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Megan Williams tortured by 6 people for at least a week
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Authorities said Tuesday they are considering hate crime charges in the case of a woman who was tortured while being held captive for at least a week, and they are investigating the possibility that she was lured by a man she met on the Internet.
The victim was repeatedly called a racial slur while her captors sexually abused, beat and stabbed her, her mother said.
Six people, all white, including a mother and son and a mother and daughter, were arrested in connection with the alleged abduction of the 20-year-old black woman.
“I don’t understand a human being doing another human being the way they did my daughter,” Carmen Williams said Tuesday from her daughter’s room at Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital. “I didn’t know there were people like that out here.”
Megan Williams, with a cast on her arm, spoke barely above a whisper.
“I’m better,” she said.
The Associated Press generally does not identify suspected victims of sexual assault, but Williams and her mother agreed to release her name.
'Out of a horror movie'
A prosecutor said police are investigating the possibility that the victim was lured to the house where she was attacked by a man she met on the internet, but Carmen Williams insisted that wasn’t the case. “This wasn’t from the Internet,” she said.
Deputies also interviewed the victim Tuesday morning. State, local and federal officials planned to meet later in the day to decide whether to file hate crime charges, Logan County sheriff’s Sgt. Sonya Porter said. An FBI spokesman in Pittsburgh, Bill Crowley, confirmed that the agency is looking into possible civil rights violations.
The woman’s abductors called her the N-word “every time they stabbed her,” Carmen Williams told The Charleston Gazette earlier.
Authorities were still looking for two people they believe drove the woman to the house where she was abused, said Logan County Chief Deputy V.K. Dingess.
The case is “something that would have come out of a horror movie,” Logan County Sheriff W.E. Hunter said.
Deputies found Williams on Saturday when they went to the house in Big Creek, about 35 miles southwest of Charleston, to investigate an anonymous tip from someone who had witnessed the abuse, Porter said Tuesday.
One of the suspects, Frankie Brewster, was sitting on the front porch and told deputies she was alone, but moments later the woman limped toward the door, her arms outstretched, saying “Help me,” the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
Alleged victim may leave hospital soon
Carmen Williams said doctors told her daughter she may be well enough to leave the hospital within a few days, although a nurse said the young woman’s condition was listed as “under evaluation.”
“I just want my daughter to be well and recover,” Carmen Williams said. “I know the Lord can do anything.”
Besides being sexually assaulted, the woman was stabbed four times in the left leg and beaten, Porter said. Her eyes were black and blue. The wounds were inflicted at least a week ago, deputies said.
The woman was forced to eat rat and dog feces and drink from a toilet, according to the criminal complaint filed in magistrate court. She also had been choked with a cord, it alleges.
One of those arrested, Karen Burton, is accused of cutting the woman’s ankle with a knife. She used the N-word in telling the woman she was victimized because she is black, according to the criminal complaint.
Six suspects charged
The six suspects were arrested Saturday and Sunday. Deputies were still trying to determine whether the woman knew her assailants, Porter said.
Brewster, the 49-year-old who owns the home where the alleged attacks occurred, is charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, malicious wounding and giving false information during a felony investigation.
Her son, Bobby R. Brewster, 24, also of Big Creek, is charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, malicious wounding and assault during the commission of a felony.
Burton, 46, of Chapmanville, is charged with malicious wounding, battery and assault during the commission of a felony.
Her daughter Alisha Burton, 23, of Chapmanville, and George A. Messer, 27, of Chapmanville, are charged with assault during the commission of a felony and battery.
Danny J. Combs, 20, of Harts, is charged with sexual assault and malicious wounding.
All six remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $100,000 bail each, and all have asked for court-appointed attorneys.
[Source]
Other articles/updates
Woman tortured for at least a week, officials say
Alleged torture suspects may face hate crime charges
6 arrested, charged in woman's weeklong torture
Deputies: Woman Was Tortured, 6 Charged
Torture victim may have visited before
Across Big Creek Road from the Brewster residence, 17-year-old Krysti Sumpter and her mother live in a mobile home decorated in fall colors, with leaves and scarecrows in the yard.
Krysti Sumpter said that Williams has been to the Brewster residence before. She said Tuesday that about a month ago, Williams ran down the hill from the mobile home about 10 p.m. Williams said she had been threatened with a gun, and asked Sumpter for help.
“She said she needed to go to Kentucky. I said I couldn’t drive her that far but I offered to take her to the police. She said she needed to get her stuff,” Sumpter said.
Williams went back to the house and gathered her things, Sumpter said, and she took her to the Logan detachment of the State Police.
Sumpter said she told police about the incident when they found Williams on Saturday. Logan County sheriff’s deputies could not be reached late Tuesday to confirm that.
Sumpter said she is sure it was Williams whom she helped out that night. There aren’t a lot of black people in the area, she said.
Neighbors say Logan abuse victim was 'very trusting'
Torture Case Could Be Hate Crime, Police Say
Report: Torture suspects familiar to prosecutors
Tortured Woman Had Told of Abuse by One Suspect
A 20-year-old woman who the authorities say was tortured and sexually assaulted for more than a week at a ramshackle mobile home in Logan County, W.Va., knew at least one of her assailants and had accused him of abuse before, the police said yesterday.
That suspect, Bobby R. Brewster, one of six arrested in the torture case, had a previous relationship with the victim and was charged in July with domestic battery and assault after a dispute between them, Sheriff Eddie Hunter said.
Court documents show that on July 18, officers responded to a 911 call concerning a domestic disturbance at the mobile home, where Mr. Brewster, 24, lives with his mother in far southwestern West Virginia. The documents do not make clear who called the police, but when they arrived, the papers say, they asked Mr. Brewster about the young woman, and he said he had not seen her in several days.
Upon searching the premises, though, the officers found her behind the trailer, and she told them she was hiding from Mr. Brewster and his mother. The complaint says the police determined that he had “verbally threatened and physically hit” her.
On Saturday the police were called to the home again, after an anonymous tip that a woman was being held there against her will. Officers arrived to find the victim with signs of having been sexually assaulted, stabbed, beaten and burned.
Mother's interview
The mother of a Charleston woman who was held captive, beaten and sexually assaulted says her daughter will be scarred for a long time.
Carmen Williams says that family members are angry. She says they've been praying and asking God to help them through the ordeal. Carmen says it's important to tell her daughter's story to make sure this never happens again.
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The Brewster Family History
The Brewster family and their trailer has a history of violent crime, the police said.
Mr. Brewster killed his stepfather there when he was 12, the authorities said, and served time at a juvenile correction facility.
In July 1994, Mrs. Brewster shot and killed an 84-year-old woman she was looking after, also in the trailer, according to court records.
Mrs. Brewster, who was charged with first-degree murder, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and served six years at a state correctional facility. She was paroled in 2000.
In 2005, two men got into a fight outside the trailer, the police said, ending with a fatal stabbing.
In January, the police were again called to the trailer, where they found a man who had been slashed across his abdomen; the man survived, according to court documents, and Mr. Brewster was a witness in that case.
[Source]
The shed and house Megan was kept inside of:
BREAKING NEWS: Six Logan residents won't face federal hate crime charges
U.S. Attorney Charles Miller today said his office will not bring federal hate crime charges against the six suspects involved in the Logan County torture of a 20-year-old Charleston woman.
Logan authorities have said Megan Williams, who is black, was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and forced to eat rat and dog feces by at least six persons, all white. Criminal complaints state that her captors told her she was being tormented for being black and called her "nigger" while assaulting her.
Miller, attorney for the southern district of West Virginia, said his office would defer to the Logan County prosecutor, who is pursuing state charges against the six. Logan officials have not determined whether they will charge the six under the state hate crime law.
"We've concluded it's probably best to let the state prosecutor go forward with the charges," he said.
Frankie Brewster and her son Bobby Brewster, both of Big Creek, are each charged with kidnapping, sexual assault and malicious wounding. The mother is also charged with giving false information during a felony investigation while her son is also charged with assault during the commission of a felony.
Conviction of those charges could be enough to put the suspects away for life, Miller said.
Federal charges tend to carry a more severe penalty, he said. But hate crimes charges are usually filed against those who intend to prevent their victim from exercising a federally protected right, such as voting, gaining employment or housing, according to a federal hate crimes law passed in 1968.
"The fact that a crime is motivated by racial animosity doesn't always make it a federal crime," Miller said. "Because of the seriousness of this case and the state statutes, the penalties are still severe."
In his 24 years with the U.S. attorney's office, Miller said, he has prosecuted several civil rights violations including cross burnings and police brutality.
Miller said his office would still make itself available to officials investigating the case.
The others charged in the Williams case are:
Danny Combs, 20, of Harts, is charged with sexual assault and malicious wounding.
Karen Burton, 46, of Chapmanville, is charged with malicious wounding, battery and assault during the commission of a felony.
Burton's daughter, Alisha Burton, 23, and George Messer, 27, both of Chapmanville, are charged with assault during the commission of a felony and battery.
All six remained in custody Wednesday with bond set at $100,000 bail each.
[Source]
UPDATE: Fund for Megan Williams:
I set up a fund in Megan's name to help her and her family pay for hospital and court costs as well as the costs of counseling. To donate, click the donate button on the left side of the blog under "Megan Williams Fund".
UPDATE: Hate crimes prove tricky to prosecute
Although it's uncertain whether Logan County officials will pursue state hate crime charges against the six white suspects arrested for the weeklong rape and torture of a black woman, the charges they already face carry stiffer penalties.
The state's hate crime statute carries a penalty of 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
In the Logan County case, Frankie Brewster and her son Bobby Brewster, both of Big Creek, are each charged with kidnapping, sexual assault and malicious wounding. The mother is also charged with giving false information during a felony investigation while her son is also charged with assault during the commission of a felony.
Conviction on those charges would be enough to put the suspects away for life, said U.S. Attorney Charles Miller, who has decided not to pursue hate crime charges on the federal level.
"If you go to jail for life, that's as much as they can do to you," Miller said.
According to West Virginia Code, several elements must be proven to successfully prosecute someone accused of a hate crime.
The victim must have suffered from violence or intimidation because of their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation or gender.
Investigators have said Megan Williams, who is black, was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and forced to eat rat and dog feces by at least six persons, who are white. Criminal complaints state that her captors told her she was being tormented for being black and called her "nigger" while assaulting her.
On Wednesday the Logan County prosecutor said it now has come to light that Williams was acquainted with one of the suspects, Bobby Brewster, before last week. State Police charged Brewster in July with domestic battery and assault after a domestic dispute involving Williams.
"She obviously had some sort of social relationship," Logan County Prosecutor Brian Abraham told The Associated Press. "That is based on the fact that she was present at his residence on a prior date."
Abraham told the AP that his office is still considering the possibility of pursuing state hate crime charges but wants to concentrate first on the other charges.
West Virginia Deputy Attorney General Paul Sheridan, who heads the civil rights division, said it's sometimes complicated to prosecute a hate crime, or a bias crime. The West Virginia statute dealing with these topics does not contain the words "hate crime." Instead it is titled, "Prohibiting violations of an individual's civil rights."
Sheridan's office is not directly involved with the ongoing investigation nor does it have any criminal jurisdiction. But Sheridan is considered a hate crimes expert and helped create his division's Hate Crimes Task Force in 1992.
"The federal government has limited jurisdiction, while state law jurisdiction is much broader," Sheridan said, discussing the U.S. Attorney's decision not to pursue federal charges. "In order for him to go after a crime, he has to fit it into more criteria than a prosecutor in the state. That can be a tricky thing."
But it could be just as tough prosecuting a person under the state law, Sheridan said.
