2-year-old killed over spilled milk
Tuesday, Nov. 24 2009 @ 12:00PM
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| Michael can't speak and opened his eyes for the first time last week |
Prosecutors in Fort Lauderdale are faced with a difficult predicament. Yesterday, they received a nine day extension in their case against five juveniles charged with setting 15-year-old Michael Brewer on fire after he failed to repay a kid for a $40 video game. But if they don't charge them as adults by November 12, the boys will have to be released...
Prosecutors have been delaying the charges, hoping to get a witness statement from Michael. But given the teen's condition -- he suffered burns over 65 percent of his body -- that doesn't seem possible anytime soon.
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| 13-year-old Jeremy Jarvis can only be charged as an adult if Michael dies |
"For the kind of discussion they need to have, he can't do that," Namias told the Miami Herald. "We're still at 'squeeze my hand,' just to know that he's conscious and aware of what's going on around him."
Michael now rests on a balloon-like mattress to keep pressure off of his body. He's forced to breathe through a ventilator because he can't do it on his own. His daily bandage changes alone take four hours.
All this is expected in such severe burn cases, where basic survival is considered a score. He still runs the risk of infections and organ failure. "When you say he's doing OK, in this situation it means he's alive and responding to treatments," Namias told CNN. "We're still dealing with the respiratory failure. We're dealing with infection now and the need to supply the massive amount of nutrition that this person needs to survive."
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| Matthew Bent is accused of ordering the fire after her was caught trying to steal Micheal's dad's bike |
13-year-old Jeremy Jarvis is the only one expected to be charged as a juvenile. Under Florida law, he's too young to be charged as an adult unless Michael dies. His lawyer, Stephen Melnick, hopes that Jeremy can be released to relatives, so he can be taken out of the area and home-schooled for his own protection. A court psychologist will do an evaluation before his next court date, November 10, to see if he poses a risk to the community.
UPDATE: Michael's sister found burned dolls in the backyard of their home. Either someone's working a low-rent form of intimidation, or they're just a huge dick.
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| Denver Jarvis is alleged to have poured the rubbing alcohol on Michael |
She told police she heard the dog barking at about 2:30 a.m. the night before, but didn't get up to see what it was about. "We don't know what the motive was," Broward County sheriff's spokesman Jim Leljedal told the Miami Herald. "It probably was a sick joke. But if it was something more than that, we would like to know that, too.''
UPDATE II: Only three of the five kids accused of setting fire to Michael will face adult charges.
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| Jesus Mendez, the only kid to show remorse, light Michael on fire |
16-year-old Steven Shelton is still being investigated, though it's unknown what role he actually played other than surrounding Michael so he couldn't escape. But murder charges haven't been ruled out against him.
Under Florida law, 13-year-old Jeremy Jarvis can only be charged as an adult if Michael dies.
UPDATE III: Mom says Matthew Bent was an altar boy who was always good to his family.
Cheri Bent is painting a much different picture of her son than police have painted so far. She says the 15-year-old was a good boy who did his chores, played basketball, and even served as an altar boy at church. She also says she knew Michael as a friend of her son.
You'd expect a mom to say good things about her own boy. What mother wouldn't? But she didn't address the specifics of the case -- or the environment Matthew grew up in. As we wrote last month, most of the accused attackers had losers for parents. Matthew's dad has a long history of drug, assault, and burglary charges.
But Cheri Bent insists they did their best with their seven kids. "We tried everything in our power to raise our children in the way they should be raised,'' she told the Miami Herald, adding that she prays for Michael. "I would like the Brewer family to know we are deeply sorry for what has happened to their son. We are praying that Michael Brewer has a good recovery.''
UPDATE IV: Michael is finally able to give his account of the attack to police.
The teenager discussed the assault with detectives yesterday, though police aren't releasing details about what he said. He is, however, showing steady improvement, though he remains hospitalized and will likely stay there for months to come.
