Phil Trexler, Akron Beacon Journal, July 10, 2009
The FBI has been asked to join Akron police in investigating the attack on a white family by a group of black teens near Firestone Park.
In a letter to the FBI dated today, Mayor Don Plusquellic asks the federal agency’s local office to help determine whether any civil-rights violations or hate crimes occurred during the attack last month on Marty Marshall and his family.
The investigation is being supported by civil-rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton.
“Accounts from the victim have indicated his assailants prefaced the attack with statements that could indicate a racial motivation to the crime,” Plusquellic wrote in his letter.
“Our priority is the same as it is with every crime: to find justice for the victims. But, it is also important that we carefully examine the motivation behind this attack and address that if necessary.”
Marshall, 39, spent five days in Akron General Medical Center after a group of black teens attacked him, his wife, two children and two adult male friends.
Akron police have confirmed from witnesses that the attack by 30 to 50 teens was unprovoked and that no words were exchanged before the attack.
The victims say the group shouted, “This is our world,” during the assault. Marshall says he also heard chants of, “This is a black world.”
The assault, in which Marshall suffered extensive head injuries from repeated kicks and punches to his skull, has not yet been ruled a hate crime by Akron police.
Police told the Marshalls this week that they were unaware of the chants until reading about them in the newspaper.
Marshall, in an interview today, said police questioned him late Wednesday night about the attack and the chants he heard. His wife, Yvonne Marshall, said she recalls telling officers and a detective about the chants the night of the attack.
The remarks are not noted in a police report released by the department. A box to denote whether the attack was a hate crime is marked “no bias/not applicable.”
{snip}
Marshall said this week he believed the attack was racially motivated.
Support for the Marshalls arrived this week from the Rev. Sharpton, a national activist for the black community. A spokesman said Sharpton is aware of the attack and does not condone the behavior of the teens.
Sharpton’s National Action Network supports the FBI investigation, the spokesman said.
“These teens need to be punished as much as any dumb redneck in white sheets,” said Richard Jones, a Sharpton spokesman based in Cleveland. “Nobody should be attacked like this, whether they are black or white. These young men who are responsible need to be brought to justice.”
Plusquellic would not comment beyond the letter and a written statement, spokesman Mark Williamson said.
In [a written statement], the mayor said the investigation into the attack will try to determine whether it “falls under the category of a violation of civil-rights protection and should, consequently, be considered a ‘hate crime.’
“This ruling must, by law, be made by federal authorities, and therefore we are asking for their assistance in this matter. Make no mistake, most important is that the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice. I know that our police department is doing everything it can to aggressively pursue the investigation into this horrible incident.
“I ask our citizens to not confuse the technical/legal issue of a federally designated ‘hate crime’ with the fact that our police department is taking all necessary steps to solve this crime.”
{snip}
[Editor’s Note: An earlier account of the attack on the Marshall family can be read here.
Original article
Email
Phil Trexler
at ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com .
(Posted on July 14, 2009)
Comments
I’m black American and I agree that if these allegations are in fact true that these monsters should be punished to the full extend of the law. I apologize to American Renaissance readers because the vast majority of black Americans are good quality harding working people. Please do not judge all blacks for the actions of a few. I think its wrong when blacks judge all whites as racisit as well as whites who feel that all blacks are criminals. We’re brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. I’m no better than my white brother; I feel I am his equal. Thanks for your time.
“Our priority is the same as it is with every crime:”
To make sure black youths get the message to tone done racist language while carrying out their attacks.
I am not a lawyer, but if I am not mistaken, one prime reason the Federal Anti-Lynching laws were enacted last century was because the local law enforcement would not prosescute anyone. The whole town would show up to burn and hang someone but there was never a witness and no one would ever get charged with anything.
It is almost the complete opposite of what occured before. Now, the black “community” covers up everything and the police don’t want to get involved. Wierd.
Wow. Is the Rev. Al trying to reinvent himself or what? Last week he took up for Black victims in a corpse-dumping cemetary plot re-sale scam, even though the alleged perps were Black. And now he is taking up for White victims assaulted by alleged perps who are Black.
I can’t say that his rhetoric was particularly spirited in this mob assualt case, especially when compared to his outbursts when Whitie is accused by a Black victim. But on the grand scale of Rev. Al racial awareness, two milestones in two weeks is HUGE.
Firestone Park is a mostly white area so this isn’t a hate crime.
Sharpton said he’s against all unjust attacks, yet he’s NEVER spoken out against the thousands of black on white mob assaults before now.
