Posted on 08/28/2006 11:02:19 PM PDT by LibWhacker
RICHMOND: At least three people were seriously assaulted by a group of black men at the Century 16 Theater
Richmond police determined Friday that at least three people attacked by a crowd of young black men at Century 16 Hilltop theater this month were victims of hate crimes.
Two victims were attacked Aug. 11 outside the theater, and one was assaulted inside, stomped by at least 30 men while the film "Step Up" continued to roll, Police Chief Chris Magnus said.
The theater staff failed to help any of the victims. In one case, a witness reported employees in the theater lobby laughing as they watched a crowd of about 10 men beat and kick a woman huddled on the sidewalk in front of the building.
If identified, some of the attackers could face felony assault charges, Magnus said.
"We're really getting a horrific picture of what happened up there that night," Magnus said. "We are now saying that some of the factors present indicate there was a potential hate crime."
But police have been unable to identify suspects, or even the victim huddled on the sidewalk, in part because of a failure on the part of patrol officers to do their jobs properly on the night of the incident, Magnus said. Officers failed to take one victim's report until his mother phoned later to complain. They routed another victim's report as "vandalism."
In the "vandalism" case, Magnus confirmed, a crowd of young black men in front of the theater smashed the window of the victim's car and tried to drag her out by her ponytail, while someone shouted, "Get the white bitch!"
Representatives from San Rafael-based Century Theatres did not return several phone messages.
The incident began about an hour into the movie, police said, during a scene dealing with interracial dating. A crowd of young black men seated in the back rows began shouting and throwing candy toward the front of the theater, mainly occupied by Latinos and Filipinos.
Philip Herrera, 23, stood up and asked them to stop pelting his girlfriend and mother. In response, several men hauled him out of his seat and beat him severely enough to cause a concussion, according to the victim and witnesses. Dozens of others joined in kicking him as he crawled up the aisle.
Although Herrera said he did not believe his beating was racially motivated, his mother thought it was. So did City Councilman John Marquez, who also suggested that ethnic animus on the part of the officers, who are black, influenced their response.
Herrera and his mother, Judy Martinez, told the Times last week that officers refused to enter the theater to look for suspects, refused to take a written report, refused to escort Martinez into the theater to look for her shoes and refused to escort the group to their car.
"This has been going on for years," said Aleta Martinez, Herrera's aunt. "I was born and raised in Richmond, and I've lived with harassment and racial discrimination my entire life. It's gotten worse and worse there."
Marquez said this week that he supported the department's follow-up actions, including the internal affairs investigation launched by Magnus into officer conduct during the attacks.
"The chief sent me an e-mail with all the steps that have been taken so far, and it sounds like everything he is doing is right on," Marquez said. "But there is still the police internal investigation into the officers' response, and I am waiting to see how that comes out."
Mayor Irma Anderson, who is black, skirted the race issue.
"Violence against anyone is totally unacceptable regardless of who the perpetrator is and who the victim is," she said. "It saddens me that there still exists challenges to building trust between the Police Department and the local community."
The victim who attackers tried to pull from her car, Rene, told the Times she drove to the theater in her pajamas about 11:30 p.m. to pick up her son, who attended the 9:55 p.m. showing. She said that when she arrived, she saw a large crowd in front of the theater, and several people beating the unidentified victim huddled there.
Rene asked the Times not to publish her full name because she is afraid.
She said she apparently drove too close to the beating, because the crowd turned on her car. Several of the men jumped on her car, kicking and pounding. They smashed her rear windshield and stole her purse.
When police arrived, the men were trying to drag Rene out of her car by her hair.
"(Police) told me to get the hell out of there," she said, "because it wasn't safe."
Rene has spent the past two weeks trying to file a damage claim with the theater to get the $5,000 worth of damage to her car repaired. The Police Department had better luck arranging a meeting with Century Theatre management this week.