Meanwhile, supporters in South Florida continue to raise money for the family. The Miami Dolphins took part in a fundraiser that netted $50,000 for Michael. The Florida Panthers hockey team has also auctioned off autographed equipment, tickets, and rides on the Zamboni.
The three kids charged with attempted murder won't be back in court until January. The state declined to press charges against 13-year-old Jeremy Jarvis and 16-year-old Steven Shelton. Both have been released.
Also see Teens Douse 15-Year-Old Michael Brewer, Set Him On Fire
This is a terrible story. What is happening to our teenagers? Over a 40$ game? I would have happily given the young punks who did this the money for a stupid game.My thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family. As for the perpetrators I better not say what i would like to say.They are under age.
Posted 11/03/2009 at 02:36:05 PMHow could anyone burn someone for any reason??? Especially knowing how young they are and for there so called reasoning. Who raised this young kids? My prayers are with the victims family and I hope the offenders get the worst that they can get!!!
Posted 11/03/2009 at 10:47:28 PMPlease put all the kids charged with burning Michael, including Jeremy, in jail for the rest of their lives before they hurt anyone else. None of them need to be released to relatives or anyone. They should all be in jail to protect the rest of us that aren't causing anyone harm.
Posted 11/04/2009 at 08:57:26 AMSIGN THIS and demand justice. If these criminals get away with such a crime it will teach other criminals that there are no limits.
http://mbrewer.epetitions.net/
Posted 11/04/2009 at 11:26:13 AMThese boys who committed this crime need to be charged as adults. Jzt because they're under age doesnt change anything. They committ a crime...why do they need to be treated any special way?
Posted 11/04/2009 at 08:58:11 PMJeremy should not be released to ANY RELATIVE. They obviously have not done a good enough job with him or his brother to this point; and yes, that includes his extended family members. He may be too young to prosecute as an adult, but they could at least keep him in Juvenal Detention until he is an adult.
Posted 11/05/2009 at 08:55:36 AMGod knows, he helped end Michael's childhood; he should at least have to sacrifice his own.
Florida residence should lobby the legislature to change the law.
Juvie defendants, that commit violent crimes, at any age, should be considered for prosecution as an adult, on a case by case basis. This case and these defendants, certainly warrant it.
PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO SUPPORT Michael & his family with any cash donations that you can. These scum bag kids & their scum bag families will never be able to provide all the resources that Michael needs. Restitution like lawsuits can be ordered, but you cannot squeeze blood from a stone and that is what we are dealing with here.
There has got to be some relative within each of the 5 boys' families with some amount of money. I saw Michaels lawyers need to go after those individuals to show the community, along with everyone else, that when you commit a crime, not only do your victim pay, but so does your family members and one day, you, too. It is time to hit these criminals where it really hurts. They don't care about jail. That is free food and other peers just like them. I think it should be mandatory that if you rape someone, or disfigure them, or kill them, or tortue an animal or child, or any other horrendous act, then lawyers need to do deep research to find out who has the money in the family, take it all away (especially something like the wrong doing child's college fund) and give it to the victim or victim of the family. That way, although they didn't go to jail, the attacker will forever suffer a life of poverty. That is the best we can hope in a society where so many are afraid of putting our hateful, murdering, abusive, rapist 'children' away simply because of their deceiving age. Destroy what their families have built. I know it sounds hateful, but sometimes, you need to cordone your own mind to think only of the victim. It may not sound right to take away what some have worked so hard for when someone in their family has done something so wrong, but if you do this, the the family will see how wrong it is as well, and maybe then parents will keep a closer eye on their children, even if its just for the shallow reason of 'I can't afford to let him out of my sight..."
Posted 11/06/2009 at 11:55:36 AMBurned dolls? Publicity stunt. The sister doesn't get to flap her gums to reporters anymore, and just wants another 15 minutes of fame.
Maybe she and the boyfriend will make another MySpace asking for donations to replace the dolls.
