Current Events Watch

A hate crime, also known as a bias crime, is a criminal offense committed against a person, property or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity/national origin.
—Original language for defining a hate crime, U. S. Federal Bureau of Investigation

The story came to light in the beginning by way of Internet emails. A young couple, Channon Christian and Chris Newsom, were murdered while out on a date in January, 2007. Christian and Newsom were reportedly carjacked in Knoxville, Tennessee as they left a friend’s house.

Various accounts appeared on Web sites and blogs. Knoxville TV station WBIR covered the story. Reports surfaced, of rape, torture and murder following the carjacking. National media paid very little attention.

Recently in Jacksonville, Florida, Benjamin Lee Washington, 24, was sentenced to life in prison, convicted for second degree murder in the death of Chad David Henderson, 19, at a tattoo party. The two argued about race. Henderson suggested minorities should be “bred out.” Washington was allegedly angry about that and also about a swastika tattoo on Henderson’s leg. Washington shot Henderson. The daily newspaper and local TV stations reported the story.

Christian, Newsom and Henderson were white. The assailants, both convicted and alleged, are black.

Viral emails expressed dismay none of these crimes were considered hate crimes. Many expressed anger and asked a uniform question. If the victims were of another race or gender, wouldn’t national media have picked up the story? Wouldn’t the federal government have leveled hate crime charges?

I’ve never agreed with hate crime legislation. We have solid laws on the books for murder. It’s my opinion that as soon as you tag an act a hate crime, you have lessened the value of the individual. Was Matthew Shepard less or more because he was gay? Was James Byrd more or less because he was black?

We should prosecute murder because a life has been taken. Applying a special label maintains that some Americans are worth more or less than others. Matthew Shepard, James Byrd, Channon Christian, Christian Newsom and Chad David Henderson were each entitled to the full rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. Applying the law on an uneven basis is an insult to these victims. We should value them because they were human beings. Shepard and Byrd’s murders fueled a media frenzy on all levels. In that sense, media elevated those victims above those who died recently.

Enacting special interest laws feeds the divisive climate that sweeps America in these troubled times. Leaders of both parties and populace leaders as well profit on the basis of exploiting race, gender and religion. In today’s cultural arena, feeding a system that fractures is a dangerous and foolhardy act.–Kay B. Day

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