"We went over some of our concerns and offered some ideas for avoiding problems," such as turning off movies at the first sign of a riot and keeping more than one security guard on duty after 11 p.m., Magnus said.
"They need to step up and be much more proactive. I don't even think it's adequate to say they'll keep more security on duty later in the evening," Magnus said. "I think it's a question of whether they have the training, support and equipment to deal with some of the crowds going in there."
Staff writer John Geluardi contributed to this article. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.
HOW TO HELP
Police ask anyone victimized in the Aug. 11 assaults at the Century 16 Hilltop theater, or who has information about them, to call Detective Sgt. Lee Hendrickson at 510-620-6616.
stomped by 30 men? that's a lot of stepping up...
If these were white lacrosse players doing the fighting, it would be front page news on every major news source within 24 hours.
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would be in their limos heading over there right now.
Took them over two weeks to determine it was a hate crime. In cases where the races are reversed it is instantaneously called a hate crime.
No mention in the MSM of course. This is a deep sickness permeated by liberals and white guilt. No, we are not equal under liberal law.
Where's Jesse and Al?
Good grief! What next?
Move on now. Nothing to see. Keep moving on...
"If these were white lacrosse players doing the fighting, it would be front page news on every major news source within 24 hours.
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would be in their limos heading over there right now. "
Excellent point. Jesse and Al in their limo's, ROFL. Too true.
Hmm. I'm trying to figure out what on earth white people would be doing at this location in the first place? One thing my Dad left with me is that you can avoid trouble by simply choosing not to put yourself in places where it is easier for trouble to find you.
Of course, when I do put myself in such places I am most definitely strapped.
Yeah, I'm suppose to be a Christian and should not react that way...
all white folks need to start carrying guns
Either that or a subscription to Netflix. Maybe both.
When police arrived, the men were trying to drag Rene out of her car by her hair.
"(Police) told me to get the hell out of there," she said, "because it wasn't safe."
New Orleans Polica Acadamey Graduates moved to other cities after Katrina evidently.
Civil rights granted to the uncivil barbarians.
Police Forces staffed with Affirmative Action incompetent losers, in the areas that need the BEST Police available.
Here in Kalifornicate -- the thugs are assured their victims are unarmed, since this is a "No Issue" state -- unless of course you're a politician.
We continue to pretend that folks fitting the dreaded "N" word designation don't exist -- makes as much sense as believing Islam is a religion of peace..
It is no coincidence - that blacks, including black felons in prison represent one of the fastest growing demographics converting to "Islam"...
Fits, doesn't it...
Semper Fi
-The perpetrators were black
-The perpetrators had been making noise and being disruptive in the theater
-The victim asked/told them to stop, and received violence in response
Sure enough...
The incident began about an hour into the movie, police said, during a scene dealing with interracial dating. A crowd of young black men seated in the back rows began shouting and throwing candy toward the front of the theater, mainly occupied by Latinos and Filipinos. Philip Herrera, 23, stood up and asked them to stop pelting his girlfriend and mother. In response, several men hauled him out of his seat and beat him severely enough to cause a concussion, according to the victim and witnesses. Dozens of others joined in kicking him as he crawled up the aisle.
How did I know?
I do not understand why (and political correctness prevents the question from being investigated) but there are certain subcultures that, in my experience, simply do not seem to know how to watch a movie in a theater without shutting the **** up, and will respond with violence if you tell them to. If you live in such an area you're better off at home with the video.
last week there was a story about a bus driver asking black kids to sit at the back of the bus. No violence, she just asked. (I realize the implications...) In comparison, people were deliberately harmed due to their skin color in this situation. Where is the outrage? Are the cops or theatre manager/employees going to get fired like the bus driver? I doubt it.
I think the 'normal white folks' are going to start fighting back if something isn't done about these kinds of incidents. Just check the aussies to see what happens next...
If the races were reversed, U.S. Department of Justice would already be involved.
Doesn't matter what color...animals are animals.
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