exclusive to the leftists’ special interest groups. If that were another type of church, the ensuing outcry would be less or nonexistent. Those idiot kids need charged with a felony intimidation charge of some sort but not a hate crime.
Report Post »BuckleUpAmerica
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:27pmThis is just a example of what kids do when you spare the rod
Report Post »264win
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:26pmSo are these white teens? Beacuse that is the only race that can be changed for hate crimes according to Eric Holder DOJ
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 11:07pmEric Holder is the first thing that came to my mind as well.
Report Post »yoshiusa
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 11:19pmthats exactly what I was thinking…any crime against whites or christians is ignored but any other race or religion is a hate crime..I just want whats fair for ALL People white included ..we seem to have gone to the bottom of the barrel.
Report Post »Deputy Duffy
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 10:23amIsn’t that the truth? YES, it is. Check out Five Points in Columbia, SC
Report Post »Black Mayor+ Black Police Chief = no “hate crime” OR attempted murder charges.
Diamond Girl
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:25pmYet no Hate Crime charges brought in the Carter Strange case.
…Oh the hypocrisy, it’s filled with this now.
Crime is crime…congress-critters created this BS…they need to undo this special ‘crime’ and let crime be crime whatever it is…or apply it to the black race as well….tired of the double-standard.
Report Post »momsense
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 10:38pmWasn’t Carter Strange white–if so, there’s your answer. After all Eric the RED and his racist Department of Injustice( Civil Rights for Minorities only Division) says that whites never are denied Civil Rights and never have to deal with discrimination so this type of case wont get any action. So it MUSt be so—– Right?
Report Post »football lady
Posted on July 4, 2011 at 8:42amDitto!
Report Post »Churk
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:24pmThey shouldn’t have done it, period. I had stupid ideas when I was a kid (nothing like this) but my parents taught me respect. Just because I don‘t agree with someone’s religious views does not mean I’m going to burn a cross in their front lawn. Two wrongs don’t make a right. These kids need to learn from this lesson and have some kind of punishment. Bored isn’t an excuse.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:21pmCharge them w/the hate crime (although pretty much all violent crimes are crimes of hate). They probably didn’t truly grasp the gravity of their actions so give them the low end of the sentencing guidelines but send a clear MSG that racial bigotry will not be tolerated.
Report Post »Whitey4West
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:21pmlooks like the church is taking the high-road, and I applaud them for that!
Report Post »IMO, there’s no such thing as hate crime…crime is crime
KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 6:23amWhy couldn’t they have done something more productive and targeted a Mosque or Islamic Center instead?
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 8:03amThis sort of thing has been going on for many years in OK. It was the same sort of stuff in the 60‘s and 70’s…Mostly African American churches being burnt down.
Report Post »frodis
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 2:14pmYes crime is a crime. But as the demonrats shout so boldly everyday we have freedom of speech. Yes it was rude but free speech is free speech. Hanging an effigy of Sarah Palin was thought to be a work of art by the liberals. It depicted a dead woman they HATE! You have to be fair across the board dems, not pick and choose.
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:14pmsarcasm intended in my post above!
Report Post »nannyatnannydotgov
Posted on July 1, 2011 at 9:48pmDetected :)
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 8:01amWhat post above?
Report Post »The Big Pickle
Posted on July 2, 2011 at 11:57amJust to tell you how OUTRAGEOUS hate crime laws are against White people in this country. A few years ago a couple White teenagers put two popsicle sticks together in a cross form and put them on their black neighors lawn. They got 5 years for hate crimes. Just a few months after that another couple White teenagers driving up in Northern Wisconsin flipped off a carload of hmong because they were driving so badly. They went to jail also for hate crimes.
Meanwhile, violent packs of wild negroes are roaming the streets targeting White victims for horrendous crimes and nothing happens to them.
It’s time to DEMAND justice for White people! End hate crime legislation now!
Report Post »