Posted 11/06/2009 at 12:41:25 PMTo Blaire:
I completely agree that the families of corrupt children should be held accountable. After all, most of the time, children (even after they become adults) merely repeat what they have seen. I feel, as a parent, that if my child does something horrible to someone else, it is a direct indication that I did not do my part in her upbringing as far as teaching morals and setting examples.
On the other hand, sometimes, people are just simply messed up in the head and are not able to overcome sociopathy. If a person is considered to be sociopathic, the appropriate steps should be taken to prevent anything horrible from happening. That too will rely on the parents and them accepting their responsibility in how their children progress through life.
At what point were parents allowed to stop being held accountable for their childrens' actions?
Posted 11/06/2009 at 01:11:37 PMJuveniles who commit heinous crimes must pay the consequences to warn others they too will pay.
No excuses.
We need to change laws to make parents accountable for their children's actions. This will reduce crime.
Posted 11/06/2009 at 04:35:37 PMright said:
"Burned dolls? Publicity stunt. The sister doesn't get to flap her gums to reporters anymore, and just wants another 15 minutes of fame."
Right, you're a jerk. Her brother was burned alive. It's not her fault that an angry public wants to skewer those little monsters and see them rot in jail. We could also, with your way of thinking, say the families and friends of those bullies are now trying to threaten MB's sister. Maybe they should all be rounded up and given lie detector tests?
Posted 11/06/2009 at 04:43:11 PMHmmmmmm! I take it as a threat against the sister. Better watch out, I'm sure the police are wise to them.
COW girl,
You claim that it's "my way of thinking". Where ONCE did I state ANYTHING about "the families and friends of the bullies" doing anything as per your statement? That, moron, is your own assumption, not mine.
I find it extremely hard to believe that the sister just happened to "remember" the dolls were in the front yard the following day, etc. I would think she has much better things to think about, or remember. Maybe the cops should look around the pool for a bottle of rubbing alcohol too..
I know sure as shit, if I was going through this, and my dog started barking for no reason, I would certainly get up to see what it is. She, instead, chose not to. How convenient.
Publicity stunt. Period.
So, shut your trap, COW.
Posted 11/06/2009 at 05:26:29 PMRight, you're such a lame brain. I have dogs. They bark for little things, too. You don't necessarily run out in the middle of the night and see who could be or not be in your back yard. My point is you blamed the sister for a publicity stunt when her brother is lying in critical condition. It's obvious you are a supporter of those foul little monsters. That's fine. I didn't say you stated, but THAT I STATED that the family and firends of the perps could have done this. I hope they're put under survelliance. I hope those monsters get the maximum allowed by law which is what THEY DESERVE. THE MAXIMUM!!!
Posted 11/06/2009 at 05:55:40 PMRight, I forgot to say: I don't shut my trap for degenerates like you, but I do feel sorry for you. LOL that you are YOU. LOL
Posted 11/06/2009 at 06:10:47 PMCOWass,
Did you not read what I wrote, or are you just to stupid to comprehend it?
YOU stated that was MY mindset, and I quote:
"We could also, with your way of thinking, say the families and friends of those bullies are now trying to threaten MB's sister."
How is the underlined portion not making an assumption of how I am thinking, or my mindset??
Do you not think before you type, or do you always just type mindlessly and proceed to deny it when it's right there in black and white? So, go "LOL" at yourself for being a dipshit.
You yourself just proved my point. She's going through this, yet wouldn't go and look to see why they are barking? But, I guess you know how ALL dogs act, barking habits, usual moods, etc, including her dogs, right? You're delusional, seriously... did you forget to take your meds today, "lame brain"?
Please do respond, I am enjoying watching you make a complete ass out of yourself... again.
