NYT/AP: Investigators Consider Race as Possible Motive in Maryland Arson

[DeepModem Mom]

Investigators Consider Race as Possible Motive in Maryland Arson
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: December 20, 2004


INDIAN HEAD, Md., Dec. 19 (AP) - Racial animosity and revenge are among the possible motives in the arson fires in a subdivision in southern Maryland on Dec. 6, a spokesman for federal investigators said Sunday.

Four men have been charged with arson in the fires, which destroyed 10 houses and partly burned 16 others, causing $10 million in damage. No one was hurt; many of the houses were still under construction.

A federal law enforcement official speaking on the condition of anonymity said two of the four men in custody made racial statements to investigators during questioning. The men are white, and many of the families moving into the development are black....

***

Initially, there was speculation the fires had been set by environmental extremists, because some environmental groups had complained that the houses threatened a nearby bog. But no evidence has been found to support that theory, the police said....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/national/20arson.html

[qanda]

1. Ding, ding, ding

I brought this up in the original thread and said it was more than likely racism. I have to find that thread.

On Edit: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1049837#1052474

One thing I noticed about many of the homeowners is that they were mainly minorities. Now, I don't know if that has anything to do with this, but an act of racism seems more likely than an act of ecoterrorism.


Perhaps I should become an FBI investigator.

[Blue Gardener]

3. Good Call

One of the reasons I really love DU, I can find out things here before I hear about them from the MSM.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. In all fairness, at least one of the Baltimore TeeVee stations

was hintng at this shortly after the fires.

[Sara Beverley]

2. No kidding! I said this the first day it was reported.

I live near this area and have co-workers who live there. Lots of the waterfront property and land in this area is owned by black families...for generations. Developers want the land, been trying for a long time.

[koffison]

4. Not sure it means anything

The only incriminating info in the article is this: "A federal law enforcement official speaking on the condition of anonymity said two of the four men in custody made racial statements to investigators during questioning."

So

1) We have an anonymous source.
2) "Racial statements" could be almost anything, right down to whether it was an answer to a question like "Do you know who lives in these homes"? If the person replied; "Yes, a lot of blacks". That could be construed as a racial statement. No doubt some would like to hang these 4 people on hate crimes in addition to felony arson.

Not to offend anyone here, but I really hate the "hate crime" or race card call. All it does is reinforce conservatives beliefs about us.

[Divernan]

6. Don't be clueless! Environmentalists are not the racist type.

I know a lot of environmentalists - I'm one myself - and I have never known a single one of them to utter a racist remark. On the other hand, the war in Iraq seems to be bringing the racists out of the woodwork - I have not heard such hatefilled racist remarks (against arabs and muslims) since the Klu Klux Klan glory days of the 50's-60's.

And what are the "conservative beliefs about us" that condemning racism will reinforce? That we (proud liberals) find racism the despicable hidey-hole of insecure whites? That's a belief I WANT to reinforce.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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

[Supersedeas]

8. and a story goes from front page Ecoterrorist Headline to back page racism