Beaten & Racial Slurs Hurled .. But No Bias Charge?

By Christine Insinga

  He was beaten, kicked & punched allegedly by 4 men, who witnesses say also yelled racial slurs at Daryl Jackson and told him to "Go back to Africa."  

Jackson is still in Nassau University Medical Center tonight- battered and bruised.  "You don't treat a dog like that," said David Tillery- who was driving to work and spotted the 52 getting pummeled in the middle of Nassau Road.  He says got out of the car- scared the men away and called 9-1-1.

So far, police have arrested 4 Hispanic men  (including an off duty NYPD officer) in connection with the beating but they're charged with assault- NOT a Hate Crime.  Tillery and Jackson's attorney says that's just flat out wrong- but police say the law is clear:  If a person is not attacked BECAUSE of their race-religion or sexual preference  then it cannot be classified as a Hate Crime.

   Jackson was being beaten while being called the 'N' word- true.  but cops say it wasn't the color of his skin that set the men off.  The suspects claim Jackson was pan-handling outside the deli where some of them work and he wouldn't leave.  Officials say an argument ensued and then it got physical.  Difficult- confusing and frustrating to many involved- but police say the law is the law. 

Comments

[John]

I still don't understand why we've criminalized specific thought in the first place. Who cares WHY someone attacks someone else? Who cares if the victim is black, Hispanic, Jewish, or British? Is the crime somehow worse? Is the victim more injured?

Maybe we should just arrest people if they indicate any sort of hate at all. Or maybe if they refuse to believe in a particular religion or economic system. Then we'll be "safe" from people who disagree with us.

[susan l.rudnick]

this latest incident is so disturbing to me.its mind boggling that that-n- word can be said outloud to a fellow human being and not be labeled a hate crime.next time a jewish person gets singled out or a temple gets marked upon by the nazi hate synbol will the authorities say its not a hate crime because the persons responsible didnt set out to look for jews?what is this country turning into ? i'm so sick to my stomach .