These are other elements that must be proven in a state hate crimes case: A person must conspire with another person to willfully injure, oppress, threaten, intimidate or interfere with the victim and his or her free rights, such as voting, gaining employment or housing. Such actions can include property damage or bodily harm.
Prosecutors also must show that a suspect acted willingly and not in self-defense.
"You still have to ask the question, ‘Will 10 years (in prison) help bring a person to justice?' " Sheridan said. "It may be more complicated than a kidnapping charge."
Sheridan, however, believes the Logan case could be generally classified as a bias crime.
"What's been reported suggests that race is a factor," he said. "To an extent, that's an accurate picture. It sounds like a bias crime."
Sheridan believes calling a bias crime a "hate crime"' muddies the point.
A racially motivated incident, such as scratching a swastika onto the side of a car, may be considered a bias crime but it can't be prosecuted under the state hate crimes statute, Sheridan said.
Also, "it doesn't have to do with how much hate is there; it's about whether the crime was motivated by race."
West Virginia law enforcement agencies are required to report bias crimes quarterly for the FBI's Uniform Crime Report.
Police in West Virginia reported 47 hate crime incidents in 2005, the latest data available. Thirty-four of those incidents were motivated by race, seven by religion, five by sexual orientation and one by ethnicity.
Charleston and Huntington each reported seven bias crimes while Raleigh County officials reported nine, the most of any other area of West Virginia. However, that doesn't mean that bias-motivated crimes only occur in those areas. It indicates that those places are more serious about reporting those types of crimes, Sheridan said.
Several agencies do not know how to define a hate crime and turn in their reports with all zeros, he said.
Police in Milton recently said an incident "was not a bias crime because the victims and the perpetrators knew each other."
"That's not the right analysis," Sheridan says. "That's not the point at all."
West Virginia's population is 95 percent white and just 3 percent black, and the state records fewer bias crimes than comparable states. Arkansas, which has 1.7 million residents and is 81 percent white, reported 134 hate crimes in the same period. Nebraska, where 92 percent of the 1.4 million residents are white, reported 71 hate crimes.
Federal charges tend to carry a more severe penalty, Miller said. But hate crimes charges are usually filed against those who intend to prevent their victim from exercising a federally protected right, such as voting, gaining employment or housing, according to a federal hate crimes law passed in 1968.
"The fact that a crime is motivated by racial animosity doesn't always make it a federal crime," Miller said. "Because of the seriousness of this case and the state statutes, the penalties are still severe."
In his 24 years with the U.S. attorney's office, Miller said he has prosecuted several civil rights violations including cross burnings and police brutality.
Miller said his office would still make itself available to officials investigating the case.
[Source]
Update: Decision in Torture Case Upsets Churches
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Representatives of several black churches appealed to prosecutors Thursday to pursue hate-crime or civil-rights charges against six white people accused of torturing a black woman over several days.
Logan County prosecutors say they have not ruled out hate-crimes charges but are focusing on the counts already filed, including some such as kidnapping and sexual assault that have tougher maximum sentences. Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, have not sought civil-rights charges.
"The family is aghast and totally devastated by the findings of the Logan prosecutor that this barbaric, heinous, despicable (crime) is not one of racial hatred," said the Rev. Emanuel Heyliger of the Ferguson Memorial Baptist Church in Dunbar.
Logan County Prosecutor Brian Abraham urged patience.
"We're still working the case even today," he said. "I'll make that determination when the investigation is concluded, but I want to focus on the most serious crimes that carry the stiffest penalties."
Authorities also said the fact that Megan Williams knew one of her alleged attackers played a role in their decision not to pursue hate-crime or civil-rights charges at this time. Heyliger, speaking at a news conference outside the Charleston hospital where Williams is being treated, rejected that explanation Thursday.
"Whether she was known by or known to any one of these perpetrators, that is no reason why this case should not be treated as it should, and that is as a hate crime," said Heyliger, who was joined by representatives of another Dunbar church and an association of black churches in Charleston.
Williams, 20, of Charleston, was held captive for more than a week at a ramshackle trailer in Logan County, where she was tortured, sexually assaulted and forced to eat animal droppings, according to criminal complaints.
Her captors choked her with a cable cord, stabbed her in the leg while calling her a racial epithet, poured hot water over her, made her drink from a toilet and beat her, according to the complaints.
West Virginia's hate-crime statute carries a penalty of up to 10 years prison.
Three of the six suspects have been charged with kidnapping, which carries a maximum life sentence, sexual assault, with a 35-year maximum, or both. The most serious crime the other three suspects are charged with, assault during the commission of a felony, carries the same 10-year maximum as a hate crime, but prosecutors say the charges will probably change.
"How can you not charge them with a hate crime and pursue it when it appears to be racially motivated?" asked Bishop Richard Cox, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
"Every black preacher in that city and every concerned, fair-minded white person in that city ought to get together," Cox said in telephone interview from Ohio, where he is based. "We need to march and protest."
U.S. Attorney Charles T. Miller said in a telephone interview he was not surprised by the criticism.
"Most people, when they see the allegations in this particular case, think, 'Well that's obviously a hate crime. Where are the feds?'" Miller said. "It's very difficult to explain to the general public the nuances of statutes like the civil rights statutes."
The federal code commonly used in hate crimes prosecutions prohibits the use of force or the threat of force in abridging the civil rights of an individual. Those specified rights include voting, enrollment in school, travel between states and the use of establishments serving the public like restaurants.
"There is no federal statute that makes it a crime to hate someone," Miller said. "Nor is there a federal statute that criminalizes conduct that doesn't relate to one of those federally protected activities."
Miller said state charges carry the stiffest penalties possible — life in prison — and state court provides the "best chance of successful prosecution."
Bobby Brewster, 24, and his mother, Frankie Brewster, 49, are charged with kidnapping, and they and Danny J. Combs, 20, are charged with sexual assault, among other counts.
Also charged in the case are Karen Burton, 46, of Chapmanville, her daughter Alisha Burton, 23, and George A. Messer, 27.
All six remained in custody Thursday in lieu of $100,000 bail each. Their defense attorneys either declined to comment or could not be reached on Thursday.
Williams did not attend Thursday's news conference. Her parents did, but they declined to comment on the investigation.
Megan Williams is expected to remain in the hospital for a few more days. Her mother said her daughter has not talked about her ordeal in detail yet.
"Mentally, she still wakes up at night crying and making sure I'm near her," Carmen Williams said. "She still hollers, 'Ma, what they did to me was bad.' So the only thing I can do, me and her dad, is just be there for her, to comfort her. We can do nothing more."
The Associated Press generally does not identify suspected victims of sexual assault, but Megan and Carmen Williams agreed to release her name. Carmen Williams said she wanted people to know what her daughter had endured.
[Source]
UPDATE: WV Lawmakers React to Torture Case
On Wednesday, United States Senator Jay Rockfeller's officed issued the following statement in the torture of Megan Williams in a home in Logan County for the past week.
"I was angry to hear about the unspeakable violence and hatred that occurred in Logan County. My heart and prayers go out to Ms. Williams and her entire family. No one should ever have to endure what she was put through, and I know that all West Virginians share in my sense of outrage and sadness.
"Those who did these things deserve to be punished. We must send a message to the world that these types of heinous crimes have no place in our society. In West Virginia, we will join together as a community to help begin the healing process and to take action so this can never happen again."
--Jay Rockefeller
Then, late Thursday, Senator Rockefeller issued a new and updated statement to reporters.
“As additional details emerge about this horrific case, I am even angrier and more disgusted that this terrible crime could happen to anyone in our state. It hurts me to my soul that a young West Virginian has suffered this appalling and awful sequence of events.
“Even as our thoughts and prayers go first to the victim, I know the West Virginia way is to reach out in our communities and protect each other, and this will help to heal the wounds left by this vicious attack.”
--Jay Rockefeller
Thursday, United States Senator Robert Byrd issued his own statement.
“Make no mistake about it. What happened in Logan County to Megan Williams is a despicable outrage. There is simply no place in our society for this kind of inhuman violence and hatred against any man, woman, or child. Those responsible for causing such terrible pain and suffering, both physical and emotional, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and be severely punished. No human being should ever be treated with such cruelty and disrespect. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Megan Williams.”
--Robert Byrd
[Source]
UPDATE: Previous charges dismissed: Parents of torture victim say she filed bogus charges against them in 2004
Megan Williams, the torture and rape victim taken from a Logan County home last weekend, filed domestic battery charges against her parents in 2004 — charges that her father said Thursday were made up.
But both her father and the Logan County prosecutor said there is no question that the charges against six people who allegedly abused her earlier this month are accurate.
“The proof is in the print,” said Matthew Williams, Megan Williams’ father, referring to published photographs of his daughter’s injuries. “Look at her and see. There is a difference between night and day.”
Still, he said there have been other instances where Megan Williams, now 20, made up things because she didn’t get her way.
The complaints by Megan Williams against her parents were dismissed.
The complaint against Matthew Williams states that on May 27, 2004 he hit his adopted daughter in the head with a CD case, causing her to go to Thomas Memorial Hospital to get stitches to close the wound.
On the same day, a separate complaint was made against Carmen Williams alleging that she hit Megan Williams on the nose with her fist.
Matthew Williams’ complaint was dismissed in April 2005 and Carmen Williams’ complaint was dismissed in October 2006.
“The police looked into it and the whole nine yards,” Matthew Williams said. “Nothing happened at all.”
B.W. Jones, a Charleston Police Department detective who filed the complaints, said he could not comment because Megan Williams was a juvenile when the charges were filed.
Matthew Williams said there had been other instances where Megan Williams and her sister had not gotten their way and made things up.
“They tried to pin some stuff on us. They fabricated a lot of stuff on us. There wasn’t anything in there because it was all lies,” Matthew Williams said.
“Some kids don’t get their way and you get these things,” he said.
Read rest of article here
My first thought? "What was the reason for her father telling the police about this again?"
More Articles
Two mothers refused to hide kids' torture
It took a lot of courage for Carmen Williams to reveal the identity of her 20-year-old daughter.
Williams is the mother of Megan Williams, the black West Virginia woman who was tortured, stabbed, sexually assaulted and treated like an animal by six white offenders during a weeklong captivity.
You never get used to the lurid details of a man's inhumanity.
Just as it was hard to bear the horrible things that were done to Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, the white Knoxville, Tenn., couple brutally killed in January, I'm sickened by the cruelty Megan Williams suffered.
I'm also struck by the similarity between how Carmen Williams chose to handle her daughter's ordeal at the hands of whites and how Mamie Till-Mobley handled the brutal murder of her son, Emmett Till, in 1955.
Although the news media usually doesn't identify rape victims, Williams told an Associated Press reporter "she wanted people to know what her daughter endured."
It's the same reason Till-Mobley gave when she allowed the beaten, disfigured body of her son to be viewed in an open casket. Till had been killed in Mississippi, and his body brought back to Chicago for the funeral.
Her decision not to hide the horrible way her son died was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement because it drew city folk into the civil rights battle. Until then, the burden of the battle -- the lynchings and killings -- was being carried by their country cousins.
Smoking Gun: Copies of 6 criminal complaints from torture case
Despite state's whiteness, torture case not typical
Federal statistics show the rural state -- 95 percent white, 3 percent black -- records fewer bias crimes than comparable states. And from one region to another, residents say that where racism lurks, it is restrained, not raging.
"I work with black churches and black people. We just love one another,'' says Johnny Meade, a white pastor in the Big Creek community where six white men and women have been charged in the case.
"This goes beyond prejudice,'' says the Rev. Audie Murphy Sr., president of the Logan County branch of the NAACP. "It's actually evil in its heightened form.