Posted 11/06/2009 at 06:42:12 PMOMG...Can you all grow the hell up ??? This poor kid could still die at any moment...The sister didn't get out of bed cuz I'm sure her dogs bark at stupid shit all hours of the night like most dogs do...Dogs Bark That's just what they do...My dogs bark all the time at stupid crap in the middle of the night & I don't get up to see why and I probably should cuz I'm married to a cop and I'm sure he's pissed off a few ppl around town...We all need to pay more attention to our youth,these little foul mouthed ass wipes are going to be running our country one day soon and as long as they get away with this kind of crap we are all screwed...Please keep the family in your prayers I Hope the kids that did this get what they deserve a firing squad...
Posted 11/07/2009 at 09:46:59 AMAnd I know my punctuation sucks no need to remind me...!!!
Blaire & Concerned Citizen:
Posted 11/07/2009 at 10:20:03 AMIn a perfect world these idiots and their families would be forced to pay any and all expenses Michael and his family may incur over this. This is not a perfect world. If it was this whole incident wouldn't have even happened. We all know that any restitution that they have to pay, if any at all, will barely cover the cost of the families gas, to run back and forth to the hospital and medical appointments. These people are all low income and I wouldn't be surprised if some are on public assistance. (Which they should lose right away)
I reiterate that people on this blog that really care about Michael should send a tax deductible donation to help him and his family. They are not going to get rich from this. This may just help them from going bankrupt over this whole matter. I worked with burn patients and survivors. You can't even imagine the costs. We are talking years and maybe a lifetime of medical care and rehabilitation. That all comes later though. Right now Michael just needs to survive. Please help if you can. If not then talk to the legislators & DA to see how they can help you squeeze blood from a stone. I'm all for it, if it can be done.
Malissa and her family are probably having a hard enough time getting to sleep at night. I bet they are totally exhausted; emotionally and physically. The last thing they need to be worrying about, is jumping up to look outside, every time the dog barks. As for the toys on the front lawn... my kids had toys on the front lawn everyday until they were old enough to get rid of those toys. I am an involved parent, so anytime one of my kids said, "I can't find this or that...", I was able to tell them exactly where it was. I do that with my spouse to this day.
Posted 11/07/2009 at 11:53:27 AMThis is no publicity stunt by the victim's sister for attention. This is an attempt at intimidation, by the equally sick, friends or supporters of the perp's and their families. The cops should be looking at others, that may have been involved in the planning of the attack on Michael. They may be the party that did this sick prank.
Update on case...Three of the monsters have been charged as adults,and attempted murder charges. Awesome! maybe justice will be served in this case, none of them deserve any sympathy for what they have done to poor Michael, his life will never be the same, and neither should theirs, keep these animals locked up, caged, where they belong!
POSTED: Monday, November 9, 2009
UPDATED: 4:35 pm EST November 9, 2009
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Three teenagers accused of setting a 15-year-old boy on fire last month now face adult charges of attempted murder, according to the Broward State Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors said Denver Jarvis and Matthew Bent, both 15, and Jesus Mendez, now 16, all face charges of second-degree attempted murder, a first-degree felony.
The charges stem from an attack on 15-year-old Michael Brewer, who police said was severely burned when a group of teens doused him with rubbing alcohol and set him on fire at a Deerfield Beach apartment complex. Brewer remains in the hospital, and doctors said he could need treatment for several months for burns over 65 percent of his body.
The state attorney's office said Jarvis, Bent and Mendez would be transferred to the juvenile section of the Broward County Jail.
Two other teens initially accused and taken into custody in the attack have not been charged, according to the state attorney's office. They will be released from custody, prosecutors said.
Posted 11/09/2009 at 10:01:22 PMWas race a factor in this crime? If five much larger white kids surrounded a scrawny little black kid and doused him in alcohol and lit him on fire attempting to kill him would there be federal hate crime charges? Will Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson stand up for Michael's rights to life, liberty and hapiness? Or will Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson defend the "innocence" of the young men that dumped alcohol on Michael and lit him on fire because they didn't know any better?
