Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Another Hate Crime Against a Latino in Patchogue, NY

Matthew Mont (L) and Curt Hatton (Newsday)
Last year Patchogue, New York was host to the vicious stabbing death of Marcelo Lucero, a 37 year-old immigrant from Ecuador, at the hands of 7 teenagers from the area. Today two more teens from Patchogue were arraigned on charges of assault in a separate incident that has reminded many of last year's hate crime. Curt Hatton, 19, and Matthew Mont, 16, are charged along with 20 year old Ramon Rodriguez stemming from an incident on August 14 in which the three are accused of beating an Ecuadorian man and robbing him while hurling racial epithets.

When Lucero was killed last year, it sparked a lot of controversy in the community and shone a light on the shady business of "beaner hopping," in which Patchogue youth would apparently go out looking for men of Latino descent to harass and assault for fun. When a meeting was held at the school where the teens attended (Medford-Patchogue High), things got heated when parents started to complain about the media and a Newsday reporter was forcibly removed from the auditorium. The focus should have been on how something like that could have happened in their community, not that the media was paying attention to the despicable act.

Ramon Rodriguez, the first person arrested and charged
(Newsday)
Now less than a year later we have a very similar incident, with teenagers from Medford-Patchogue High School arrested for assaulting an Ecuadorian in the same neighborhood where Marcelo Lucero was killed. In the previously cited Newsday article, some parents are quoted as saying, "This is not a racist town," or "Now my daughter's embarrassed to go to this school because people are going to incorrectly label it racist." I'm not saying that the town or school is racist, but we're less than a year after Lucero's murder, national media attention, and the beginning of a DOJ investigation and this is still happening? A similar incident happened right after Lucero's murder last year, in which 8 youths yelled racial slurs at two Latinos leaving a restaurant and pushed one of them (yes, this happened less than two weeks after Lucero's murder). After the incident last November, Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri stated, "It is very alarming that after the incident of two weeks ago [Lucero's murder] there are still people who have not gotten the message." It seems some of them still may not have gotten it.

10 comments:

  1. The sad thing is that these kids don't realize how an act of hate can change their lives forever. It will follow them through out their adulthood and their careers.

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    1. WHERE ARE THEIR FRIGGIN PARENTS WHO ARE THEIR FIRST TEACHERS?????????????

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  2. As a proud english speaking american i can certainly understand why some people get annoyed with hispanics.Lets be honest many dont learn english or get down right offended when you dont speak spanish some act were supposed to. Many learn spanish but its a choice not mandated. supposedely we learn spanish to help them while they learn english. I dont condone or encourage violence. But they can try your patience no espanol senor like we have to that can be annoying. Earn citizenship learn english be an american hate crime? is any crime commited out of kindness. If latinos killed a white guy would it be a hate crime we have double standards which is why many get angry. in conclusion im sad it happened but in this country peopl get killed everyday why is this one incident getting so much attention. one life is more important than another

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  3. Totally agreed look at this protest in brentwood. Where was the ncaap when morgan hill high in california sent kids home for wearing american flags the teacher said american flags were offensive double standards for sure. protesters rally in brentwood for racism huh whatever happened to freedom of speech if i say something you dont like so what ceaser the commie chavez aint president here FREEDOM TO SAY WHAT WE PLEASE GET IT

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  4. WHAT A MORONIC COMMENT, SO YOU ARE JUSTIFYING THIS ATROCITY, INSENTIVITY? YEA, WHAT IT MAKES RACIST IS THE REASON FOR THE ATTACK, ``HAVING FUN``? SINCE WHEN ASSAULTING AND KILLING FOR FUN IS CONSIDERED ``EVERYDAY STUFF``? HOPE THOSE WILL HAVE FUN IN JAIL FOREVER

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  5. Whatever ^ i never been arrested or jailed im better than that. Im texting in the comforts of my own home. And i agree the attention this incident is getting is ridiculous. How many people get killed or beaten daily in this country i certainly feel bad but international news thats over doing it would not you say. the news outlets on lon island must be very bored do we really want to know what time lucero got up what his favorite color was lol at this rate it maybe breaking news in newsday lmao. i did not know lucero or conroy or anybody involved it has not effected me or my family. My point is why do i need to hear about it over and over and over again old news now who cares.

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  6. I love the smile that kid has like a haha smirk. Lol i bet his parents took him shopping and out to eat afterwards. Anyway when conroy gets out i hope his family leaves him the house and is setting aside money every month so mr. Jeff has something he will be 40 when he gets out ppl today live until 80 or 90 i can see jeff conroy going to a restaurant in patchogue maybe buy a new outfit from burlington coat factory haha

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  7. Where,i live in suffolk county,its mostly white so we dont have these cultural and language differences. Im grateful here all the stores speak english we never expect anything else. Also central islip brentwood and patchogue should be avoided, i will say this i do go to patchogue for shows and concerts i enjoy the brickhouse brewery as well. And the hispanics in the village always show me the necessary amount of respect so i cant say anything negative. nice to visit but certainly not live. have a happy thanksgiving to all who posted.

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    1. YOU SOUND SO MUCH LIKE A CLOSET NAZI MEMBER JUST READY WILLING AND ABLE TO COME OUT FROM UNDER YOUR ROCK WHEN YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AMONGST YOUR KIND

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  8. Gold diggers did you guys hear about this 40 million dollar lawsuit lol renaming streets blood drives quilts wow an over night celebrity lol i hope these people get exposed for what they are. lmao we are overdoing it just a tiny bit would not you say. should we also make it a national holiday. lol lucero day or something give me a break with this B.S.

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