"I feel it's not a direct indication of the community in its entirety,'' he says, "because there are great people here, such as the one who notified the authorities that the girl was being held captive.''
Only 3 percent of West Virginia's 1.8 million residents are black, compared with 12.8 percent nationally.
Hate crime statistics in the FBI's Uniform Crime Report show West Virginia law enforcement agencies reported 47 incidents in 2005. Arkansas, which has 1.7 million residents and is 81 percent white, reported 134 hate crimes in the same period. Nebraska, where 92 percent of the 1.4 million residents are white, reported 71 hate crimes.
But Deputy Attorney General Paul Sheridan says numbers may not tell the whole story because "we still see a very large number of zeros coming back, even from places where we know something has occurred.''
Communities like Huntington are either more serious about reporting bias crimes or are using different procedures to identify them, Sheridan says. Conversely, police in Milton recently said an incident "was not a bias crime because the victims and the perpetrators knew each other.''
"That's not the right analysis,'' Sheridan says. "That's not the point at all.''
West Virginia, which split from Confederate sister Virginia during the Civil War, has some strong but little-known roots in the nation's civil rights history.
In 1859, abolitionist John Brown led 21 men on a failed raid of an arsenal at Harpers Ferry, planning to arm slaves with seized weapons.
The Niagara Movement, founded in Canada, had a landmark 1906 meeting in West Virginia, where W.E.B. DuBois and about 45 black leaders discussed how to secure civil rights. DuBois later described it as "one of the greatest meetings that American Negroes ever held.''
UPDATE: Family Calls For Hate Crime Charges in Rape and Torture Case
During a press conference Thursday at Charleston Area Medical Center's General Hospital, the family of 20-year-old Megan Williams asked the Logan County Prosecuting Attorney to pursue hate crimes charges.
According to court records, Williams was stabbed, sexually assaulted, beaten and choked. Police said one of the suspects cut her and said “that’s what we do to niggers around here.”
"If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, acts like a duck and walks like a duck, it has to be a duck," said Rev. Emanuel Heyliger, who represented the family during the press conference. He said if Logan County officials don't file hate crimes charges, federal government officials should intervene.
[Source]
MORE UPDATES HERE
94 comments:
Thank you for covering this, and thanks for starting this blog. I'm a Bi-racial Republican so as you can imagine, whenever I point out the hate crimes that effect the Black community with alarming regularity or the lack of coverage of Black kids who go missing I get ignored or worse. It's nice to see more people confronting these issues.
Thanks! I understand how hard it is to get people to understand you. But instead of trying, I just do my part to get the word out no matter what they might say. Spread the news!
You are really doing a great thing with this blog! I read the coverage on AOL, and it's a mere FRACTION of the information you have posted here! Good stuff.
Although she is probably going to suffer from this ordeal for the remainder of her life, at least Ms. Williams got out alive. Good luck to her, and kudos to that anonymous tipster!
UPDATED: The alleged assailants will NOT face Federal Hate Crime Charges.
Can someone please tell me why not?
Wow! That is messed up. I want to know that as well. I'm about to update this post.
How can we donate to help the victim?
Yay Matthew, that was exactly my question. Someone has to be starting a fund for this poor woman. How do we get involved?
I agree - the hate crimes might have carried a lighter sentence, but I think the best case would be concurrent terms for each of the assailants. Complete with "hate crimes" conviction.
I am ashamed that I am white. Those people are animals, not humans. They are all crazy, but jail is best place for them, not the mental institution. Lifetime sentence.
Hey guys I am setting up a fund for Megan right now. I'll let you know when I'm done.
Thank you for covering this - I am so sorry on behalf of all white people for what happened to Megan, I hope these 6 people never see the light of day again and rot in hell. Thank you also for setting up a fund...I was looking for where I could donate.
Where is the media now? We saw so much of Michael Vick's dog fighting and protesting from the Humane Society? Where are the people now? Hello, we have a human being that has been tortured and I still have not seen any local stations mentioned this incident except channel Fox News 11. NOT LIKE MICHAEL VICK'S COVERAGE! I know there are some nice white folks out there. I need a white person to explain to me, now do you believe that we are treated with a double standard. Look at the Jena 6 Louisiana case. Please explain the double standard consequences!! white folks you are the only race that can make a change with your voice. Sure we can fight unjustice however, a few of your voices are stronger and take notice fast! You got to speak up sometime for justice!!
I totally agree! It is ridiculous how much media coverage Michael Vick got, and Paris Hilton for her numerous indiscretions, and all the celebrities for "oh my god!" gaining a pound or something so ridiculous. But I can't believe that I hadn't heard ANYTHING about this story before today!! I had to search and search online to find anything out about it after I heard a liberal talk radio station discussing it. I wanted to know what in the world they were talking about! I can't believe the news stations did not cover this! As a white person, I am so ashamed of being white at this moment. Especially thinking back to how black people were treated back in the days of slavery and not so long ago during the days of segregation and all of the controversy this past century. What a shame that we as a people can't get past this part of who "we" are. This is the 21st century, we should be so far past racism and hate and discrimination. How can poeple not understand that we are all humans, whether black or white, fat or skinny, genius or mentally challenged...such a sad realization.
BTW, whoever had asked about why this was not being charged as a hate crime, I read that it was because the victim had a prior social relationship with the suspect(s), and that because of that they can't charge them with just choosing her because she was black, it could have something to do with their history. I forget where I read that, though, try MSNBC.com.
I live in South Mississippi and have been keeping close watch on this story.
I am a white senior female and think it is disgraceful the officials are not treating this as a hate crime. I feel it was a "Hate crime" regardless of Megan's color. Maybe not racial hate, but rejection hate...what is the difference?
A person (or persons) does not treat another human this way...the six whites should be punished to the fullest limit of the law.
On behalf of humans everywhere, including those born and raised in the Appalachian areas, I am ashamed of the actions performed by these individuals against our fellow human being.
Their actions are wrong no matter what the motivation. It matters not whether they committed these crimes against a member of any race, including their own, as the acts themselves are an atrocity against all members of the human race. The very fact that these individuals have walked the face of the earth among us, when at least two of them have prior violent records that include the murders of two human beings, and all have committed these inconceivable and heinous acts, is an atrocity against all of us.
We must all look beyond color at a bigger picture, the human picture. If we do not step forward and take this perspective, how can we hope others to take it? We must see in only one color, the human color in all its myriad shades and hues. And we must label this act what it is - an unacceptable, horrendous act against mankind in its entirety.
May the guilty miscreants be incarcerated for life, as they have lost all right to live freely among us, the members of the human race. May we unite together and refuse to accept any actions such as this against us, the members of the human race.
Lord Know why did this happened? But somewhere down the road lies the answer. I am a mature white female have many close black friends and I feel like charging these"wild animals" with individual crimes will insure their stay in the jails. Because you know that once inside The other immates will sexually abuse and beat them up on a regular basis. I try and be a christian person but sometimes an eye for an eye is more effective.
May God bless you Megan and your family.
This was just awful,but we have to stand back and look whats best for society as well as the girl. a Hate crime conviction would make everyone feel better, but its only a 10 year gig, thats what this "hills have eyes" family is hoping for. they need life convictions for the other we know the differance.,remember Capone was put away for IRS violations not murder,eiether way he went away.
Should Megan stop by some time in the future.
I will never know what you endured, but surely, if anything, this shows what a strong young woman you are. It hurts me to even think of what was done to you and I wish I could just give you a hug and remind you you are safe now.
My best to you for a quick healing.
Prayers for healing and peace for Megan. I'm so proud of her for allowing her name to be published. She is brave and strong and I know God will bring much light from the darkness of this story.
Megan, You are precious and holy.
Isaiah 43:1-4
Its an absolute shame that a tragedy like this had occurred to this young women. It is even worse when we do not hear this information as much as we should. People are saying this was one of the worst crimes they have seen in years and news stations such as CNN, FOX, ABC, etc. do not even publicize it. However, they would talk about a white women's case for months!
You will be in my prayers, Megan, and try to be as strong as you can, because GOD will take care of those sinister people.
Megan D
I'm a journalist in the midwest, and I agree that it takes real courage for the family of any victim -- but especially a rape victim -- to step forward and put a human face on the story. This family is to be applauded for their honesty and their willingness to give their community a chance to respond.
If I had to guess, I'd say the reason her father chose to share the prior report the victim made against her parents is because prosecutors have cited her alleged prior relationship with one of her attackers as one reason not to go for hate crime charges. That would establish a precedent that this girl, with her developmental disabilities, had made flawed reports to police in the past. With this much physical evidence, calling her credibility into question is not going to be enough to sink the prosecution.
God bless you Deidra for starting this most necessary blog. When I heard of Megan's story I was devastated to say the least ! I pray to control the anger that I feel for all the atrocities that befall black people everyday based solely on the color of our skin. Megan's story was beyond belief ! All white people are not bad, but these heathenistic demon's are pure evil and I hope they never see the light of day ! I will stay posted to your blog and I will donate to the Williams family fund. I will also send a link of your blog in my e-mail to everyone I know to get this donation drive going.
To the Williams family: May God hold you in his comforting arms. We (the people) are praying for your family, especially Megan. God bless....T.D.H.
Irreligious, uncultured, uncivilized dogs....poor white trash ! I hope the fires of hell burn them into damnation ! I can't believe those B@#$%^&'s lived among regular people ! They should have been caged at birth ! Poor megan, I'm so sorry this happened to her and if I ever see those M@#$%^&*(^%#$'s. I will kill them myself ! Equality my a@# ain't nothing changed, same s@#$ different day !
Signed, MAD AS HELL !
My heart has been broken since hearing about Megan's ordeal. I believe that they should be charged w/ hate crimes as well as everything else. I have always believed that people filled with hate, black or white, would hate something...anything if there were no people to hate. They would hate oak trees or goldfish...they are just bad people filled with putrid hate and if they are raising children the same way, they are child abusers...they were most likely raised by bad people filled with putrid hate. Megan survived by the grace of God and my prayers and thoughts are constantly with her. That being said, anybody who hates anybody else by virtue of skin color is ignorant. I am white and was raised by good people. If I had even thought about using the "N" word, my parents would have beaten me within an inch of my life!! My parents were southern, post Depression babies, brought up by ignorant white parents, but decided to make a change...God Bless 'Em!! Whites against Blacks does not exist in my world because it doesn't even make any sense...how can it exist if it isn't factual?...to think somebody is disgusting becasue their skin is black is not factual so how can it exist? I am not saying that ignorant white people don't try to perpetuate hate and ignorance and that black people haven't suffered long and hard, but it doesn't make sense. If you are white and a hater of Blacks, you are just plain stupid and putrid. If you're black and a hater of Whites, it is truly understandable becasue most likely you or a family member has suffered, but don't hate everyone cuz it doesn't make sense. Those ignorant hillbillies are not the only racists in the world...we all know that...but they make me sick anyway...how frightening to know that this could happen to anyone of us or one of our children...for some reason this, more than 9-11, more than Katrina, has brought me to my knees.
I am a 29 year old woman of mixed race. I live in Tucson, AZ. We got little to no news coverage of this happening. I actually found out about it by happenstance google search on the Jena 6. I have since read everything I could about Megan's story. There are no words I can say to express how sad and heart broken I am that she endured this horror. It seems unreal. Unfortunately for her it is all too real!
thanks for keeping us updated on this
I was sooo uninformed about this situation. Someone sent this to me in my facebook inbox. I will be linking this story and this blog on my blog. Great work. Keep it up.
