Would You Stop a Hate Crime? If you saw someone attacked because of his race, would you intervene?

October 8, 2009 – Posted by Tyler Lewis

The House of Representatives today passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expands the definition of federal hate crimes and removes unnecessary obstacles to federal prosecution.

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Congrats to Ruben and LULAC Ohio for putting this together:

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Nearly 150 people attended a rally on Friday to show support for a teenager who was the victim of a racially motivated attack.

Activists said that they wanted tougher penalties against those responsible, 10TV’s Cara Connelly reported.

“I hope and pray things change here in our community,” said Marcie Cantu.  Her son, Robert, was the victim of a 2008 hate crime in which a noose was placed around his neck.

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By JIM ABRAMS (AP)

WASHINGTON — People attacked because of their sexual orientation or gender would receive federal protections under a Senate-approved measure that significantly expands the reach of hate crimes law.

The Senate bill also would make it easier for federal prosecutors to step in when state or local authorities are unable or unwilling to pursue hate crimes.

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By Jessica Flores

A group of Knox County, Ohio teens put a noose around Robert Cantu’s neck and dragged him through a parking lot, shouting “spik” and “border jumper” in May 2008. Last week, one of those teens was convicted of “ethnic intimidation” and sentence to 10 days in jail, an outcome Robert believes sends the wrong message on hate crimes.

Robert says the judge’s sentencing gave the message of “boys being boys.”

But, Robert says the incident was much more than a rough-up, it could have been deadly.

In the middle of the day, the culprits pulled up to a local hang-out, jumped out of a truck with a rope, and spotted 17-year-old Robert , who is half Hispanic.

They dragged Robert from the side-walk to a parking lot, and attempted to tie Robert to the truck and drive away before bystanders were able to stop the teens. Robert escaped with scars and bruises, but he says it could have been worse.

“They had plans to take me to a park and hang me in a tree,” says Robert.

It took five months for the police department to investigate the crime, and only one of the teens involved, Dale Cline, was charged.

Knox County Court House’s Judge James Ronk found Cline guilty of “ethnic intimidation”, which is Ohio’s equivalent of a hate crime. Cline, who is 18, was 17 at the time of the crime and was charged as a minor. The maximum penalty for Cline was 6 months in a juvenile detention center and jail until age 21.

Instead, Judge Ronk sentenced Cline to 10 days in jail and $100 fine. Cline will be released later this week.

This is not the first time Robert was targeted because he is Hispanic. He is continually harassed and called derogatory names by local residents, he says. His mother, Marci Cantu, says his family was even threatened after Cline’s sentencing.

In January 2008, Justyn Harris, 19, beat Robert unconscious while calling him racial slurs. Harris served 35 in jail before being released.

The Cantu family has decided to move back to Texas. They moved from Houston, Texas nine years ago to take care of an elderly grandparent.

“I kind of don’t want to go because I have some really good friends here and I don’t want to leave them. But if I stay here, I might die,” says Robert.

Robert plans to continue playing baseball in Texas, and hopes to get a scholarship to play in college.