New York immigrant dead in apparent hate crime

[rebeccajo 14]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A 31-year-old Ecuadorian man who was beaten last Sunday in what New York City authorities say may have been a hate crime has died at a Queens hospital, his brother said Saturday.

Jose Sucuzhanay and his brother, Romel, had left a party on December 7 at St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church when several men approached them in a car in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, police said. The men allegedly began shouting anti-gay and anti-Latino vulgarities at the two men.

Jose Sucuzhanay suffered severe head trauma and was taken to Elmhurst Hospital. He died Friday night from his injuries.

Romel Sucuzhanay, 38, escaped with minor scrapes and has talked with detectives on the case.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said she was "horrified to learn that anti-LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual) and anti-Latino slurs were used by one or more of the assailants, raising this event to the level of a hate crime." Video Watch how attack has outraged the Latino community »

Quinn said she was in touch with the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force. According to police, however, the attack has not been categorized as a hate crime.

"This is a wake-up call and shows how far we still must come to address the devastating problem of hate crimes in our communities," said Diego Sucuzhanay, Jose's brother, in a written statement. "Only by exposing these crimes and working together will we be able to make a difference."

No arrests have been made in the case. Police are offering a $22,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the attack.

Sucuzhanay's mother arrived Saturday in New York from the family's home outside Quito, Ecuador, only to learn that he son had died, said family spokesman Francisco Moya.

advertisement

He said the victim had lived in the United States for more than a decade and was a legal resident, working as a real estate broker.

A news conference is expected to be held Sunday afternoon.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/13/hate.crime/index.html

[HAL 9000 96]

RIP

There is a rising tide of violent jackazzes manifesting their frustrations en masse against those that are different.

[Fandango 1,439]

So sad

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said she was "horrified to learn that anti-LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual) and anti-Latino slurs were used by one or more of the assailants, raising this event to the level of a hate crime."

Is killing someone without using a slur not a hate crime too?

[mRx 16]

So sad

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said she was "horrified to learn that anti-LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual) and anti-Latino slurs were used by one or more of the assailants, raising this event to the level of a hate crime."

Is killing someone without using a slur not a hate crime too?

Nope. If a guy punches me in the face, and I press charges, he is punished; but if I'm gay, then that is a more severe crime.

Basically politicians have determined that a crime can be more severe not based on action but on what group you belong to.

It's another law of inequality brought about by bureaucracy.

On topic: It is sad, and may he RIP.

[HAL 9000 96]

I guess we could think about motives- stupid as they may be. Take out the anti- component of it and you likely don't have much of a motive to commit murder. Hence, hate.

[mRx 16]

I guess we could think about motives- stupid as they may be. Take out the anti- component of it and you likely don't have much of a motive to commit murder. Hence, hate.

Well let's not even talk murder. Let's talk simple assault.

Why would a punishment vary depending upon what color/sexual orientation you identify with?

This is a prime example of a law that creates an inequality.

While it's not right to assualt someone of another sexual orientation, it's not right to assualt anyone. Favoring groups with increased punishment towards their offenders, only creates more inequality, and group segregation.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Very sad, indeed.

[alienlovechild 75]

Quinn said she was in touch with the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force. According to police, however, the attack has not been categorized as a hate crime.

We must not be getting the whole story.

[Fandango 1,439]

I guess we could think about motives- stupid as they may be. Take out the anti- component of it and you likely don't have much of a motive to commit murder. Hence, hate.

Well let's not even talk murder. Let's talk simple assault.

Why would a punishment vary depending upon what color/sexual orientation you identify with?

This is a prime example of a law that creates an inequality.

While it's not right to assualt someone of another sexual orientation, it's not right to assualt anyone. Favoring groups with increased punishment towards their offenders, only creates more inequality, and group segregation.

Couldn't agree more, my friend!

[JVKn'CVO 11]

RIP

Saludos,

Caro

[Jenn! 918]

I guess we could think about motives- stupid as they may be. Take out the anti- component of it and you likely don't have much of a motive to commit murder. Hence, hate.

Well let's not even talk murder. Let's talk simple assault.

Why would a punishment vary depending upon what color/sexual orientation you identify with?

This is a prime example of a law that creates an inequality.

While it's not right to assualt someone of another sexual orientation, it's not right to assualt anyone. Favoring groups with increased punishment towards their offenders, only creates more inequality, and group segregation.

You're judging only the outcome of the crime though and ignoring the motive. For example, the sexual orientation of the victim is not evidence enough to call it a hate crime, but if the only reason that the crime was committed was because the victim was gay, then it is a hate crime.

If a straight, white man were targeted for a crime simply because he was a straight, white man, then that would be a hate crime too.

Edited December 14, 2008 by Jenn!

[rebeccajo 14]

Hmmm.

I don't get the 'inequality of punishment' bit.

Different crimes have always had different charges and sentences based upon the committed act. Otherwise, you wouldn't have 'murder one' or 'murder two' or 'manslaughter'.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hmmm...

Well, if he was an illegal immigrant then it is not considered a hate crime I bet. Because there's no crime since illegals don't have the opportunity to a fair trial, right?

[Jenn! 918]

Hmmm.

I don't get the 'inequality of punishment' bit.

Different crimes have always had different charges and sentences based upon the committed act. Otherwise, you wouldn't have 'murder one' or 'murder two' or 'manslaughter'.

Exactly.

[rebeccajo 14]

Hmmm...

Well, if he was an illegal immigrant then it is not considered a hate crime I bet. Because there's no crime since illegals don't have the opportunity to a fair trial, right?

Well, that's part of the irony, isn't it?

First of all, you can't tell by looking at someone if they are even an immigrant. And you can't tell by just looking at an immigrant if they were legally admitted or not.