I'm no detective, but I was CSI and American Justice a lot. I suspect the lady across the street as being the person who gave Megan a ride to the residence. Megan felt comfortable enough that she had asked her for a ride before, and now she can't be found.
This statement just says to alot to me: “She said she needed to go to Kentucky. I said I couldn’t drive her that far but I offered to take her to the police..."
but what do I know?
www.myspace.com/mastermindthelegendary
...and you wonder why so many black american have hatred in there hearts as of now! You would think after all these years something like this would have subsided. What's up with the media? You are so quick to post all the negativity of what "the black society" does, well what is the ordeal now? I'm not racial but I'll piss in them b*tch*s mouth, unorthodox a*s f*ck*rs, unscrupulous a*s wipes. Now I feel better!!
Why is there no mention that Ms. Williams is a criminal herself and was arrested shortly after leaving the hospital?
http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/+/2007091957/Torture+victim+charged+with+writing+bad+checks/
DOES IT MATTER THAT SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR WRITING A BAD CHECK? OH I GUESS SHE DESERVED WHAT SHE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF OTHERS... WOW.....
I agree with that! Despite the fact that she wrote a bad check, she is still suffering from what others have done to her. No one deserves to be tortured in any way, no matter who they are!! And that's just the reality of it!
Where's Nancy Grace at now???
A bad check??? Reread the article. She was arrested for multiple bad checks (11 counts) in 3 different counties, failure to appear and obtaining under false pretenses. This isn't a case where she forgot to carry the one in her check book. She went out and stole money. Everyone is trying to paint her as some sort of archangel when that clearly isn't the case.
Wanna know I think happened? I believe she had some sort of shady dealings w/ them that went bad and they took out payment, revenge, whatever by what they did. Evident by the fact she knew one of them.
Does this excuse what these people did to her? Hell no. They should be hung, drawn and quartered for what they did. I know these type of people and they disgust me. Much the same way she disgusts me for abusing peoples trust by writing bad checks.
I don't really think it was a racist issue as some would believe. Yes, they called her names, but think about it. If someone did you wrong(so you preceived) and wanted to hurt them, wouldn't you use every piece of ammo that you had? Plus as I stated before, she already had some sort of relationship (friend, lover, whatever) with at least one of them.
Thanks for posting all this. I only heard about this atrocity today for the first time (through a group on Facebook, of all places). You've definitely got more details here than I was able to find anywhere else on the web, including the major new sources. I hope you don't mind if I like this this in my blog. This is too horrible for words.
To Anon that said why is there no mention of bad checks - there is if you went to my other link with more updates about the case.
See bottom of this post. I just added it.
But even so - this does not matter. Megan is a victim. Let the poor woman heal from this hideous ordeal and then bring it up.
Anyways thanks to everybody above for reading my blog. I try to reply to my readers every now and then. :)
To Herebedragons - sure you can link to this in your blog. So can anyone else!
HereBeDragons: You must not read the news. I first heard about it on CNN.com Also saw articles on MSN.com along w/ follow up articles.
Anon,
I first read about it on CNN as well but for some people they learn it first from my blog, other blogs or facebook/myspace. CNN is not the first news source for everybody.
Some people do not even read any of the national papers. If you only read your local paper then it's understandable why you would miss this story.
Also most of the articles on Megan Williams were on local newspapers first but you wouldn't find it through googled during the first few days unless you put the right type of phrase in. Believe me I tried. When they finally released Megan's name - it was easier to find news on her.
Anyways - just keep in mind that everybody do not read the news and everybody do not use the news as their first source [especially the young people].
Deidra: Actually it does matter. It lends to her creditability as to whether or not it was actually racially motivated. As I stated above, I don't believe it was. All we have to go on there is her word of what they actually said to her. Which doesn’t seem to amount to much for someone who's stolen over at LEAST $500 in bad checks. We have facts that she WAS tortured. No doubt to that. As to the motive, well you can read what I posted above.
C'mon "harping on the bad checks" person...let's address the issue at hand...6 low lifes beat the crap and tortured and raped somebody. Of course it was more than racism...those criminals were involved in murder and had rap sheets a mile long. Maybe Megan was a criminal too, writing bad checks, involved in drug deals...who knows and who cares? If in fact, one of them or any of them said "This is what we do to N's around here"...that makes it a hate crime which is far more severe than writing $500 dollars worth of bad checks, smoking crack or snorting crystal or whatever Megan may or may not have been doing. I've done a ton of bad things in my life but racially motivated hate crimes and hate crimes in general and mentally or physically hurting anybody is something that I would never do. Im sure you've done something in your life bad so don't pick on this girl...she will be prosecuted for bad check writing most likely...you don't have to worry about it.
You completely missed my point. I am not doubting that she was tortured, raped, beaten, etc. She deserves justice for that. I hope and pray she gets it. What I AM doubting if it was racially motivated. All we are going on, based on what I've read, is simply her word that it is AND based on her character, I think she might be trumping that one up out of spite.
We've also got 6 guys that assaulted a white guy in Jena, by your logic, I can EASILY argue that it was a racial thing and that hate crime charges need to be brought against everyone one of them.
To the last comment...
That wouldn't be a very logical arguement about the Jena 6 actually considering the whole situation was provoked by a hate crime by white people...or a "prank" as the idiots there would like to call it.
And I also saw where one of the people who beat Ms. Williams said "This is what we do to N's around here" She is obviously admitting herself that it is a racially motivated crime.
MEGAN AND FAMILY -
I AM TRULY SORRY FOR THE PAIN THAT YOU ALL HAD TO ENDURE. I WILL KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS. MAY GOD BLESS YOU .
I understand that some are addressing Megan's credibility... and the idea that maybe her assault was not racially motivated... but at the end of the day, who really cares what the motivation was for this despicable crime??? let me say that again: WHO CARES? I don't give a damn if the the girl wrote hot checks that amounted to over $1,000,000. A person doesn't have to be anywhere near angelic to deserve justice. Her credibility about this specific case shouldn't even be an issue. The amount of evidence is overwhelming. There is no question as to whether her attackers indeed attacked her. My point is that this HUMAN BEING suffered through something that will probably scar her for the rest of her life. *so sad* Frankly, it would be better if the accused were brought up on other charges (not hate crime charges) because hate crimes usually get sentences of around 10 or so years, whereas kidnapping and other charges can get sentences anywhere from 35 yrs to life in prison. So let the poor girl's mind and body recover. she needs it. I'm sure the petty check writing crimes will be handeled in due time. ANYWAY... Megan is in my prayers. Lord knows she needs all the support she can get... rather than someone knit-picking on trivial, insignificant bullcrap that she may have done in the past, that cannot even begin to compare to what has been done to her FOR SIX LONG DAYS IN CAPTIVITY!
THIS IS BULLSHIT...PLUS MORE!! ITS HORRIBLE WHAT THEY DID.....THEY SHOULD PLEAD GUILTY FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER......WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY WOULD OF DONE IF THEY KEPT HER HOSTAGE ANY LONGER??? THIS IS SO ABSURD.....HOW CAN ONE DO THIS TO ANOTHER.....HOW CAN WE CHANGE THIS ?? WE ALL NEED TO PUT IN OUR VOICES AND BE HEARD....WE ALL SIT HERE AND SAY THIS IS CRAZY..BUT WE REALLY DONT KNOW HOW IT FEELS UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO US AND IS THAT WHAT WE WANT? I CANT BELIVE THIS STORY...I WISH THEY COULD GIVE ME ONE ON ONE TIME WITH THAT FAMILY I WILL SURE AS HELL SHOW THEM WHERE I COME FROM!! THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!!! I WISH THE BEST O HER AND HER MOTHER!
Deidra,
Thank you. Thank you for publicizing this case, and thank you for this blog. People talk about media bias in politics, but the biggest media bias I see is in crime reporting. It's heartbreaking to read through these cases of missing women and realize their cases are never going to get media attention because they are not wealthy and white.
I didn't completely miss your point. I got your point. You are questioning Megan's motivation for saying that they called her a "N". To the other person,it DOES matter. Yes, I agree they should get prosecuted to the fullest and if that means no hate crime, then so be it. But, we all must realize that racism is alive and well and anything we can do to make it go away, we should. I have the most ignorant ex MIL...thank God she's "ex"...anyway, the other day she was making such snide comments about black people and how dumb and lazy they are and how gross they are and her husband knows cuz he has to work with them every day...I wanted to slit my throat...my daughter was so appalled and called her out for it. I have friends in AL who call black people "N's" every day. They would never hurt anybody physically but they are constantly putting black people, all black people, down. I jsut can't believe that highly educated people would act this way? It's really me that's stupid cuz I have them as friends...I need to think about that.
Oh, there's no doubt that racism is alive and well in this country. NAACP, Al Sharpton, Affirmative Action and the Supreme Court ruling upholding the racist policies of Michigan University prove that.
When I enlisted in the military, my recruiter showed me where if I had been black, TWICE as many jobs would've been open to me. Simply based on race. I saw a black guy in the chow line make the statement "Give me the white meat because I don't eat my own kind!" If that would've been a white guy making that statement about dark meat, he would've been hung! One guy I was in bootcamp with was half Puerto Rician, half black. He tried to join a discussion that some black people were having. They told him to f**k off, it's a black thing and he wouldn't understand. He replied that if HE didn't understand, they DAMN sure didn't understand!
If the roles in the jena 6 case were reversed, 'ol sharpton there would be pressing for hate crime chargers in addition to the attempted murder. That was an appropriate charge. This was no "school yard fight". For one thing a “fight” usually involves only 2 people. This was 6 cowards that ambushed another person. These were simply 6 thugs trying to seriously hurt if not kill that other kid. The one has a history of violence and SHOULD go to prison!
Ya, I totally agree. Racism is VERY much alive and well here in the good 'ol US of A
To Mr. Military Person:
First of all, what do your ignorant meanderings about the state of America, have anything to do with this story? -- It was a hate crime, plain and simple - stop creating drama. And second of all, do you realize how racist you sound? The fact that you don't find it odd that your recruiter - a servant of the U.S. - who should be unbiased and unprejudiced - would take you aside, and make it a point to show you (and how ever many other white individuals) "how many jobs you could have qualified for if you were Black" is amazing to me. So what you are saying is that those jobs were only available to Black servicemen, and no other racial group? Or do you usually look at things in "Black and White" (or "Blacks vs. Whites," more aptly put)? Get over yourself, and your "reverse racism" Bu11$h1t. There are other people that benefit from Affirmative Action - people that do not make up the majority in the U.S., or people that have been discriminated in the past: namely people belonging to "minority groups," including (but not limited to) African Americans, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and White women. So do yourself a favor and stop whining about how you as a white male, are discriminated against. White males have so many advantages over everyone else it's not even funny. Think about who runs the effin' world for goodness sake, and do us all a favor and stop your whining while your at it.
If she was white this would have never been heard or seen in the media.
To Miss "If she was white":
Um ok, you make sense. (rolling eyes) What are you retarded? What about the countless white women who went missing and their husbands (or their own crazy children) have murdered them, or the countless white girls that pop up in the media who get abducted over spring break. Trust, whenever you guys go missing, a search party goes out looking for your a$$es the next day. If this was to happen to a white woman, the story would be breaking news all over television, and front and center on all the newspapers. Instead we have a story about a developmentally challenged African American woman, that can barely break the blogosphere where news is concerned.
I am really sick of those certain white individuals in the world who can only think about themselves, with this "woe is me" syndrome. Why is it so hard to connect with the human condition when it comes to people that aren't the same color as you? To put it bluntly - you need to get some serious psychological help. I truly believe that a screw is missing.
