Another Group of Teens in New York Is Charged with Assault as a Hate Crime

According to police in Ramapo, New York, four Suffern High School students and one former student are being charged with assault as a hate crime. Detective Lt. Brad Weidel stated that on March 28, 2009, several teenagers were at a party in the woods when a handful of white teens targeted a Latino teen, assaulting him while shouting "white power." The victim was taken to the hospital where he was treated for a laceration and a concussion. He was released after being treated. The victim's identity was not released.

This attack occurred just a few days before Rosario Lucero, the mother of Marcelo Lucero, attended a court hearing for the teens accused in the death of her son at the end of 2008. Six of those teens have been charged with gang assault, conspiracy, and hate crimes. One of the teens, Jeff Conroy, who allegedly stabbed Marcelo to death, has been charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime. Conroy's trial will not happen for months but Rosario is hopeful that eventually, "justice [will be] done."

Read the full story on the Ramapo hate crime.
Read the full story on the Lucero hearing.

Comments

[RightWingMarine]

What is the point in hate cime legislation?
is the victim hurt more because his attackers didn't like him because of who he was?
As Americans we are free to like or hate anyone we want based on whatever criteria we want. What is and should be illegal is assault. We cannot legislate morality.

[AfroLatina21]

What is going on with these spikes in hate crimes against minorities­...especia­lly Latinos?

After the election of President Obama I actually feared that there would be more hate crimes but against blacks. I honestly think this has to do with the immigration battle and the fact that Latinos are expected to be the majority by 2050, which is causing some to get paranoid. I also blame people like Lou Dobbs and his constant hate filled campaign against Latinos specifically Mexicans.