Lester Chambers claims attack was hate crime

[coeur_de_lion]

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- In July a woman climbed on stage and assaulted musician Lester Chambers at a blues festival in Hayward. Now he's calling for tough criminal prosecution of his attacker because he believes he was the victim of a hate crime. It's video and an interview you'll see only on ABC7 News.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Alameda County District Attorney's office decided prosecutors will file two felony charges against the Barstow, California woman accused of attacking Chambers. However, it is not the kind of charges he feels is warranted and he has now hired a high-profile attorney.

Chambers says he is in misery. His body and soul are bruised. "My nerves are shot, I shake. I can't sleep," said Chambers. Last month the 73-year-old singer, a founding member of the legendary 1960s band "The Chambers Brothers" was doing what he does best, performing at the Hayward Blues Festival while he was attacked.

This Fuse TV video shows the woman, identified as 43-year-old Dinalynn Andrews Potter, crashing the concert and jumping on stage. It was just after Chambers had dedicated a song to the family of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. Andrews Potter was cited for misdemeanor battery and released. Chambers wants her charged with a hate crime, but late Tuesday afternoon the Alameda County District Attorney decided instead on felony elder abuse and felony assault.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/html5/video?id=9205412&pid=9205406§ion=news%2Flocal%2Feast_bay

[Jamastiene]

1. The way it was described, it seemed like a hate crime to me.

She attacked him when he dedicated the song to Trayvon Martin's family, shouting, "It's all your fault." He ended up with a bruised rib muscle and nerve damage from the attack.
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/15/lester-chambers-trayvon-martin-attack-beyonce

It was a physical assault/attack based on race. I would say that is a hate crime.

[coeur_de_lion]

2. I agree 100%

The woman who attacked him was initially charged with a misdemeanor but now it is two felonies. They need to add hate crime.