**To Anyone else that has some sense left (because you obviously lost yours):
When it comes down to it, it really doesn't matter whether she's black, blue, green, yellow, white, or clear - this was a story that should have been all over the news - period! The public needs to be made aware of these heinous crimes, and the fact that there are crazy people out there. We, as a society, need to make sure that when people commit these kinds of crimes, they are put a way FOR GOOD! But how are we supposed to do that, when we aren't told what the he11 is going on? The American public should be outraged for being kept in the dark.
IT WAS IN THE NEWS!!!! I saw it here on DC Fox news, CNN and heard it on DC 101 - Elliot in the Morning. Read about it on CNN.com, MSN.com and Yahoo. Hell, my mom read about it in her local paper in Pittsburgh. Being from West Virginia myself I keep up w/ local news there and you can bet it was in the local paper there also!
Why don't you click onto some news sites once in awhile or turn on the TV/Radio news???
Type "megan williams" into google and see how many news sites pop up.
I know it's on the internet (which is obviously why I became aware of this site - McFly). You may be somewhat unaware, but California is so preoccupied with Paris Hilton and her exhibitionist friends, we don't get real news anymore. You need to realize that your neck of the woods, Ms. East Coast, doesn't make up the entire United States. Get a grip, open your eyes to the rest of the world, and stick with the facts - this story isn't making the front page paper all across the U.S. like it should, sweety.
Just in case you didn't know, not everyone watches CNN all the time (some of us do work for a living). And secondly - you do realize that the news and radio stations on the East Coast broadcast different stories - right? When someone gets murdered, maimed, or raped on one coast, it doesn't necessarily get covered on the other coast. Case in point, I haven't heard anything in the California local news about 28-year-old Eli Lilly pharmaceutical representative Nailah Franklin from Chicago, whose body was found naked in an alley. I found that horrifying story on the web as well.
http://www.wbbm780.com/Family-Of-Missing-Woman-Process-Weekend-Developmen/991708
So when you say "DC Fox news," "DC 101," or even Pittsburgh, it means absolutely nothing to someone who lives on the West Coast. Just something for you to keep in mind.
P.S. Lay off the caps. You're being dramatic.
Hi, Megan,
I hope you are feeling better. I am praying for you and will pray that justice is served regarding the monsters who hurt you. Everything will be okay.
Anne
Hey Megan,
I am shocked to hear what happened with you. I hope you get well soon and be there for your loved ones very soon.
Such racist or negative religious behavior is a big issue our world faces today. May God have mercy on us and teach every human to respect one another.
My best wishes are with you!
Regards,
S.M Chaudhry
i hope your family and you get much much much much better god bless you
get better
I think that the things that they did to that girl was wrong . what i relly cant understand why dis sufe is happen in 2007.
that was just horrible how those people did her
I think there should be a march for the justice she deserves
i feel her pain i hope she gets better soon
that is very nasty i would not want any body to do that
im very sorry that happen to meagan who did that to u i hope they go to jail for life causee that is wrong for them to do that to her cause she black sorry to tell u but i hate white people i no its wrong .i hope u get well and you in gods hands and he will help u work things out and make your life better dont think u should let your self down dont do that and fell wrong that happen to u always keeep your self from my heart to u hope u get welll sooon
words for the wise
What Goes Around Comes Around
i hope you and your family will be ok because they is bogas what they had did to her i feel sorry for megan williams if i live in west virginia i will go to the her house and if her a good well card
by..sombody
If she was white none of this would of happen. To my knowledge White people does not get treated like this.
I FEEL SO SORRY WAT HAPPENED TO MEAGAN I HOPE SHE GET WELL AND I FEEL SORRY ABOUT HER MOTHER I KNOW HER MOTHER GOING THROUGH ALOT. I HOPE THEM MURDERS GO TO JAIL FOR LIFE AND DIE.IF I WAS MEAGAN MOTHER I WOULD HAD KILLED THEM ONE BY ONE AND VERY SLOWLY AND BEAT THEM TO DEAF THEN SHOOT THEY BRAINS OUTS TO MAKE SURE THEY REALL DAED,
WOW, the first 65% of this was very interesting, until everyone started sounding DUM. Thank you for starting this, and some of you sound very un educated, and or immature. I am a black female, and im tiredof hearing black people sound like this I totally agree with "Mr. Military", he stole the words right out of my mouth, the 1st post, until he started going back and forth. Listen to the words that are comming out of your mind. Until ALL 7 people talk to me personally this has NOTHING to do with race, she is their friend for crying out loud. Same kind of people hand together, if Megan did what she did to provoke their action being a white female, and standing where she stands in their relationship, the SAME thing would have happen. Come on everyone knows this is wrong, but why are we so pressed on putting color on this, lets focus on humanity, a human to human offense. I have so much more to say, but lets allow Megan to shine, this is about her.
To "WOW, the first 65%"...this is about hatred, whether or not it's motivated by race. I implore you to rethink not putting color on this and to call folks dumb and uneducated. Talk is good; let's us free our souls and discover the truth. When somebody posts something derogatory, we can learn from that too. I learned something from your post. Color is an issue; a huge issue and needs to be discussed often. This is about Megan but it is also about all of us. Any discussion that enlightens anybody and perhaps leads others not to discriminate or hate is good. Judging people is not good. My first instict was to judge you by your posting but I won't. My opinion is that everyone shuoldn't be so rigid and just learn to accept differences in people. Love and acceptance rules.
When I hear about the suffering of a young woman who is my age, my race, and who shares so much in common with me, I cannot help but to fight back the overwhelming urge to weep tears of anger and pain. I think that the most difficult part of being not only an individual of colour, but a mother, sister, cousin, or even a friend is that utter feeling of hopelessness. This is something that constantly lingers as I face the challenges of everyday life for a black woman. How can I bear a child and still maintain a guilt-free conscience knowing that hatred like this exists in the world, and knowing the pain of my own struggle in the world, and the even more pressing pain that follows upon the realization that the struggle is far from over. My prayers go out to Megan. May you prosper and most importantly, may you receive justice.
whats so sad about america is that it has nothing to do with your past history ,the media is always looking for a story and now they got one but willing to dig in her past instead of worrying about what is taking place now with her. she was brutulized, now america should focus on justice what the media makes it seem is that justice should not be served because she wrote checks or did what she did.
It is a very sad that state of this world. Many issues have been brought up. I want to say that the anonymous person who has so eloquently responded to all the foolywang, I am overly impressed. Ignorance is very dangerous so please keep enlightening those who speak from a limited perspective. And for Mr. Military Man...understand what white privilege means. Trust me when I say minorities wish that we didn't have to have affirmative action laws in order to get a piece of the crumb. This law should indicate to you that the government has to force White Americans to even give us a fighting chance. As soon as America is ready to really apply the concept of being equal, then maybe you can look forward to abolishing affirmative action. But I won't be holding my breath.
BLACK LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE (BLFJ)
www.Blacklawyersforjustice.org
For Immediate Release
October 7, 2007
NATIONAL MARCH AGAINST
HATE CRIMES:
MEGAN WILLIAMS: KIDNAP, TORTURE AND RAPE VICTIM IS FOCUS OF NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION
When: Saturday November 3, 2007 12:00 noon
Location: Charleston, West Virginia. Beginning in front of West Virginia State University and Marching to the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston.
March Purpose: To bring national and statewide support to Charleston resident Megan Williams, the Williams Family and victims of other hate crimes nationwide. The Jena 6 case, the rise in the hanging of nooses and other current acts of injustices and intimidation against Blacks/African Americans will all be highlighted at this National March against Hate Crimes. Families and victims of hate crimes that are occurring throughout the nation will attend. Black Lawyers For Justice, the Williams Family and organizers are demanding that Federal Hate Crimes charges be brought in the instant case. They are also demanding Congressional hearings on hate crimes against Black residents as well a wide range of actions to combat the growing attacks on Blacks in America.
Who are the Organizers? The primary march organizers are Black Lawyers For Justice (BLFJ) and the Support Committee For Megan Williams. This march will be endorsed by at least 100 Black organizations, student groups, clergy and leaders of every stripe. An initial endorsement list will be produced on 10-15-07.
Contact: Black Lawyers For Justice (BLFJ) / Malik Shabazz, Esq.
Attorney/ advocate for Megan Williams and the
Williams Family)
Ph: NATIONAL (202) 397-3577 local (304) 657-1493
E-mail: shabazzlaw@aol.com
Websites: Blacklawyersforjustice.org
WHY A MARCH TO SUPPORT MEGAN WILLIAMS AND OPPOSE HATE CRIMES?
On November 3, 2007 a historic National March will take place in Charleston, West Virginia. This call to action is to support young Megan Williams, who is the victim of one of the worst hate crimes in United States history. The March is also called to address an unacceptable rise in hate crimes and incidents of injustices currently perpetrated against Blacks or African Americans. On September 12, 2007, and in subsequent preliminary hearings, it was revealed that Megan Williams, a twenty year old Black Woman, was lured into a nearby Logan county trailer house of hatred. Young Megan, who also has special disability needs, was repeatedly raped, choked, stabbed, forced to eat dog and rat feces as her six white tormentors berated her calling her “nigger” incessantly. According to evidence gathered, Megan was sodomized with a stick and a noose was tied around her neck for lengthy periods during this week long ordeal that is verified by several of co-defendants signed confessions. This is an this ugly and outrageous ordeal. Prosecutors said. "Every time they stabbed her, they called her 'nigger." Carmen Williams, the mother, told The Charleston Gazette. "She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, 'Mommy.' What's really, really bad is, we don't know everything, and they did to her. She is crying all the time." No doubt, had she not been rescued they were going to kill her and throw her in a nearby lake.
Arrested are: Frankie Brewster, 49, and her son Bobby Brewster, 24., Karen Burton, 46; her daughter Alisha, 23; Danny Combs, 20, and George Messer, 27 –six whites from nearby Logan County, West Virginia. The suspects took turns beating, stabbing, choking and sexually abusing Williams, while consistently threatening her with death, according to criminal complaints. A rope was placed around Williams' neck, her hair was ripped out and she was made to eat dog and rat feces, drink from a toilet and lick up blood, the complaint charges. At one point, she was sexually assaulted while scalding water and melting hot wax from a candle was poured on her body. At another point she was forced to lick the toes of the sadistic defendants. She was stabbed in the leg at least four times and both of her ankles were cut by a female suspect who allegedly taunted her, saying, "This one is for Kunta Kinte, and that's what we do to niggers around here.”
“The Megan Williams case is beyond a doubt, one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. History. The Megan Williams case is even worse than the case of the Jena 6”…said Attorney Malik Shabazz Esq., Megan Williams Family Attorney and Spokesman for Black Lawyers For Justice, speaking at the October 3rd preliminary hearing in Logan County, West VA.
Shabazz also said, “The number of outright hate crimes and injustice cases against Blacks is rising so rapidly it’s hard for our office to keep track of. We are calling for every concerned person in our community to respond to this national crisis with vigor and due diligence. The November 3rd March in Charleston is a big step in the direction of organizing to challenge the tide of attacks occurring against Blacks”.