Posted 11/10/2009 at 05:06:29 PMTwo of the five attackers were white, Fluffy. How can it be a hate crime? And why do we always have to bring Sharpton and Jackson into these things? Their principal motives in life involve getting themselves on TV. They are to racial issues what Rush Limbaugh is to politics. Nothing more than self-promoting blowhards irrelevant to whatever the issue may be. Blowhards, as you may have noticed, come on both sides of the color line.
Posted 11/10/2009 at 05:50:39 PMHow can only 3 be charged as adults. I signed the petition and it did no good. I am not happy with the decsion.
Posted 11/10/2009 at 06:22:46 PM@Pete Kotz
Amen.
Posted 11/10/2009 at 06:36:02 PMOkay so the petition is helping. Three are getting charged as an adult. Two more to go. KEEP UP THE PRESSURE! In fact, don't be satisfied with just second degree attempted murder. Push to get the DA to throw the book at these guys. They can do better. Society must demand the justice and security that it deserves or society gets what the criminals think we deserve.
Posted 11/10/2009 at 07:08:48 PMI'm glad the 13 year old didn't get charged as an adult. I'm 13 too and have made stupid desitions. no i havent set anyone on fire but still. he's 13 and should be charged as a 13 year old. plus he's only guilty by assiciaton, seeing as he didn't directly harm Michael. I'm not saying he shouldnt be charged, but he shouldn't be charged as an adult 'cause he's not.
By the way, I support the decision to charge the other 3 as adults, because they did harm MB and should pay for it (their parents/family should not)
Posted 11/10/2009 at 08:17:16 PMPoptart
Posted 11/10/2009 at 09:03:35 PMI understand where you are coming from. Its kind of scary to think that a kid you own age could go to prison for making a bad decision. The fact is Jeremy Jarvis did make a bad decision. He made several. It's not his fault that he has the family he does or the place where he is growing up; but he is old enough to know what is and is not appropriate in civilized society. If charged as an adult, Jeramy would get a lesser sentence than the other kids. He would probably spend his youth in a Juvenal Detention center where he would be provided an education without distraction and he would probably get counseling to deal with his feelings. These are not bad things. He would have a chance to redeem himself and get out when he is a little older and hopefully wiser. Jeremy made the decision to run around with older boys that were doing bad things. He was part of the group that bullied and intimidated Michael. Because he and Steven Sheldon were there, it made the other boys that carried out the worst of the crime feel brave enough to do it. In fact Jeremy and Steven may have had a bigger part than we know yet. What if they blocked Michael from leaving and this is how the others were able to burn him? We don't know for sure yet. Would that change your feelings at all? If you were Michael, what would you want to happen to each of the boys that were involved?
Plain & Simple! this was an act of intimidation. they were messing with that boy and I know its bad but them boys need their asses kicked- Ole Skool Style!
Posted 11/11/2009 at 04:58:25 AMOn Good Morning America this morning... they said it was over a BIKE and NOT a game. Either is ridculous... just the reporting should be straight and clear... Happy Vets Day PEEPS!
Posted 11/11/2009 at 09:06:03 AMso Dsaid, you want to convict people for crimes they didn't commit
charge the parents... are you mentally deficient
exactly how do you propose to charge people with a crime they didn't commit and weren't involved in
some of the comments on this site make me wonder if the audience is worse then the criminals
Posted 11/12/2009 at 12:02:55 AMTo the person that called Dsaid retarded:
If you decided to rob a bank and asked me to drive, even if I did not rob the bank, I could get charged as an accessory. By law, the driver of the getaway car is just as responsible because they could have chosen to either not be involved or report it so that it wouldn't happen. I feel that parents should set examples for their children. If the parents show the children that they can roam free and have entitlement to anything, then of course the children are going to go on a rampage. In my opinion, parents should take responsibility and start teaching their kids right from wrong and should start being held accountable (or as an accessory) if they have failed as parents to teach their children morals. I'm shocked that you seem to call someone "retarded" yet you couldn't comprehend what the posts were saying. Should you have any more questions about the topic (or our opinions), we will be glad to explain them to someone as simple minded as you.
