Queersetti
Bastardo Suave
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11 Students Arrested After Gay Student Beaten
by Fidel Ortega
365Gay.com Newscenter
Miami Bureau
Posted: May 14, 2004 2:20 pm. ET
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)_ Eleven students at a Fort Lauderdale high school are facing charges ranging from disturbing a school function to inciting a riot after a gay student was beaten in the courtyard of Dillard High school.
The brawl began after one of the accused claimed the victim "had propositioned" his brother._ As the students pummeled the victim, who has not been named, between 40 and 50 students looked on, some yelling encouragement.
A school Resource Officer fearing a full scale riot was about to erupt called for help from Fort Lauderdale police._ More than a dozen police officers responded._ Pepper spray had to be used to subdue the students.
The victim was not seriously injured police said. No weapons were used by his assailants.
The accused were charged and later released to their parents, and the school remained in a lockdown for much of the day.
Nevertheless, police said they will not add hate crime charges to those already facing the teens.
"It doesn't have any of the hallmarks of a hate crime,"_ Sgt. Alfred Lewers Jr. told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. "...This is the same thing as if you had a sister at school and a guy propositioned your sister and you, as a sibling, felt the need to protect the honor of your sister."
But the decision not to add the hate crime charge has concerned some gays._ Mike Record, a gay teacher at a local middle school and an advocate for gay and lesbian youth, said the fact that the fight involved a gay student should not be ignored.
"I would hope if there is a fight -- whether there were racial tensions or ethnic tensions or whatever -- the school would play a role in mediating that conflict so that it doesn't lead to violence," he said. "Certainly, when it involves groups of students, the school has a responsibility."
by Fidel Ortega
365Gay.com Newscenter
Miami Bureau
Posted: May 14, 2004 2:20 pm. ET
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)_ Eleven students at a Fort Lauderdale high school are facing charges ranging from disturbing a school function to inciting a riot after a gay student was beaten in the courtyard of Dillard High school.
The brawl began after one of the accused claimed the victim "had propositioned" his brother._ As the students pummeled the victim, who has not been named, between 40 and 50 students looked on, some yelling encouragement.
A school Resource Officer fearing a full scale riot was about to erupt called for help from Fort Lauderdale police._ More than a dozen police officers responded._ Pepper spray had to be used to subdue the students.
The victim was not seriously injured police said. No weapons were used by his assailants.
The accused were charged and later released to their parents, and the school remained in a lockdown for much of the day.
Nevertheless, police said they will not add hate crime charges to those already facing the teens.
"It doesn't have any of the hallmarks of a hate crime,"_ Sgt. Alfred Lewers Jr. told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. "...This is the same thing as if you had a sister at school and a guy propositioned your sister and you, as a sibling, felt the need to protect the honor of your sister."
But the decision not to add the hate crime charge has concerned some gays._ Mike Record, a gay teacher at a local middle school and an advocate for gay and lesbian youth, said the fact that the fight involved a gay student should not be ignored.
"I would hope if there is a fight -- whether there were racial tensions or ethnic tensions or whatever -- the school would play a role in mediating that conflict so that it doesn't lead to violence," he said. "Certainly, when it involves groups of students, the school has a responsibility."
