When is a Hate Crime Not a Hate Crime?

by Rebecca Bynum (March 2011)

as a hate crime.” So many volunteers arrived to help wash off the paint, most had to be turned away.

flew in to make certain local Muslims were protected and their new, oversized mosque would be built despite objections from the community.

The arrival of the police was the beginning of an odyssey that would leave Jeff Brown both embittered and mistrustful of Nashville police, the Tennessee justice system, and the media.

are being suppressed? Later, Sgt. Brooks produced a pamphlet with children and balloons on the cover and asked Brown if that was the pamphlet Shakur had brandished.

Mr. Shakur was finally arrested on August 5, 2008 and charged with obstructing passage, misdemeanor vandalism and misdemeanor assault. He spent 6 days and 13 hours in jail before his hearing on August 12. The record shows he had had two previous run ins with the law in Nashville: once for reckless driving/DUI and another for domestic violence and assault.

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Rebecca Bynum contributes regularly to The Iconoclast, our Community Blog. Click here to see all her contributions, on which comments are welcome.