More West Virgina Torture Updates

Filed Under Black/African American Issues, Gender and Sexism, Race and Racism, Racism Round-Up, Uncategorized by Rachel

1. In some ways, this case reflects an anomaly. It is an anomaly because of the gender combination and the relationships between the torturers—a group of white mothers and children torturing a young black woman. Most crimes are ~~interracial~~ intraracial, and most crimes don’t involve large intergenerational groups. However, I kept thinking that something about this scenario sounds familiar, and I finally remembered this case from South Carolina last year. I posted about it, but lost the comments in a server move. A friend of one of the young men actually came to my site to tell me how he was such a good person. Unfortunately, I haven’t found any updates on the case, so I’m uncertain what has happened since it was last updated. The poor 15 year old is another nameless faceless black young woman that the media and the rest of us quickly forgot about.

2. Let the trashing of the victim begin. It appears that she had a conflicted relationship with her parents, which is being printed in the local paper. Can somebody tell me why this is relevant?

3. Church leaders and local black residents speak out about the case. I am suspicious about the federal prosecutor’s interpretation of hate crimes laws. He’s arguing that hate crime statutes can only be used in civil rights cases (i.e. voting, education, etc.) I’m not so sure about that, and as Ann mentioned in the previous thread; you could argue that this young woman was deprived of her civil rights.

4. More local commentary.

5. Then, in a lovely turn of events the victim was arrested for writing bad checks. I guess they don’t have any mercy.

6. Charges were upgraded against 5 of the 6 attackers.

And finally, there are also several ignorant editorials and comments I ran across including people suggesting that this couldn’t be a hate crime, and people were just playing the race card. Someone also suggested that this young woman has skeletons in her closet and may just deserve to be mistreated, and someone insulted her mother. Clearly, these bigots have no compassion; they’re sick people.

Comments

7 Responses to “More West Virgina Torture Updates”

Stephanie B. on September 23rd, 2007 8:23 pm

This is disgusting! These people have absolutely no compassion for the victim. Let’s pray for her and her family and hope that they get the justice she so deserved. The last thing she needs is people trashing her reputation.

Stephanie B.
Kate L on September 23rd, 2007 9:30 pm

“Most crimes are interracial”

That’s a typo right? most typos are intra-racial, right?
Rachel on September 23rd, 2007 10:43 pm

Thanks Kate, it was a typo.
UPDATE ON WEST VIRGINA TORTURE AND RAPE VICTIM « BEAUTIFUL, ALSO, ARE THE SOULS OF MY BLACK SISTERS on September 24th, 2007 1:12 am

[...] http://www.rachelstavern.com/?p=713 [...]
Ann on September 24th, 2007 1:32 am

Rachel.

If you go over to Alas, A Blog, you will find the thread you put up on the little 15-year-old black girl who was brutally raped last year. This is the original post you put up on Rachels’ Tavern, and the comments at Alas are preserved.

Here is the link:

http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2006/07/15/15-year-old-survives-racist-rape-and-attempted-murder/#comments

“The poor 15 year old is another nameless faceless black young woman that the media and the rest of us quickly forgot about.”

I did not forget about her. I thought about her every day, and would check for updates every week on the outcome, if any, on her case. But, nothing came up in all the search engines I tried, all this past year. (Nor have I forgotten the little 10-year-old Latina girl who was raped by college jocks in California at about the same time. Her story/case disappeared from sight, and some people’s mind, as well.)

Just shows you how valued, how adored, how protected, how cherished black women and girls (as well as other WOC and girls) are in America.

Such “love” of black women and other WOC really turns my stomach.
Roslyn on September 25th, 2007 1:20 am

She wasn’t arrested, she was arraigned, meaning her charges were read to her by a judge after she turned herself in. The cops didn’t come looking for her, she turned herself in. Presumably these charges have been outstanding for a while, and it’s a good idea to get them cleared up before the DA builds his case.

I don’t think this qualifies as a hate crime under federal (or most state) statutes, and it would be a bad idea to charge it as one. Most prosecutors use hate crime as an ‘aggravator,’ to get a longer sentence than would normally be received. In this case, most of the ringleaders are already felons and are looking at life. In most states, life is approximately 25 years, which seems to be a reasonable sentence for these particular crimes.

There’s no real point in jeopardizing a good case, by adding charges that the DA can’t really prove. Especially when it’s not necessary. Why take the chance? Juries are notoriously squirrelly and if they get mad at the prosecutor, they might acquit just for the hell of it.

Also, I doubt this case will be going to trial. I’ll be very surprised if it does. Unless the public defenders in WV are batshit crazy, they want this case disposed of by Christmas. Most assuredly the state does. I would imagine they’ll reach some accord and they’ll get a plea deal. All well and good. A young woman of questionable intellect and suggestibility doesn’t have to testify, and WV doesn’t have to endure the spectre of a trial. The bad guys get long sentences, and they’ll all be done by Christmas.
trvolk on September 25th, 2007 2:43 am

They posted her picture with the bad-check article?! That is really low.