Sobering but true: "You kill a dog, you go to jail, You kill a little black boy and nothing happens"

[wndycty]

I do think Michael Vick needs to do jail time but for the life of me it kills me that there is more outrage over his crimes than there is over this. No one is saying is saying that Michael Vick should not be held accountable, but I have to wonder where is that same public opinion lynch mob (including many DUers) on this case? Think about it.


Tense Moments After Boot Camp Acquittal

Oct 13, 7:51 AM (ET)

By MELISSA NELSON

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) - Tensions ran high after eight former boot camp workers were acquitted of manslaughter in the death of a 14-year-old inmate who was videotaped being punched and kicked.

The case sparked outrage and spelled the end of Florida's system of juvenile boot camps, but it took a jury just 90 minutes Friday to decide that the death of Martin Lee Anderson was not a crime.
-snip-

Anderson's family repeatedly sat through the painful video as it played during testimony. They had long sought a trial, claiming local officials tried to cover up the case. The conservative Florida Panhandle county is surrounded by military bases and residents are known for their respect for law and order.

"You kill a dog, you go to jail," said Gina Jones' lawyer, Benjamin Crump, outside court. "You kill a little black boy and nothing happens."
-snip-

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071013/D8S8B38O0.html

[malaise]

1. I hope the family now file a civil suit

You know Goldman style. Let's see if these murderers face the same wrath meted out to OJ. That nurse should not even be allowed to practice in a dolly house.

[wndycty]

2. Martin Lee Anderson is not white, so he has no rights in death. . .

. . .at least that is how this country behaves.

[renie408]

3. I think the facility was run by the state, which gave them $5 million recently.

I thought that would be seen as an admission of guilt. But I guess not. It completely amazes me that these people got off scot free. Couldn't they have been found guilty on SOME lesser charge even if the jury didn't think the offense fit whatever they were being tried for? It is so obviously abuse, I am just shocked.

[wndycty]

4. But you and I both know that these guards will never be as vilified as Michael Vick. . .

. . .this is not a defense of Michael Vick but an example of our misplaced priorities. Punish the hell out of animal abusers, but remember whatever energy you out into that endeavor should be tripled when it comes to human beings. However I think a white victim would have gotten justice.

[melody]

5. Everyone is outraged about this where I am

I've posted on three other threads about it. We had a similar case in California with a
young white girl who died in one of those "extreme outreach" progams and it resulted in a
marginally more just verdict of involuntary manslaughter for the four people involved. Not
one of them served jail time.

Some elements of this culture consider brutalizing children a sacrament.

Hopefully there will be some non-legal justice for the poor little guy. :(

[Toots]

6. little black boy, not just little boy, so this must be a race thing

Were the guards and nurse white? I heard it was an all white jury but haven't heard anything about the guards and nurse as far as their complexion goes. Haven't seen the video..just don't understand people using the adjective black unless it is really pertinent to what they are saying. Believe it or not I see it here quite often. People inserting the adjective black when to me there is no reason for it. :shrug:

[flvegan]

7. Two of the defendants were black, not that it really matters.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fishwax]

9. what the fuck?

[screembloodymurder]

10. Where's the outrage?

Football fans watch their Sunday afternoon gladiator's violence and justify it by saying they are "playing a game", but injury and even deaths occur with alarming frequency. How then, can those same "fans" condemn Vick for dog fighting. Now I don't condone what Vick did, but doesn't anyone see the hypocrisy? And don't give me the dogs didn't have a choice bullshit! It doesn't justify the exploitation of some young kid (black or white) pushed into midget football when he's 6 years old.

[fishwax]

11. football = dog fighting

yeah, whatever :eyes:

A bigger outrage than dog fighting (or even pee wee football) is that Martin Lee Anderson was killed and the system excused it (because, of course, the system was responsible).

[ourbluenation]

15. that's a stretch. GOOOO CAL! n/t

[NOLALady]

12. Where is the outrage and the outcry?

And in two weeks (or less) they will move on. Back to OJ Simpson and his crime du jour. We will cry about OJ from now until the end of time, but this travesty in Florida will soon be forgotten.

It seems like it's open season on the youth of color.

[malaise]

13. Bingo

although it has been for quite a while.

[flashl]

21. The outrage is in the international community NOT HERE

From forensic psychologist, criminology, and psychology-law Blog

International outrage over abuses of U.S. boys

If you walked in partway through my presentation you might have assumed I was talking about human rights violations in a Third World country."
- Gregory Kutz, GAO investigator speaking at Wednesday's Congressional committee hearing

Two days ago, I posted about a scathing governmental report and Congressional inquiry into widespread abuses at juvenile boot camps. In the wake of Wednesday's Congressional committee hearing, the topic is generating outrage around the world.

"Torture, starvation and death: how American boot camps abuse boys," screams a headline in today's Times of London.

The publicity coincides with the Florida manslaughter trial of seven juvenile boot camp guards and a nurse over the death of a 14-year-old boy last year. Physical abuse of Martin Lee Anderson was caught on videotape.

[B Calm]

14. My brother-in-law cousin (white) shot his wife point blank between her eyes

She was cheating on him with another man. He only spent 15 years in prison for murder and now is a free man. The justice system in this country is broke!

[Hangingon]

16. Any one know the composition of the jury?

[fishwax]

17. all white

according to the AP stories.

[PaTs2848]

18. Shame

Shame on the racists and shame on the silen among us who let such travesties happen. This incident will, unfortunately, soon be forgotten until it happens another day or it happens to a young middle class white boy.


"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" (Martin Luther King)

[fishwax]

19. welcome to DU, PaTs2848

:hi:

[Bluerthanblue]

20. well said- and welcome.

I share your perspective on this new sad episode of inequality in america.

And the belief that it will not be long in the news-


:hi:

[John Kerry VonErich]

22. I fear an old sayin could come true.

"If we can't get justice, get revenge."

[flashl]

23. Congressional hearing last Wednesday

Thousands of teenagers sent to American boot camps have suffered horrific abuse] and some have paid with their lives, according to a shocking new report by the US Congress.

Read DU post - Torture, starvation and death: how American boot camps abuse boys

[TheDoorbellRang]

24. Unbelievable. Just...unbelievable

The rampant inhumanity that is demonstrated here is truly frightening. Beat a child to death and a jury says it's o.k.? I used to be complacent about how civilization was making progress, slowly but surely. I read stuff like this and it makes me sick for our country and for humankind.

[annabanana]

25. They claimed they were following "approved procedures". .

Which I suspect is just another way of saying "enhanced interrogation techniques".

It's all legal, nothing to see here.

[JNelson6563]

26. I cannot tell you how sickened I am by this!

When I learned of this verdict I literally felt ill. Incredible.

I am beyond stunned at this injustice.

Julie