HATE CRIMES DOCUMENTED
In addition to the Megan Williams case, criminal acts of hatred and intimidation using hanging nooses have sprung up all over the nation. The hanging noose, central to the Jena case, is used by racists as an actionable threat to the safety and well being of Blacks, who have suffered innumerable historical injustices via hanging ropes and lynchings. On Sept 7th, a three foot noose was found hung at the University of Maryland, College Park, roiling the campus. On October 4th, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that police were investigating several cases in which nooses were left at workplaces to intimidate black employees in the Pittsburgh area. The Tribune reported, “a supervisor at the Verizon Wireless Business Services Center in Marshall found a black doll with a noose around its neck and racial slurs directed at it.” Several similar hate crime incidents have been reported in the Pittsburgh area in the last month. In Long Island, New York last month, police found a noose hanging in the locker room. Many believed it was hung by a police officer and was in response to the newly elected Black police chief. Last month, in North Carolina, nooses were found hung at a public school. On October 3rd in Washington D.C., white students and historical Galluadet University for the deaf, reportedly held a Black student hostage for over an hour and repeatedly wrote “KKK” all over his body with markers. All over the U.S., Police assaulting and killing unarmed Black victims is on the rise again.
A FOLLOW UP TO JENA
The November 3rd National March against Hate Crimes is also an effort to end the continued persecution of the Jena 6. Mychal Bell and the Jena 6 are still facing jail after responding to racist persecution at the High school in Jena, Louisiana. Also the addresses and phone numbers of the Jena 6 Families were posted on Neo-Nazi/Klan websites, subsequently, white supremacists have committed acts of aggression near their homes and BLFJ has copies of letters from various Ku Klux Klan organizations directly threatening the Jena 6 families. Members of the Jena 6 are endorsing and are expected at this march.
Over 100 organizations, student groups, youth organizations, clergy, rappers, and leaders are set to endorse the November 3rd March (a list will be released on 10/15/07) Like in Jena, organizers going to get busses, travel the highway and organize to support Megan Williams and organize against these attacks.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday November 2nd 7:00 pm: A pre march remembrance/ prayer vigil will take place at the Logan County trailer home where Megan Williams was kidnapped and tortured
Saturday November 3rd 12:00 noon: National March against Hate Crimes, Charleston, West VA. March will begin in front of West Virginia State University.
Saturday November 3rd 5:00 pm: Fundraiser for Megan Williams and Town Hall Meeting on Race Relations to take place at Rehoboth Cathedral of Christ in Charleston, West Virginia- Bishop James Carter III is the host pastor.
To Endorse This March Or For Updates And Further Details, Visit The Website: Www.Blacklawyersforjustice.Org Or Call (202) 397 -4577 The Email Is Shabazzlaw@aol.Com
BLACK LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE (BLFJ)
www.Blacklawyersforjustice.org
For Immediate Release
October 7, 2007
NATIONAL MARCH AGAINST
HATE CRIMES:
MEGAN WILLIAMS: KIDNAP, TORTURE AND RAPE VICTIM IS FOCUS OF NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION
When: Saturday November 3, 2007 12:00 noon
Location: Charleston, West Virginia. Beginning in front of West Virginia State University and Marching to the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston.
March Purpose: To bring national and statewide support to Charleston resident Megan Williams, the Williams Family and victims of other hate crimes nationwide. The Jena 6 case, the rise in the hanging of nooses and other current acts of injustices and intimidation against Blacks/African Americans will all be highlighted at this National March against Hate Crimes. Families and victims of hate crimes that are occurring throughout the nation will attend. Black Lawyers For Justice, the Williams Family and organizers are demanding that Federal Hate Crimes charges be brought in the instant case. They are also demanding Congressional hearings on hate crimes against Black residents as well a wide range of actions to combat the growing attacks on Blacks in America.
Who are the Organizers? The primary march organizers are Black Lawyers For Justice (BLFJ) and the Support Committee For Megan Williams. This march will be endorsed by at least 100 Black organizations, student groups, clergy and leaders of every stripe. An initial endorsement list will be produced on 10-15-07.
Contact: Black Lawyers For Justice (BLFJ) / Malik Shabazz, Esq.
Attorney/ advocate for Megan Williams and the
Williams Family)
Ph: NATIONAL (202) 397-3577 local (304) 657-1493
E-mail: shabazzlaw@aol.com
Websites: Blacklawyersforjustice.org
WHY A MARCH TO SUPPORT MEGAN WILLIAMS AND OPPOSE HATE CRIMES?
On November 3, 2007 a historic National March will take place in Charleston, West Virginia. This call to action is to support young Megan Williams, who is the victim of one of the worst hate crimes in United States history. The March is also called to address an unacceptable rise in hate crimes and incidents of injustices currently perpetrated against Blacks or African Americans. On September 12, 2007, and in subsequent preliminary hearings, it was revealed that Megan Williams, a twenty year old Black Woman, was lured into a nearby Logan county trailer house of hatred. Young Megan, who also has special disability needs, was repeatedly raped, choked, stabbed, forced to eat dog and rat feces as her six white tormentors berated her calling her “nigger” incessantly. According to evidence gathered, Megan was sodomized with a stick and a noose was tied around her neck for lengthy periods during this week long ordeal that is verified by several of co-defendants signed confessions. This is an this ugly and outrageous ordeal. Prosecutors said. "Every time they stabbed her, they called her 'nigger." Carmen Williams, the mother, told The Charleston Gazette. "She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, 'Mommy.' What's really, really bad is, we don't know everything, and they did to her. She is crying all the time." No doubt, had she not been rescued they were going to kill her and throw her in a nearby lake.
Arrested are: Frankie Brewster, 49, and her son Bobby Brewster, 24., Karen Burton, 46; her daughter Alisha, 23; Danny Combs, 20, and George Messer, 27 –six whites from nearby Logan County, West Virginia. The suspects took turns beating, stabbing, choking and sexually abusing Williams, while consistently threatening her with death, according to criminal complaints. A rope was placed around Williams' neck, her hair was ripped out and she was made to eat dog and rat feces, drink from a toilet and lick up blood, the complaint charges. At one point, she was sexually assaulted while scalding water and melting hot wax from a candle was poured on her body. At another point she was forced to lick the toes of the sadistic defendants. She was stabbed in the leg at least four times and both of her ankles were cut by a female suspect who allegedly taunted her, saying, "This one is for Kunta Kinte, and that's what we do to niggers around here.”
“The Megan Williams case is beyond a doubt, one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. History. The Megan Williams case is even worse than the case of the Jena 6”…said Attorney Malik Shabazz Esq., Megan Williams Family Attorney and Spokesman for Black Lawyers For Justice, speaking at the October 3rd preliminary hearing in Logan County, West VA.
Shabazz also said, “The number of outright hate crimes and injustice cases against Blacks is rising so rapidly it’s hard for our office to keep track of. We are calling for every concerned person in our community to respond to this national crisis with vigor and due diligence. The November 3rd March in Charleston is a big step in the direction of organizing to challenge the tide of attacks occurring against Blacks”.
HATE CRIMES DOCUMENTED
In addition to the Megan Williams case, criminal acts of hatred and intimidation using hanging nooses have sprung up all over the nation. The hanging noose, central to the Jena case, is used by racists as an actionable threat to the safety and well being of Blacks, who have suffered innumerable historical injustices via hanging ropes and lynchings. On Sept 7th, a three foot noose was found hung at the University of Maryland, College Park, roiling the campus. On October 4th, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that police were investigating several cases in which nooses were left at workplaces to intimidate black employees in the Pittsburgh area. The Tribune reported, “a supervisor at the Verizon Wireless Business Services Center in Marshall found a black doll with a noose around its neck and racial slurs directed at it.” Several similar hate crime incidents have been reported in the Pittsburgh area in the last month. In Long Island, New York last month, police found a noose hanging in the locker room. Many believed it was hung by a police officer and was in response to the newly elected Black police chief. Last month, in North Carolina, nooses were found hung at a public school. On October 3rd in Washington D.C., white students and historical Galluadet University for the deaf, reportedly held a Black student hostage for over an hour and repeatedly wrote “KKK” all over his body with markers. All over the U.S., Police assaulting and killing unarmed Black victims is on the rise again.
A FOLLOW UP TO JENA
The November 3rd National March against Hate Crimes is also an effort to end the continued persecution of the Jena 6. Mychal Bell and the Jena 6 are still facing jail after responding to racist persecution at the High school in Jena, Louisiana. Also the addresses and phone numbers of the Jena 6 Families were posted on Neo-Nazi/Klan websites, subsequently, white supremacists have committed acts of aggression near their homes and BLFJ has copies of letters from various Ku Klux Klan organizations directly threatening the Jena 6 families. Members of the Jena 6 are endorsing and are expected at this march.
Over 100 organizations, student groups, youth organizations, clergy, rappers, and leaders are set to endorse the November 3rd March (a list will be released on 10/15/07) Like in Jena, organizers going to get busses, travel the highway and organize to support Megan Williams and organize against these attacks.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday November 2nd 7:00 pm: A pre march remembrance/ prayer vigil will take place at the Logan County trailer home where Megan Williams was kidnapped and tortured
Saturday November 3rd 12:00 noon: National March against Hate Crimes, Charleston, West VA. March will begin in front of West Virginia State University.
Saturday November 3rd 5:00 pm: Fundraiser for Megan Williams and Town Hall Meeting on Race Relations to take place at Rehoboth Cathedral of Christ in Charleston, West Virginia- Bishop James Carter III is the host pastor.
To Endorse This March Or For Updates And Further Details, Visit The Website: Www.Blacklawyersforjustice.Org Or Call (202) 397 -4577 The Email Is Shabazzlaw@aol.Com
BLACK LAWYERS FOR JUSTICE (BLFJ)
www.Blacklawyersforjustice.org
For Immediate Release
October 7, 2007
NATIONAL MARCH AGAINST
HATE CRIMES:
MEGAN WILLIAMS: KIDNAP, TORTURE AND RAPE VICTIM IS FOCUS OF NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION
When: Saturday November 3, 2007 12:00 noon
Location: Charleston, West Virginia. Beginning in front of West Virginia State University and Marching to the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston.
March Purpose: To bring national and statewide support to Charleston resident Megan Williams, the Williams Family and victims of other hate crimes nationwide. The Jena 6 case, the rise in the hanging of nooses and other current acts of injustices and intimidation against Blacks/African Americans will all be highlighted at this National March against Hate Crimes. Families and victims of hate crimes that are occurring throughout the nation will attend. Black Lawyers For Justice, the Williams Family and organizers are demanding that Federal Hate Crimes charges be brought in the instant case. They are also demanding Congressional hearings on hate crimes against Black residents as well a wide range of actions to combat the growing attacks on Blacks in America.
Who are the Organizers? The primary march organizers are Black Lawyers For Justice (BLFJ) and the Support Committee For Megan Williams. This march will be endorsed by at least 100 Black organizations, student groups, clergy and leaders of every stripe. An initial endorsement list will be produced on 10-15-07.
Contact: Black Lawyers For Justice (BLFJ) / Malik Shabazz, Esq.
Attorney/ advocate for Megan Williams and the
Williams Family)
Ph: NATIONAL (202) 397-3577 local (304) 657-1493
E-mail: shabazzlaw@aol.com
Websites: Blacklawyersforjustice.org
WHY A MARCH TO SUPPORT MEGAN WILLIAMS AND OPPOSE HATE CRIMES?
On November 3, 2007 a historic National March will take place in Charleston, West Virginia. This call to action is to support young Megan Williams, who is the victim of one of the worst hate crimes in United States history. The March is also called to address an unacceptable rise in hate crimes and incidents of injustices currently perpetrated against Blacks or African Americans. On September 12, 2007, and in subsequent preliminary hearings, it was revealed that Megan Williams, a twenty year old Black Woman, was lured into a nearby Logan county trailer house of hatred. Young Megan, who also has special disability needs, was repeatedly raped, choked, stabbed, forced to eat dog and rat feces as her six white tormentors berated her calling her “nigger” incessantly. According to evidence gathered, Megan was sodomized with a stick and a noose was tied around her neck for lengthy periods during this week long ordeal that is verified by several of co-defendants signed confessions. This is an this ugly and outrageous ordeal. Prosecutors said. "Every time they stabbed her, they called her 'nigger." Carmen Williams, the mother, told The Charleston Gazette. "She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, 'Mommy.' What's really, really bad is, we don't know everything, and they did to her. She is crying all the time." No doubt, had she not been rescued they were going to kill her and throw her in a nearby lake.
