Arrest Made in Jose Sucuzhañay Hate Crime
7:00 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · GLBT|Immigration|Justice|New York City
26 Feb 2009
Last night I was watching the local news and saw that an arrest was made in the racist and homophobic murder of Jose Sucuzhañay.
Hakim Scott, 25, was arrested yesterday in connection with the beating death. Police are looking for another suspect, identified as Keith Phoenix, 28, of the Bronx. Both are African-American.
The reasons why I mention the race of the suspects are many. Certainly the race of the suspects will Be held up as proof that it’s not white racism that is to blame for the 40% rise in hate crimes against Latinos. I have no doubt that it will be said that it’s all the people of color killing each other. As if anti-immigrant hate organizations spending money on divide and conquer ads that point the finger at Latino immigrants for unemployment bear no responsibility? As if ICE who just conducted another raid, bears no blame?
I am also concerned with the arrest of one of two suspects being used as an excuse for the NYPD to lay their heavy hands inside of communities who are already constantly harassed. I want to be clear, D.A. Hynes, who failed to prosecute killer cops who shot young Latino men in the back like Anibal Carrasquillo and Frankie Arzuaga, is not going to be the man to bring real justice to Latino communities and these arrests do not equal license to abuse other people of color.
What should justice look like? Something more than arrest and jail time.
Add to this to how now the Brooklyn District Attorney is defending the manhood of the victim by pointing out that Jose was walking close to his brother to keep warm, not because he was gay. Pero what if Jose had been gay? Would it have been ok then?
Hola!
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7 Responses to Arrest Made in Jose Sucuzhañay Hate Crime
Dee
February 26th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Maegan,
You made some wonderful points.
Will you let me print this article on my blog and you will be my Guest Voz with this article?
Dee
Immigration Talk with a Mexican American
dee_perezscott@yahoo.com
Jingo
February 26th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I am happy that for once a hate crime is in the process of being solved. It does not bring back the life take so calously. It does give me hope that crimes against ethnicities, crimes against homosexuals or other is actually something the NYPD cares to solve.
As a gay filippino american, I have been the victim of harrasment and racism in the past and almost all times has been by an African americans. I’ve witnessed countless racist altercations on NYC trains against asians as well and again by people of color. At no time did anyone but myself ever stand up and say anything. However, reverse the charges and let someone call an african american the n-word and people are appaled. It’s sad that what “these” people forget is their own history of being lynched and hung for color of their skin.
Male Americans in general have to get over their fear of showing affection to other males gay or straight. Are you all really that insecure with who you are? Are you hiding and posturing to deflect any thoughts of your own homoness???It’s ironic we live in a “FREE” country yet we have so many hangups.
When I was in Swaziland, South Africa a couple of years back. I noticed that the males in their society (black people) walked around town or supermarkets holding hands, arm in arm. They sat on buses with their heads on each others shoulders and whether they were straight or gay was irrelavant. I was told by them that this is cultural and that it is a bonding thing. What is wrong with males-especially black males in america. Why are you so afraid of male sexuality??
I am sickened that alot of reports mention the term “percieved to be gay” as if that would justify the animals actions.
I do hope they suffer all forms of hate and persecution when they are locked up in prison around males for the rest of their natural lives.
ROT IN HELL!!!! and when they catch ther other perp, may he do the same.
Maegan La Mala
February 26th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Gracias for your comments here and I agree that people need to stop with the perception of being gay vs if they really were gay bullshit line. DA Hynes was ever using it at a press conference and it really disturbed me because it implied that if they were really gay then well maybe they deserved it? It’s the little ways homophobia becomes normalized.
That said I don’t want to get into that eye for an eye as justice thing. While the anger is understandable and hell justified even, that will not stop other hate crimes from happening.
This is Babylon » Who Says Racist America No Longer Exists?
February 27th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
[...] is America post-racism, I have the scars to prove that racism exists. Did an Ecuadorian man not just die on the streets of New York with racist (and homophobic) epithets being the last words he would [...]
Vicente Duque
February 27th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
About the madman that killed a Girl and a Boy, Legal Students from Chile. In Miramar Beach Florida :
He looks exactly like Charles Manson without the Swastika on the forehead.
He has been a Strong Enthusiastic Bush Republican.
He also told a Neighbor Lady that he wanted to start a “Revolution” killing immigrants.
I have videos and photos of the Murders here :
Raciality.com
Murderor.com
Vicente Duque
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