I think there are two reasons why he is voicing opposition to the attack now when he never did before on any others: 1) He knows it’s an incident that has gained national public exposure, so he wants to appear as if he’s against all unjust attacks, which he believes will give him more credibility when he makes complaints against whites; and 2) Racial issues are more frequently coming to the front and center of the entire country now that Obama is in and has appointed so many blacks to positions of authority. He is aware that there is a very real possibility that whites might unify on racial issues and he hopes that a black speaking out against black misconduct might just neutralize any animosity by whites.
But, whatever his motives are, one thing is unequivocally for certain and that he is he cares not one whit for assaults against anybody but blacks. The only people he is fooling are the gullibles.
“Mayor Don Plusquellic asks the federal agency’s local office to help determine whether any civil-rights violations or hate crimes occurred during the attack last month”
You mean it takes the FBI to determine if this was a hate crime?
“Akron police have confirmed from witnesses that the attack by 30 to 50 teens was unprovoked and that no words were exchanged before the attack.”
And if words had been exchange, then it wouldn’t have been a hate crime? Any exchange of words would have justified the attack?
This is another non-story that won’t be on the evening news.
If Al Sharpton, excuse me, the REVEREND Al Sharpton and his Crime-Busting Action Network are on the case, you can bet the perpatrators are as good as caught. I’m sure we can also count on marches and boycotts and protests demanding the city of Akron reach out to the white community and heal the racial wounds this attack has caused.
Goodness gracious sakes alive! Was this REALLY a hate crime? Now, let’s not be hasty in judging; let’s not jump to conclusions about this incident! Maybe the Marshalls hate black people and just made it all up!
In all seriousness, can you believe these police and elected officials? The Rev. Charlatan’s man’s racial slur on working-class Whites is just something you could expect from the likes of him, but you’d expect people who are our leaders (allegedly) and those hired to protect us to show some backbone. “Could not be reached for comment” usually means, “Didn’t return phone calls for fear of being called a ‘racist’ for whatever he said.”
Maybe if these people can’t recognize a hate crime when they see one, they shouldn’t be running a city the size of Akron.
Those black attackers won’t be charged with a hate crime just as in Jena 6 I am afraid.. Hope Sharpton gets his comeuppance this time though and those blacks are charged as they should be!
Only by the grace of the at large white community that other than whites are allowed to live in a nation primarily founded and built by white brain power. Perhaps in the near distance future, whites will rebel and say no more to supporting inferiorty and all its consequences. End of the gravy train.
Unfortunately, because of the run away allowance of inferiority in the present, future generations will have to fight and work greatly to get this nation or another form of this nation back on track. The biggest battle will to undo the brainwashing committed by the media and the educational system. The Western civilizations have lost its energy in protecting itself from the invasion of inferiority. This is how past advanced civilizations fell. Superior genes does always keep evolving and new advanced civilizations always arise again. But this can only keep happening if superior genes do not interbreed with inferior genes on a massive scale.
Is there a difference between using the ‘N’ word and using the word ‘redneck’? Other than one is harder to excuse as not being a racial slur than the other. And of course, the guy is using a racial slur against whites here when the victim in this case is a white family.
Hey Anonymous (post 5),
Great “logic.” So, if whites commit a crime against blacks in a black neighborhood while shouting, “this is a white world,” it’s not a hate crime?
In today’s Akron Beacon Journal (July 14), columnist Bob Dyer has a column which calls the attack racist and he castrates the race hustlers like Sharpton and Jackson for this silence.
See this at www.Ohio.com
“Is there a difference between using the ‘N’ word and using the word ‘redneck’?
You mean redneck is an ethnic slur????
Doesn’t matter, because a true rednecks could care less what people think of them. My bumper sticker reads “Redneck and Proud of It!”
Todd Kidd: Hate to break it to you, friend, but most blacks are, well, savage. You are in the minority, and you’re in a difficult position, between dealing with whites who are wary of blacks, and blacks who would consider you an Uncle Tom. But I do agree, black Christians and white Christians are one in Christ.
@Anonymous #5: As a white person, what would happen if I went to East St. Louis, which is about 97% black, opened fire on blacks, and screamed “This is a white world!”? Hate crime or not?
(I do find the notion of “hate crime” ridiculous because you commit crimes not out of love, but out of hate.)
“Accounts from the victim have indicated his assailants prefaced the attack with statements that could indicate a racial motivation to the crime,”
“Police told the Marshalls this week that they were unaware of the chants until reading about them in the newspaper.”