Posted 11/12/2009 at 12:57:48 PMserial killers always start young with abusing and killing animals. What are these kids gonna grow to be if they started young by doing this to a person? I say keep them in jail and dont give them a chance to grow with normal people because they themselves are animals.
Posted 11/12/2009 at 01:54:23 PMoh I understand exactly what the post is saying... do you understand exactly what you're proposing
so if a family produces 3 well adjusted children, but one of them has psychological problems, or emotional issues, or has been assaulted or molested by someone outside the family... and commits a crime as a result of his behavioral disorder...you think the parents should go to jail?
Driving someone to the bank is direct involvement in a crime, and you want to equate raising a child who gets in trouble to that..
then you want to call someone else simple? Should we lock up that child's friends too? Maybe their teachers? Why stop at the parents? Oh... it's all their fault. They're the only influence on that child. Way to over simplify everything.
Concerned Citizen, I'm going to venture that you're absolutely terrified of becoming the victim of a crime, and you want to lock up any and everybody who may be a threat. Do you suffer from anxiety attacks?
and to matt... perhaps you should read a little more about serial killers, because what you're seeing is acting out, and it doesn't always escalate. Behavior like that can be modified, they can be turned into normal average well adjusted people
so essentially the commentators here are using this site as crime porn... a way for them to vent their dark revenge fantasies on apparently "worthwhile" victims
honestly, and I say this as someone with an education in this, a lot of you people need to seek an education about behavioral issues or find a support group to discuss your societal anxieties
Posted 11/13/2009 at 02:03:22 AMTo Wow...just wow:
I am not implying that every person should be blamed for another person's actions. I'm saying that parents that have children yet fail to take responsibility and raise them appropriately should be held accountable. I understand that if a parent has multiple children and one goes astray, then if the parents too get punished, the other two kids will not have parents anymore. However, we do need to start enticing people to be more involved in their children's activities, learning, and development. If children are raised appropriately, they will grow up appropriately. I also did say that when people have mental issues (such as sociopathy) the parents may not necessarily be to blame. In fact, the blame would be on the illness or mental defect and not the person at all.
I have never been a victim of a crime, I have however witnessed the aftermath of bi-polar disorder and the following suicide. While that may be "haunting" me, I am able to function normally and have never had an anxiety attack, have never been put on meds, etc. I don't think my allegated paranoia has anything to do with my opinions on how parents should be held accountable for how their children turn out.
Like I said before, if my child misbehaved, I would feel responsible or feel that I am not doing my job on teaching her right from wrong. It's as simple as that.
Posted 11/13/2009 at 04:35:11 PMwowww, the sad thing is, i used to know dc and jeremy. how could you do that to someone, over a game?? i pray for micheal, and his family.
Posted 11/13/2009 at 11:15:07 PMThey all should be tried as adults on the maximum charge they can try them on. I would say attempted murder or worse. They deserve whatever they get.
Posted 11/19/2009 at 03:58:11 PMOk, for one the only thing that SHOULD be being discussed is how poor michael is doing. Instead we have to come on here and read asinine comments that has nothing to do with this. But since some have ticked me off, here goes another one.
Blaire says lawyers should look into the family and see who has money and take it from them and give it to the victim? Are you insane?! What if there is an uncle or aunt that hasn't spoken to the family in years, has nothing to do with them, and is just as appalled as the rest of us? Does that mean they should just go to them and say "I'm really sorry, but since you neice/nephew/cousin did something horrible, we are going to have to take all your money." Please tell me that is not what you are sayin. Cause if it is, that's just sad. But if your the same blaire that I have read other comments from, then you are sad.
