Family of Slain Man Doesn't Want Hate-Crime Investigation

[William769]

The family of a man who was slain in Waterloo, Iowa says police shouldn't investigate his death as a hate crime because they claim he was not gay — while others say his sexual orientation is irrelevant and inappropriate to discuss.

Marcellus Andrews was beaten to death August 19 by assailants who witnesses said used homophobic slurs. But the state is not investigating his murder as a hate crime. Marcellus Andrews' family met Tuesday with another 50 people to discuss violence and human rights in their community at Jubilee United Methodist Church. Cousin Renicia Haywood said that acting effeminately doesn't necessarily make Marcellus Andrews gay.

Nichella Andrews, the victim's sister, said she supports the police's decision to stop treating the attack as a hate crime, according to the WDF Couriernewspaper. She claims witness accounts of the incident have been blown out of proportion.

"They didn't come to beat him up because he was gay," she said. "There's more to the story."

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/09/02/Family_of_Slain_Man_Dont_Want_a_Hate_Crime_Investigation/

[msongs]

1. sounds denial even after the body is cold. maybe so maybe not nt

[William769]

2. A sad story on more than just one level.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. It is irrelevant if he is or isn't gay.

If the reason for the attack was because he was perceived to be gay, it is still a hate crime and should be treated as such!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Yep. Agreed.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

5. Exactly.

His attackers allegedly said "faggot" as they were beating him and gay or not, they seemed to think he was so it should definitely be investigated as a hate crime.

[Amimnoch]

6. Has anyone found or seen any link at all that says that the murderers have been arrested??

WTF?? I've searched all over google, and the Waterloo/Des Moines online news sources, and haven't found anything saying that anyone has even been arrested or charged with ANYTHING yet.

Okay, lets suspend reason for just a moment and believe that the people who beat this young man were trying to be affectionate while they screamed gay slurs at him during their gentle beating of him to death.

Last I checked, even if it wasn't a hate crime, there should STILL be someone('s) charged and arrested by now.. this was more than 2 frigging weeks ago!!

If the police can positively say that they know what the fight was about, and they know the history that lead up to this, how could they not know who was involved to make an arrest??