Arrested are: Frankie Brewster, 49, and her son Bobby Brewster, 24., Karen Burton, 46; her daughter Alisha, 23; Danny Combs, 20, and George Messer, 27 –six whites from nearby Logan County, West Virginia. The suspects took turns beating, stabbing, choking and sexually abusing Williams, while consistently threatening her with death, according to criminal complaints. A rope was placed around Williams' neck, her hair was ripped out and she was made to eat dog and rat feces, drink from a toilet and lick up blood, the complaint charges. At one point, she was sexually assaulted while scalding water and melting hot wax from a candle was poured on her body. At another point she was forced to lick the toes of the sadistic defendants. She was stabbed in the leg at least four times and both of her ankles were cut by a female suspect who allegedly taunted her, saying, "This one is for Kunta Kinte, and that's what we do to niggers around here.”
“The Megan Williams case is beyond a doubt, one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. History. The Megan Williams case is even worse than the case of the Jena 6”…said Attorney Malik Shabazz Esq., Megan Williams Family Attorney and Spokesman for Black Lawyers For Justice, speaking at the October 3rd preliminary hearing in Logan County, West VA.
Shabazz also said, “The number of outright hate crimes and injustice cases against Blacks is rising so rapidly it’s hard for our office to keep track of. We are calling for every concerned person in our community to respond to this national crisis with vigor and due diligence. The November 3rd March in Charleston is a big step in the direction of organizing to challenge the tide of attacks occurring against Blacks”.
HATE CRIMES DOCUMENTED
In addition to the Megan Williams case, criminal acts of hatred and intimidation using hanging nooses have sprung up all over the nation. The hanging noose, central to the Jena case, is used by racists as an actionable threat to the safety and well being of Blacks, who have suffered innumerable historical injustices via hanging ropes and lynchings. On Sept 7th, a three foot noose was found hung at the University of Maryland, College Park, roiling the campus. On October 4th, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported that police were investigating several cases in which nooses were left at workplaces to intimidate black employees in the Pittsburgh area. The Tribune reported, “a supervisor at the Verizon Wireless Business Services Center in Marshall found a black doll with a noose around its neck and racial slurs directed at it.” Several similar hate crime incidents have been reported in the Pittsburgh area in the last month. In Long Island, New York last month, police found a noose hanging in the locker room. Many believed it was hung by a police officer and was in response to the newly elected Black police chief. Last month, in North Carolina, nooses were found hung at a public school. On October 3rd in Washington D.C., white students and historical Galluadet University for the deaf, reportedly held a Black student hostage for over an hour and repeatedly wrote “KKK” all over his body with markers. All over the U.S., Police assaulting and killing unarmed Black victims is on the rise again.
A FOLLOW UP TO JENA
The November 3rd National March against Hate Crimes is also an effort to end the continued persecution of the Jena 6. Mychal Bell and the Jena 6 are still facing jail after responding to racist persecution at the High school in Jena, Louisiana. Also the addresses and phone numbers of the Jena 6 Families were posted on Neo-Nazi/Klan websites, subsequently, white supremacists have committed acts of aggression near their homes and BLFJ has copies of letters from various Ku Klux Klan organizations directly threatening the Jena 6 families. Members of the Jena 6 are endorsing and are expected at this march.
Over 100 organizations, student groups, youth organizations, clergy, rappers, and leaders are set to endorse the November 3rd March (a list will be released on 10/15/07) Like in Jena, organizers going to get busses, travel the highway and organize to support Megan Williams and organize against these attacks.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday November 2nd 7:00 pm: A pre march remembrance/ prayer vigil will take place at the Logan County trailer home where Megan Williams was kidnapped and tortured
Saturday November 3rd 12:00 noon: National March against Hate Crimes, Charleston, West VA. March will begin in front of West Virginia State University.
Saturday November 3rd 5:00 pm: Fundraiser for Megan Williams and Town Hall Meeting on Race Relations to take place at Rehoboth Cathedral of Christ in Charleston, West Virginia- Bishop James Carter III is the host pastor.
To Endorse This March Or For Updates And Further Details, Visit The Website: Www.Blacklawyersforjustice.Org Or Call (202) 397 -4577 The Email Is Shabazzlaw@aol.Com
This is a wonderful thing that you are doing on behalf of this young lady. I feel that before we look at the aspect of this being a so-called Hate Crime we need to realize the brutality of the crime in general. This young lady was held captive for over a week and subjected to the most heinous treatment that any human being should endure. Death is the only justice for such a Crime and for us to seek anything less is a disservice to our sister.
Clarence, I'm not for the death penalty but these are some souless creatures that need to be rehabilitated. I don't think that they should ever see the light of day but death, in my opinion, is only for our Creator to decide. Having said that, pray for their souls to be healed. I once was asked by a couple of very scary inmates why I cared about them so much and my answer was that they walked the same streets as my children and grandchildren. If any one of these "monsters" is let out one day, I pray that they are rehabilitated to the degree that they won't hurt anybody else.
By singling this out act as a crime against blacks, rather than seeing it as a crime against humanity, prejudice against blacks is perpetuated. When we categorize ourselves as a single, separate group within the human race, we perpetuate prejudice through our own actions.
To defeat racism
We must all pull together
As members of the human race
And see ourselves as part of the collective whole
The human race
Speaking together with one voice
Rather than breaking apart
Into fractional voices within the human race
To defeat racism
We must all see ourselves as one race
The human race
Only then will racism be eradicated
-TMo
When I first heard of this it was thursday on power 99FM. All I could say is wow I can't believe this sh**!!. My first reaction was they need to be put to death,but that would be the easy way out.They all need to spend there entire life in jail. What they did is completly heartless. My heart goes out to Megan and thankyou for sharing your story with the world. I'm so sorry you had to go through this,but god put you in that situation so that your testimony of what you endured can somehow help someone else. Thank God that you made it through and you will be in my prayers.
To the last 2 Anonymous posters: 1st one: Your thoughts about one race...the human race are wonderful but that would be indicative of a perfect world scenario which we don't have nor are we near having. Racism won't be eradicated by just thinking that way...we have to be pro active in defending situations like Megan's and call it what it is. The combination of hate and racism led to her torture in my opinion and if we don't address it VERY seriously, it won't matter...and it HAS to matter. I too think like you and it would be great if everyone did, but they don't. We need to continually try and fix it.
To the next person...God didn't put Megan in that situation...he may have allowed it to happen but I'm not even sure God works that way. I think God can take a horrible situation and make good of it and hopefully something good will come of it. God didn't have anything to do w/ her terrible ordeal...He will only make right what is wrong.
To all racists be you white, black, or otherwise: You are scary people. I have read and re-read everything I can get my hands on re Megan and I can't get my mind off of the torture that she endured and how scared she must have been. If you are a racist, whether or not you are rich, live in a nice neighborhood, and are a Sunday School teacher, you are no better than the low lives who did this to Megan. I implore you to do the right thing and shed your ignorance and accept people for what's in their hearts and not the color of their skin.
Just to add to my last post about racists being scary people...you are perpetuating evil that WILL have a dire affect on your children...it already does and is going to get worse...why would you do that?...what is wrong with you? Educate yourselves...continuing to be a racist will only hurt you...WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!! Racism is EVIL!!!!!!!! Don't sit back and be prideful and angry and stubborn and egotistical...pray for yourself and anyone who is a racist...NOBODY is better than anybody else...we can't help radical Muslims realize that becasue the task is too daunting but we can help reasonable Americans by praying for them and enlightening them...spread the word...it's going to be too late if you don't...LOVE THY NEIGHBOR...I am not a Bible thumper but there is no help like God...PRAY now!!!!!!!
This is terrible story, this kind of crime should be delt with harshly!
At least this story has gotten national media attention... At least Megan is alive... Thank God she wansn't white, we would have neve heard of her or her story...
Don't believe me? Have you heard of the Newsome/Christian murders? Varify it at snopes.com with this link.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/newsom.asp
To Average American: Shame on you!! You are perpetuating the problem. I'm sorry that you aren't intelligent enough to understand the big picture...I don't mean this as a slam...re-read the snopes article...if you think for one minute that Blacks are treated more fairly than Whites, you are sadly mistaken. Wake up for God's sake and I mean for GOD'S sake...we are meant to be equal. Don't be a racist.
Anonymous,
I'm sorry you label me a racist just for pointing out the huge inequity that exists in our media. As of the 2000 census around 12.3% of this country are black, it is clear that the media devotes well over 12.3% of their efforts reporting black issues, that has created a huge misrepresentation that must be put into proportion if an accurate representation of our society is ever going to be portrayed.
Like I said, this was a terrible crime which deserves harsh punishment. My point was that there are much worse crimes out there that go unreported on a national level that seem just as news worthy as this case, don't you think?
Or are you the true racist?
This is a long comment but I had to say it so here it is...
Yikes! some of you are really off track. I really want to say thank you to the person who said that we should be mindful that not every city, state, coast or whatever, gets the same news. Furthermore, for those of you who keep talking about CNN and internet, be mindful that in most cases if not all, CNN can only be seen on cable television and not all people have internet access nor cable T.V.
To the person who made mention of the boys who beat up the white boy in the Jena 6 case...ARE YOU NOT AWARE THAT THERE WERE A STRING OF INCIDENCES AND THAT THERE WAS A BLACK BOY WHO WAS BEATEN, HAD BOTTLES THROWN AT HIM AND RIDICULED AS WELL (or did you not get that in your town).
Mr. Military, I really need you not to compare the little bit of racist scenarios that you've encountered to the years and years and years and years of racist bullcrap that my people (including myself) have had to encounter. You are right, racism is terrible, no matter what color you are, but harping over small things that REALLY may not have a true negative affect on your life or the lives of your family is ridiculous.
Mr. bad check dweller... why don't you shed some light on the bad stuff you have done and let me see if you deserve half of what Megan got...furthermore, I don't care if Megan was screwing the whole damn family, selling drugs out of her ear, or if she stole money from their damn dog...SHE DID NOT DESERVE WHAT THEY DID...
To those people who said you were ashamed of being white right now... don't feel that way. This is not a reflection of who you are...I see a lot of negative crap happen everyday that blacks are involved in, but I don't let it take from me the pride I have because there are many other blacks doing just the opposite.
And to anyone who can't see that the BIGGEST picture right now is not racism, revenge, nor paying a debt but justice and ensuring that these people do not see the light of day again (unlike the member of that family who killed the 84 year old woman and was let out 5 years later) has issues of his or her own.
oh yeah...to anyone who has a problem with what MEGAN DID... did you not notice that it has been said numerous times that she has developmental disorders?
Signed,
GOOD GRIEF!!!
To Average American: I am white. Below are all of my postings. I do apologize for calling you a racist. I shouldn't have. I think that I've been standing on a soap box on this blog because it is a subject that I am passionate about. I hope that I'm not a racist and if there is anything that I can learn, I try to. I don't agree with you on any leverl but that's OK. I'm signing off of this blog for good becasue I am very busy at the moment but I thank you for calling me out. Take care.