“Marshall, in an interview today, said police questioned him late Wednesday night about the attack and the chants he heard. His wife, Yvonne Marshall, said she recalls telling officers and a detective about the chants the night of the attack.”
“Support for the Marshalls arrived this week from the Rev. Sharpton, a national activist for the black community.”
Its criminal that our politicized cops and elected officials even fear “investigating” - if not acting to cover up - the obvious continuation of the daily and brutal ongoing attacks against White women, children, and men, without the approval of professional race baiters such as Sharpton.
Ronald
“These teens need to be punished as much as any dumb redneck in white sheets,” said Richard Jones, a Sharpton spokesman based in Cleveland. “Nobody should be attacked like this, whether they are black or white. These young men who are responsible need to be brought to justice.”
While it is honorable that Sharpton’s camp in concerned about this attack, notice the language here. A White who hates is a “dumb redneck in white sheets.” Blacks who hate are “teens” and “young men.” Why not a comparable descriptor?
If we must be insulting, “dumb redneck in white sheets” is as confrontational as “dumb black thug in ghetto wear.” Oh, wait, only Whites can be insulted and stereotyped with the full approval of society, never Blacks! Sorry, I forgot for a moment that I’m living in the new and improved USA of the 21st Century.
Todd kidd:
You may be Black, but the odds are more than likely you are White. Nice try. But I am glad that you seem to be on our side.
Todd Kidd: “Please do not judge all blacks for the actions of a few.”
Todd, one of the main reasons this website exists is to show large-scale trends of racially-motivated violence. You must understand that black-on-white crime is prevalent virtually wherever both races exist, and that it is almost never considered a “hate crime”, even when it most obviously is such. (By the way, I do not wish to imply that I agree with the existence of “hate crime” laws).
This site DOES NOT claim that all blacks are criminals.
Please click “More news stories on Minority-on-White Crime” at the top of this page. You may also read “The Color of Crime”, a free PDF file, by following the link on the left side of this website.
Several years ago, two friends of mine went to a movie in Canton Ohio; they barely escaped a full scale riot of blacks attacking any men, women or children, that was white. The riot started in the movie theater and blacks then ran in packs, maliciously attacking white people, making racial comments too; but now people are debating this recent crime. God help us
Why do I have the feeling that ‘Todd Kidd’ is not really a black American at all, but a white, liberal, multiculteralist?
“The investigation is being supported by civil-rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton.”
Well I’m sure Al Sharpton has a deep and genuine concern with the whites who were attacked. It’s not like this could be a calculated tactic for any future maneuvers.
Seriously, this reminds me of the ACLU’s claim that they’re non-partisan. They’ll even support the free speech of “fascists” and “racists” in an effort to appear to be unbiased. It’s a calculated tactic. Cynical, as ever.
I have my doubts about Rev. Sharpton’s participation. He hasn’t been doing this before. I wonder if these interventions are to help soften any resistance to the Hate crime bill. After all, if it looks like there is some equal attention placed on a black-on-white crime, it will create the appearance of a new fairness and calm down the people who would normally have a vocal oppostion. If the Hate crime bill does get passed, we will see if this kind of attention is still focused on white victims, who would not be covered under the Hate crime bill in its present state. The FBI may also be some sort of ploy indirectly influenced by Eric Holder to deflect from his present challenges. Either way, Al Sharpton(thank for intellectual “dumb redneck in white sheets” crack,right up there with your Greek H****s comment, a great indicator of your mental prowess) being involved is just a trojan horse of some sort.
“Our priority is the same as it is with every crime:”
To make sure black youths get the message to tone done racist language while carrying out their attacks.
The truth of the matter in a nutshell Anon.
Posting before bedtime is always dangerous. You forget things. Not just what you want to write. But the stuff that’s burning in the kitchen as well.
Anyway, Chris Rock and so many others, love to make fun of Poor Whites and often justify it because of the injustices blacks have suffered, blah, blah, blah.
But the argument, THEIR argument, is that Blacks can’t be racist because they don’t have power (can’t use that one anymore).
am I missing something here?
No. They make fun of them because they know nothing will happen to them.
Many of us have seen Sara Silverman do her “Young Black Guys and Old Jewish Men” routine.
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic is a Democrat. I just thought all of you should know that. I am a Democrat too. I chose my “poison” based on my economic status. Republicans could care less about and to them, I am “white trash”. The fact that Mayor Don Plusquellic has asked for this inquiry shows you that there are Democrats who care when white people are attacked too.
