Officials take on hate crimes

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/breaking/0921attacks-hatecrime21.html ^ | 9-21-01 | Robbie Sherwood

[Born in a Rage]

The slaying of Mesa convenience store owner Balbir Singh Sodhi has brought the state's top three prosecutors together to take on hate crime.

Attorney General Janet Napolitano, Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley and U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton each have assigned a special prosecutor to go after potential hate crimes cases inspired by last week's terrorist attacks, they announced Thursday. Napolitano and Romley also have set up hotlines to report racially motivated threats, assaults and vandalism.

[Born in a Rage]

Napolitano urged people to report any suspicious activity, even incidents of racial epithets, to the hotline.

"Hurling a racial epithet is not a crime; it's just wrong," Napolitano said. "But it can be a warning sign of violence to follow. It's very important for the community to help us so we can prevent a repeat of what happened Saturday night."

Do you all believe this? Napolitano wants people to call up a hotline if they hear someone call a person of Arab descent a name.....a name.....so they can put them on a "suspicious" list....?

[follow your bliss]

So, I am guessing that spiffy turbans will not be a must-have accessory for the fashion elite this season.

[Cicero]

Hate crime, my *ss. If somebody killed an innocent man, he committed murder. Throw the book at him for that, don't use it as an excuse for unleashing the language police.

[poet]

Right on!!! They are controlling our speech and thoughts. Look out!! more of this coming at us. They can take their total security and safety and shove them.