Anonymous Coward User ID: 30145 United States 09/25/2006 10:38 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | 3 white men have been in jail for a long time for just burning a cross in their own yard. Jury selection begins in cross-burning case: Testimony expected to start today, 3 Fouke men claim innocence of a federal hate crime Monday, September 25, 2006 9:29 AM CDT
By LISA BOSE McDERMOTT Texarkana Gazette
Three men accused in a Fouke cross-burning incident are expected to face a federal jury in Texarkana, Ark. today.
Christopher Mitchell, James Bradley Weems and Clint Wurtele, all of Fouke, say they are innocent of the federal hate crime.
Jury selection begins this morning under the direction of U.S. District Judge Harry F. Barnes. Testimony should begin today in the first known cross-burning prosecution case in the region.
The three men allegedly helped Christopher Baird, 33, erect and burn a cross on Baird’s side of a property line in full view of Baird’s black neighbor. Federal prosecutors say the cross was burned to intimidate Anthony Briggins, a black man who shared a home there with his white girlfriend.
In prior statements to the Gazette, lawyers for the accused men say the cross burning was not racially motivated.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Dunn, of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, argues it is. She makes her case with a two-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in Fort Smith earlier this month.
The men are specifically charged with conspiracy with the right to occupy a dwelling free from intimidation and interference based on race and color as well as intimidation of civil rights/aiding and abetting. The three men are released on standard unsecured $20,000 bail bonds to await trial in Texarkana. |
Hmmm User ID: 74255 United States 09/25/2006 10:42 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: 3 white men have been in jail for a long time for just burning a cross in their own yard. They should be tried as terrorist under the Patriot Act.
If a Muslim man did this in his yard he'd be sent to a secret prison.
The KKK, a.k.a Skin Heads, Nazi party are terrorist organizations under the Patriot Act. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 147617 United States 09/25/2006 10:42 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: 3 white men have been in jail for a long time for just burning a cross in their own yard. "In prior statements to the Gazette, lawyers for the accused men say the cross burning was not racially motivated."
bullshit. I'm white and if I were on a jury I'd hang em. assholes. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 114312 United States 09/25/2006 10:44 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: 3 white men have been in jail for a long time for just burning a cross in their own yard. they try to destroy Christ by burning a cross but, Jesus is not on the cross anymore |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 147249 Japan 09/25/2006 10:48 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: 3 white men have been in jail for a long time for just burning a cross in their own yard. weird people, those three are |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 114312 United States 09/25/2006 10:50 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: 3 white men have been in jail for a long time for just burning a cross in their own yard. white supremecists are deceived by satan |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 140748 United States 09/25/2006 10:51 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Re: 3 white men have been in jail for a long time for just burning a cross in their own yard.
The three men are released on standard unsecured $20,000 bail bonds to await trial in Texarkana.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 30145They are free on an unsecured bond. THey ARE NOT sitting in jail "for a every long time." OP is a racist drama queen. |