Al sharpton, i use to be a meek character at one time until i gained experience in the army on your race. I will never, i do mean never, forget your peoples assaulting on me that was “NEVER!”provoked. selfish your people are. mean in spirit your people are. That is okay now. For your people have made me a student who studies your peoples nature. For the sole purpose of caution. Like a rattle snake you see for the first time, and you never forget. this the only good your people have done to me. I am not trying to insult you, only letting you know i had enough. Thank you.
No.5 Anonymous,
“Firestone Park is a mostly white area so this isn’t a hate crime”…….does that mean if I, a white man bash a black man in the Bronx it is not raciallt motivated?? Of course it is racially motivated and typical of the black racist criminal. Blacks are way over represented in crime stats. and whites are usually the victims.
No.5 you are just another black apologetic or pathetic white liberal. Grow a brain!
“These teens need to be punished as much as any dumb redneck in white sheets,” said Richard Jones, a Sharpton spokesman based in Cleveland.
Ummm….does anyone else see the irony of this statement within the context of this article???
Typical of the ******** ****** ******* Sharpton. The blacks are “youths” and young men, any white who does the same is a dumb redneck.
‘The remarks are not noted in a police report released by the department. A box to denote whether the attack was a hate crime is marked “no bias/not applicable.”’
How many of you want to bet that this goes nowhere?
Why is there more ink used talking about bias than about the nature of the attack? People being beat up doesn’t matter?
I wouldn’t trust $harpton, he is no friend to Whites. Would you rather have $harpton represent you or an in-your-face White lawyer/activist who would demand justice in the name of all Whites who have been racially targeted by vicious black criminals—and call the justice system itself into question by pointing out the huge number of black-on-White crimes?
What I find unsettling about this is why no WHITE activist is ‘allowed’ to come forward and loudly demand a press conference with all the networks and major newspapers in attendance.
Could you imagine a red-face White activist screaming into the CNN cameras This a hate crime! and then call for a march to stop the violence by blacks against Whites, demand the government do something about out of control black crime, ask for a nationally televised trial for the criminals, and insist upon redress from the black community, in the form of large montetary donations for scholarships and community reinvestment for White areas?
This is routinely what blacks ask for and receive, whether a crime has been committed or not.
It is a symbol of how oppressed Whites are by the government that we have to depend on the likes of $harpton to stand up for us.
Bon
Here’s my personal experience of a similar situation. Back in the late 70’s, my ninth grade class was bused to an all-black high school on the other side of town. One day, during the lunch hour, a large group of blacks (I’m not even sure if they were students) went on a rampage, pummeling any white students they saw. One of my friends was beaten pretty seriously. He immediately transferred to a private Christian school on our side of town. Of course, the story never made the news.
This crime may be classified as a violation of civil rights laws, although I doubt it, but will not be classified as a hate crime.
“You mean redneck is an ethnic slur????”
It’s a racial slur. I’ve had people respond to this, respond to me saying the word ‘redneck’ is a sign or bigotry (and to be honest, the word is normally used in a effort to prove to everyone how enlightened the user is) I’ve had people respond to it by saying, “Well, so and so is an ignorant red-neck”. I’ve even had people begin to argue that it’s not a racial slur, which is the most effective tactic, to get them to begin to argue that the term ‘redneck’ is not a racial slur. I say ‘begin’, because early in their argument, that the term ‘redneck’ is not a racial slur, they normally fall silent.
“One of my friends was beaten pretty seriously. He immediately transferred to a private Christian school on our side of town. Of course, the story never made the news.”
Of course not. No horrible words were used, necessitating the story become international news. At least were the races reversed.
They’ll declare it a Hate Crime if they are forced to. Whites have to learn how to FIGHT BACK by manipulating the media and politicians.
“the story never made the news.”
No. But I’m sure the ‘fact’ some white kid in the exchange said, ‘aunt Jemima’ or something - was in the news. Over and over.
This could have happened anywhere in the USA. I wish I could recount all the times my white family was harassed by adult blacks,even in all white areas. It would take days. Yet, it never makes the mainstream media. Imagine if it did!
There is a large problem with black youth gangs in the Akron area. To hear of a gang of 30 to 50 youth going on a rampage like this is somewhat unusual. But it is extremely common for groups of 3 to 6 black youth to seek out and assault lone whites. It happens all the time. Many suspect it is part of the inititation process for various gangs. If no money or property is taken you can be assured it was a gang intitiation. If money and property are taken it could still be an initiation but the participants just decided to “get paid.” Unfortunately, in many urban areas, whites need to have concealed carry permits and to travel in armed groups.
