Teen's "Slave For Sale" Craigslist Post Prompts Hate Crime Charges

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Thu Nov 21, 2019, 10:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CBS News

Naperville, Illinois -- A suburban Chicago 14-year-old faces hate crime and other charges for allegedly posting on Craigslist a picture of an African American classmate with the caption, "Slave for sale."

Prosecutors allege the white Naperville Central High School freshman also included "an offensive racial slur" in the ad that they called "beyond disturbing." The teen's defense attorney counters the students were friends and school authorities are handling the matter with an apology and suspension. Authorities didn't disclose the teen's name because he's a juvenile.

He appeared Wednesday in DuPage County juvenile court, where he was charged with two counts of committing a hate crime and one count of disorderly conduct. He's due back in court Dec. 18. Assistant State's Attorney Lee Roupas said the teen took the photo last week while the two sat at the same lunch table. Prosecutors describe the allegations as "serious and aggravating," and said the actions risked the safety of the victim.

"Hate crimes have no place in our society and will not be tolerated," the county's State's Attorney Robert B. Berlin said in a statement. "Anyone, regardless of age, accused of such disgraceful actions will be charged accordingly."...



Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/youths-slave-for-sale-craigslist-post-prompts-hate-crime-charges/

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If convicted the penalty is not yet clear. A spokesman for the state's attorney office told The Associated Press the aim for juveniles is "accountability, not punishment," though the student is "going to face probation at a minimum."

The Craigslist ad followed an Oct. 26 incident in Naperville at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in which some black customers said they were asked by restaurant employees to change tables because of a regular customer's request. The spokesman said that case "had no bearing on our decision to file charges against the juvenile."

[iluvtennis]

1. Hope he gets some time in a juvenile detention centers. Needs to learn that hateful actions

have consequences. He's 15 years old and knows better.

[appalachiablue]

2. He's earned that and more. Despicable action, blazed on the internet

[jayfish]

9. Yes, Let's Destroy His Life Over Speech.

I don't understand what I'm reading here sometimes. A good portion of DU seems to love the prison industrial complex and the pipeline to it.

[catbyte]

3. Yeah, I'll just bet his "friend" was okay with being debased like that. And if s/he was, s/he

needs help. To have that low of an opinion of him/herself and his/her race is disturbing.

[pwb]

4. Trump will probably step in and pardon the kid?

He just set that seal murderer loose among the good navy people.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Accountability

I think that's a noble gesture. A 14 year old is a bundle of emotion and prejudice. I'm not sure hate at that age is well-developed, deeply felt or foundational, or understood by the self. I think our criminal justice system, most judges, would find a balance with a kid who obviously needs guidance and elevated sustainable moral thoughts more than anything. The question I'd be asking is where did he learn or see these ideas. That's the root of the problem.

[James48]

6. I think that it is wrong to treat as a hate crime.

I think the kid should not have done it, but I really believe it’s wrong to treat it like a hate crime.

The kid is 14, for Gods sake. Yes, he should not have done it. But the proper response should be shame and an apology, and perhaps some education on the history of racism in our country- NOT punishment as a hate crime.

My 2 cents.

[MissMillie]

7. There are plenty of reasonable people who would agree with you.

The only thing that comes into my head when I read stories like this (of death threats, hate mail, etc...) is that people DON'T think before they act.

I think the critical thinking processes kids need to learn is this:

if I do or say (whatever), and it's the very last thing I ever do or say, is this what I would want to be remembered for?

and

would I want anyone to treat me or my loved ones this way?

[iluvtennis]

10. Good life principles Miss Millie. Taught my kids to treat others as they would want to be treated.

[marble falls]

8. I think I'd sure want to know more about his friend and their friendship before I went after ...

after him. It was dumb, but was it malicious?

I'm not sure that there was a racist intent from what I read, either.