My heart has been broken since hearing about Megan's ordeal. I believe that they should be charged w/ hate crimes as well as everything else. I have always believed that people filled with hate, black or white, would hate something...anything if there were no people to hate. They would hate oak trees or goldfish...they are just bad people filled with putrid hate and if they are raising children the same way, they are child abusers...they were most likely raised by bad people filled with putrid hate. Megan survived by the grace of God and my prayers and thoughts are constantly with her. That being said, anybody who hates anybody else by virtue of skin color is ignorant. I am white and was raised by good people. If I had even thought about using the "N" word, my parents would have beaten me within an inch of my life!! My parents were southern, post Depression babies, brought up by ignorant white parents, but decided to make a change...God Bless 'Em!! Whites against Blacks does not exist in my world because it doesn't even make any sense...how can it exist if it isn't factual?...to think somebody is disgusting becasue their skin is black is not factual so how can it exist? I am not saying that ignorant white people don't try to perpetuate hate and ignorance and that black people haven't suffered long and hard, but it doesn't make sense. If you are white and a hater of Blacks, you are just plain stupid and putrid. If you're black and a hater of Whites, it is truly understandable becasue most likely you or a family member has suffered, but don't hate everyone cuz it doesn't make sense. Those ignorant hillbillies are not the only racists in the world...we all know that...but they make me sick anyway...how frightening to know that this could happen to anyone of us or one of our children...for some reason this, more than 9-11, more than Katrina, has brought me to my knees.
C'mon "harping on the bad checks" person...let's address the issue at hand...6 low lifes beat the crap and tortured and raped somebody. Of course it was more than racism...those criminals were involved in murder and had rap sheets a mile long. Maybe Megan was a criminal too, writing bad checks, involved in drug deals...who knows and who cares? If in fact, one of them or any of them said "This is what we do to N's around here"...that makes it a hate crime which is far more severe than writing $500 dollars worth of bad checks, smoking crack or snorting crystal or whatever Megan may or may not have been doing. I've done a ton of bad things in my life but racially motivated hate crimes and hate crimes in general and mentally or physically hurting anybody is something that I would never do. Im sure you've done something in your life bad so don't pick on this girl...she will be prosecuted for bad check writing most likely...you don't have to worry about it.
I didn't completely miss your point. I got your point. You are questioning Megan's motivation for saying that they called her a "N". To the other person,it DOES matter. Yes, I agree they should get prosecuted to the fullest and if that means no hate crime, then so be it. But, we all must realize that racism is alive and well and anything we can do to make it go away, we should. I have the most ignorant ex MIL...thank God she's "ex"...anyway, the other day she was making such snide comments about black people and how dumb and lazy they are and how gross they are and her husband knows cuz he has to work with them every day...I wanted to slit my throat...my daughter was so appalled and called her out for it. I have friends in AL who call black people "N's" every day. They would never hurt anybody physically but they are constantly putting black people, all black people, down. I jsut can't believe that highly educated people would act this way? It's really me that's stupid cuz I have them as friends...I need to think about that.
To "WOW, the first 65%"...this is about hatred, whether or not it's motivated by race. I implore you to rethink not putting color on this and to call folks dumb and uneducated. Talk is good; let's us free our souls and discover the truth. When somebody posts something derogatory, we can learn from that too. I learned something from your post. Color is an issue; a huge issue and needs to be discussed often. This is about Megan but it is also about all of us. Any discussion that enlightens anybody and perhaps leads others not to discriminate or hate is good. Judging people is not good. My first instict was to judge you by your posting but I won't. My opinion is that everyone shuoldn't be so rigid and just learn to accept differences in people. Love and acceptance rules.
Clarence, I'm not for the death penalty but these are some souless creatures that need to be rehabilitated. I don't think that they should ever see the light of day but death, in my opinion, is only for our Creator to decide. Having said that, pray for their souls to be healed. I once was asked by a couple of very scary inmates why I cared about them so much and my answer was that they walked the same streets as my children and grandchildren. If any one of these "monsters" is let out one day, I pray that they are rehabilitated to the degree that they won't hurt anybody else.
To the last 2 Anonymous posters: 1st one: Your thoughts about one race...the human race are wonderful but that would be indicative of a perfect world scenario which we don't have nor are we near having. Racism won't be eradicated by just thinking that way...we have to be pro active in defending situations like Megan's and call it what it is. The combination of hate and racism led to her torture in my opinion and if we don't address it VERY seriously, it won't matter...and it HAS to matter. I too think like you and it would be great if everyone did, but they don't. We need to continually try and fix it.
To the next person...God didn't put Megan in that situation...he may have allowed it to happen but I'm not even sure God works that way. I think God can take a horrible situation and make good of it and hopefully something good will come of it. God didn't have anything to do w/ her terrible ordeal...He will only make right what is wrong.
To all racists be you white, black, or otherwise: You are scary people. I have read and re-read everything I can get my hands on re Megan and I can't get my mind off of the torture that she endured and how scared she must have been. If you are a racist, whether or not you are rich, live in a nice neighborhood, and are a Sunday School teacher, you are no better than the low lives who did this to Megan. I implore you to do the right thing and shed your ignorance and accept people for what's in their hearts and not the color of their skin.
Just to add to my last post about racists being scary people...you are perpetuating evil that WILL have a dire affect on your children...it already does and is going to get worse...why would you do that?...what is wrong with you? Educate yourselves...continuing to be a racist will only hurt you...WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!! Racism is EVIL!!!!!!!! Don't sit back and be prideful and angry and stubborn and egotistical...pray for yourself and anyone who is a racist...NOBODY is better than anybody else...we can't help radical Muslims realize that becasue the task is too daunting but we can help reasonable Americans by praying for them and enlightening them...spread the word...it's going to be too late if you don't...LOVE THY NEIGHBOR...I am not a Bible thumper but there is no help like God...PRAY now!!!!!!!
To Average American: Shame on you!! You are perpetuating the problem. I'm sorry that you aren't intelligent enough to understand the big picture...I don't mean this as a slam...re-read the snopes article...if you think for one minute that Blacks are treated more fairly than Whites, you are sadly mistaken. Wake up for God's sake and I mean for GOD'S sake...we are meant to be equal. Don't be a racist.
this is ridiculous. these people are gross.their faces,house i mean trailer home. gross gross gross. and black people are nasty?come on. this is gnna be like every other issue.a black person does at least 3 years more of the same crime as a white person,their asses will get out but goodluck cuz if i ever caught it/ thered be 6 less idiots in the world=)
Tears From Logan
By Eric LaMont © 2007
there’s a chill up on the mountains
it’s a West Virginia breeze
there’s a chill in the wilderness
brought a woman to her knees
there’s a chill upon her conscious
begging if you please
“I don’t know what I’ve done and to what degree,
but I’m crying from my soul won’t you save my dignity”
My dignity
It’s a story of the ages
a story seldom told
between the lines of the pages
in blood ink red and old
it’s a story full of power
of young innocence sold
it doesn’t matter what she’s done and to what degree
you can hear her cryin’ weeping, “Won’t you please set me free”
Set me free
how could it be possible?
this here tragic fall
in a country full of liberty
where we’ve shed blood for it all
in the struggle for equality
somebody dropped the ball
now she’s scared all of her life no one knows to what degree
sentenced without a jury condemned without a plea
Without a plea
up in a West Virginia hallow
it happened between the trees
surrounded by beer cans
in the stench of old debris
a full week of home grown torture
from a cruel enemy
“This is what we do to niggers down hear”
Pursue it as a hate-crime? The question burns my ears
Burns my ears
let the history tell the story
let the history ring true
for years into the future
of what evil people do
this can’t just be a headline
that’s gone with the news
it’s impossible to know, I can’t even speculate
Let the story warn people of people full of hate
Full of hate
Well, since I don't see it here on in the updates, I guess I'll have to post this.
http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/2007102647/Torture-suspects-sister-says-victim-given-chance-to-leave/
Seems she WANTED to stay there. Hmmmm??? Can't help but wonder why. Hate crime? I think not. More like a crime of passion as is stated in the article.
While we're on the subject of hate crimes, look who she's hooking up with.
http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/2007103133/Minister-says-Malik-Shabazzs-march-will-accomplish-nothing/
How bad do you have to be where even a racist group like the naacp doens't wan't anything to do with you? Tell me again who the racist is suppose to be?
why dont u fuckin americans get justice for the iraqis ur army kills everyday
Personne sur terre ne mérite d'etre traité ainsi et aux auteurs de ces infamies la peine de mort leur conviendrait
I am very saddened to the point of tears. We can go to another country and dictate democracy, but here in America, it's questionable. Where's
our sense of honor and dignity? Nooses are now mysteriously appearing in our academic and justice halls, e.g. schools, universities and law enforcement institutions. What ever happened to
federal civil rights being enforced? Other countries are making a mockery of us. We can speak and dictate abundantly, but when it comes to rights of minorities, we are a missed.
Hey Deidra,
Youed post all about Williams saying how horrible of a crime that was, how about the Channon Christian/Christopher Newsom murders? You speak of how Williams wasn't mentioned in the media, even though CNN.com reported it. How is then when I google "Megan Williams" I get 20 pages of hits in the news section, but when I google Channon Christian, I get less than one page of hits in the news?
Just to fill you in, the couple I speak of was carjacked, beaten, Her: raped repeatedly and made to drink bleach, both murdered and her body stuffed into a trash can. Where’s Sharpton, MLK3, Jackson protesting to bring hate crime charges against the 6 BLACK people that did this? Where's the calls for justice and outrage? I haven't heard it. Oh, that’s right…They’re HYPOCRITES!!!!
At least Williams CHOOSE to be there and lived.
I think that if this case would have been 6 black ppl and one white girl everyone would sing a different tune about it but because it happened to a black girl in WV pppl want to say hate crime.. keep in mind that you black ppl say things to white ppl and have names for use but no hate crime there. I dont like what happened to Megan but I think that the word NIGGER is just like a black person calling us white trash besides that blacks call each other that. This isnt the old days slavery is out of biz. How long is it going to take blacks to get over the fact that neather them nor anyone they have ever known was a slave. shit the big bad white ppl killed a shit load of my native ppl but hell I wasnt here so I have nothing to be mad about
WVA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE THE WORD NIGGER IS A TERM USED BY THERE OWN RACE IF TODAY IS SUPPOSE TO BE EQUAL WITH SEX AND RACE TRY NOT USING IT AT ALL OR GET OVER THE FACT THAT IS A AFENDS YOU.... PPL PISS ME OFF DO YOU THINK THAT IF IT WAS A WWHITE GIRL THEY WOULD ACT LIKE OOO POUR THING NOOOO AND A NOTE TO ALL THE BLACK PPL OUT THERE THAT READ THIS GET OVER THE FACT THAT YOUR HISTORY HAS SLAVES IN IT... JUST THINK OF IT POSTIVE IT WASNT YOU
I just saw this story on Montel. I hadn't heard of this one. My deepest compassion goes out to this young woman and her family. I cannot imagine what it would be like to go through something as horrific as this.
We live in such a sad, pathetic world. Reading prior comments here, shows how much hatred is still out there.
I am white and I to have been called names by people of other races. I do not and will not lower myself to their standards by retaliating in the same manner. Nor will I hold that against anyone else of another race, creed, color or religion. I know there is good and bad in everyone. In my heart, I am a good person. If someone is kind to me, I return kindness. If someone discriminates against me because I am different, so be it.
I do hope Megan and her family does not hold this against all white people. What happened was so unbelievably inhumane. I am a firm believer in Capitol Punishment. These people are of no use to society. They have no rights. They gave up their rights when they made the choice to torture this young woman. Society should do away with people like this. They are ruining our world. No one should have to live in fear.
God bless you Megan Williams....
Chris
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