Why is it when I hear about a noose attack and dragging the victim behind a vehicle seems to only occur in rural, predominately white-populated towns? And almost always, these attacks are racially-motivated. A sentencing is being heard in Mount Vernon, Ohio - a town of 15,000 residents, located one hour's drive northeast of Columbus.
MOUNT VERNON -- A 17-year-old said he feared for his life as he was dragged around a parking lot with a noose wrapped around his neck.
Robert Cantu, who is half-Hispanic, told 10TV on Monday that the attack occurred in broad daylight. He said the boys were shouting racial slurs at him and a friend, who is black.
"The next thing I know, those kids jump out of the truck with a noose and (said), 'Get the black kid,'" Cantu said. "I didn't know what was going on until they pushed me down and put the noose on me."
Cantu said his friend ran away, but he was dragged around the lot. Photographs taken afterward showed scrapes and bruises on his shoulders.
After months of investigating, Knox County prosecutors filed charges against an 18-year-old. 10TV News obtained a copy of the charges through a public records request that included aggravated menacing and ethnic intimidation.
According to Cantu, the teens told him they were taking him to the town square to hang him before a bystander rescued him.
"The fact that (Robert) is Hispanic and that was the whole reason for the hanging -- these were people he never knew, never met," said Marcie Cantu, the boy's mother. Link
The fact that the culprits are teenagers is disgusting.
And get this - the 18yo will only be spending 10 days in jail! Count that = 10 Days for acts of racial violence and attempted murder.
Hell, I got a harsher punishment from my parents when I was a teen refusing to complete my homework.
And I agree with the mother - what about the other teenagers. Why aren't they before a judge and jury? They too must be held accountable.
They may be under the legal adult age of 18, but this act is incomprensible.
Placing a noose around a man's neck and dragging him behind a pickup truck is reminiscent of violent racial crimes against African Americans in the US.
This act will not only kill the victim, but dismember every limb from his body.
While dragging the victim, the culprits are cheering on and yelling racial slurs.
Who the Hell are the parents of these teens. Where did they learn this hatred???
The Cantu Family will be suing the city of Mount Vernon for damages. Link
I am so ok with that. This city was dubbed the state's Most Livable Community in 1994 - and apparently tolerant to Hate Crimes.
