Alton L. Hayes Beat Up White Man Because He Was Upset About Trayvon Martin Case: Report

Another 'Justice For Trayvon' Beating? Hate Crime Charges Filed Against Teen

A suburban Chicago teen has been charged with a hate crime after allegedly attacking a white man because he was upset about the Trayvon Martin Case.

Alton Hayes III, 18, allegedly approached a 19-year-old white male in Oak Park, Ill. and said "empty your pockets, white boy," Oak Park Patch reports. Hayes and an unidentified 15-year-old accomplice then proceeded to beat the man before running off, police told Patch.

After his arrest, Hayes reportedly told officers he was upset about the Martin case in Florida, and beat up the victim because he was white, CBS Chicago reports.

Martin, 17, was gunned down by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 near his Florida home. He was unarmed at the time, and his death sparked national outrage.

Hayes isn't the only person who has been charged in attacks allegedly stemming from the Martin case.

On Saturday, a group of African American youths allegedly beat white Mobile, Alabama resident Matthew Owens . Owens was critically injured in the attack, and the youths allegedly said "now that's justice for Trayvon" after the beating.

The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement to Patch condemning the Chicago area attack:

“We deplore this apparently bias-motivated attack. We applaud law enforcement for taking this incident seriously and enhancing the charge. Hate crimes have an impact far beyond the individual victim of the crime," Lonnie Nasatir, the group's greater Chicago director, said in a statement. "When a victim is chosen because of his or her race, other members of that group feel unsafe and unwelcome. Law enforcement’s response to this crime helps to send a clear message that hate crimes will not be tolerated.”

Hayes was ordered held on $80,000 bond, and the 15-year-old was brought to juvenile court in the incident, Fox Chicago reports. The victim did not suffer any serious injuries.

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