To wow just wow, I agree with everything you said. Parents are not the only influence in a childs life. There are many factors at play. Friends, tv, music, teachers, and people in the community. My mother-in-law did everything she could to keep my husband away from the gangs and drugs. She even went so far as to move him from california to tulsa when he was 13, all to no avail. He went to live with his aunt and uncle and attened a christian school. It didn't matter. He had seen his "friends" in that life so it was cool to him. Even when his mom would beg and plead and cry, he still stayed in it. Thank God he got out of that life or I wouldn't have met him.
I guess no one here believes in the old sayin "It takes a village to raise a child.". We all just want to stick our heads in the sand and when something like this happens, we blame the parents. Its a lot easier than sayin, "what could I have done to help a child in need."
And don't get me wrong. I don't think that THE reason kids are the way they are is because of tv or music or vidoe games. Yes like I said, it probably has something to do with it, I do not believe its the one and only cause.I am so sick of everyone blaming everything kids do on that! I'm 25, I have grown up in the "technology age" but I have never killed anyone or set anyone on fire. Heck, I haven't even ever been to jail. My parents weren't the best parents in the world, but they did the best they could. I credit the way I was raised on how I am today. I didn't want the life I had as a child for my daughter, so I changed. Now, I'm not sayin I'm a great parent, but I'm tryin my best. If my daughter grew up and did something wrong, I wouldn't feel as if I failed as a mother. I would feel like I did the best I could and wonder where she was lost along the way.
Look, horrible things happen every day and we can all speculate on the how's and the why's. But these things, in my opinion, is we need: get God back in our schools, we need to help one another instead of being affraid of eachother, and we need to change who children look up to as role models, and children need safe places to go and do something constructive. I live in a town with less than 30,000 people in it. We had an after school program and a couple of places for them to hang out at. When these closed and lost funding, the crime rate went up. The spray painting started again as well as the car windows being shot out.
Don't get me wrong. I am not defending these boys. They need to be punished for what they have done, but until we as a community take responsibility, we are never going to change.
My thoughts, love, and prayers go out to michael and his family. I hope you make it thru this.
Posted 11/24/2009 at 11:15:56 PM@Kotz
Two of the five attackers were white, Fluffy. How can it be a hate crime?
Such a silly, naive question doesn't really deserve a response but I'll bite. According to your article, the kid who ordered the attack is black. The fact that the Jarvis brothers are white doesn't change the racial nature of this attack. They are obviously followers who do what they are told. That's not to excuse them in any way. They made their choices and must pay for them. But it was apparently more important to them to impress and obey Matthew Bent than it was to respect Michael Brewer's human and civil rights. I'll say it again, it's amazing how suddenly irrelevant race becomes when the victim is white and at least some of the suspects are non-white.
Posted 11/25/2009 at 03:03:17 PMI guess to me it's only a hate crime if there's some racial motivation, Tara. If a guy gets beat up simply because he's gay, it's a hate crime. But if a kid gets set on fire over a stupid video game beef -- and no one anywhere has revealed any racial motivation for the attack (remember, all these kids used to be friends) -- I don't see how it's a hate or racial crime.
It's kind of weird, but running this site you hear more complaints from white people about hate crimes than you do from anyone else. And the complaints usually involve nothing more than differing color of skin with no sign of any racial motivation. As a white guy myself, I guess I find it unbecoming that we think ourselves so oppressed.
Posted 11/25/2009 at 03:59:40 PMWhy am I not supprised that a nagger was behind all this?
Posted 12/02/2009 at 05:52:32 PMAnd any white boy who runs with naggers is not better than they are, in fact it is a sign of weakness. Seprate but equal I always say. Why would that kids parents let him hang around black kids? What did you think would happen? You parents need to get your heads out of the sand and look at how these people are nothing but trouble 75% of the time. Stop White Guilt! Most of your ancestors never owned slaves anyway you know! But almost all African Americans come from tribes that thrive on human suffering.
I like how black people think they would have been better off if they were never taken to America. I mean, have you even seen African food? Its bugs and nasty slop. So I think black people should have a day celebrating being brought to the new world, and long for the quiet warm days in the cotton fields.