Sep 24 2008
Is Burning a Witch a Hate Crime?
I live in a very small community in the Bible belt. There are 30,000 people here, maybe 60,000 when the local university is in session.
I also live in a region where hate crimes are a significant portion of the local history. The KKK once held a formal viewing and funeral for a fallen member in the nearby community of Herrin. In the 1960s, nearby Cairo, Illinois, saw an economic boycott of white-owned businesses by African-Americans because the businesses wouldn’t hire blacks. Neither side would budge and the economy of the community was forever destroyed.
Locally, legend has it there was ashoot out between Black Panthers and the Carbondale Police during the turbulent ’60s.
To be sure, we are no strangers to hate crimes.
So the story I heard today made my blood boil and my mind demand WTF?
On the morning of September 13, a local business owner, Crystal, had a young woman walk into her shop and ask for assistance with the essential oils and bath salts. Crystal is the owner of a shop called “The Country Goddess” which some might call a new age or alternative religion store. She sells jewelry and belly-dancing paraphenalia and stuff from several different religions, including Wicca.
After helping the young African-American woman with her questions about the bath salts, Crystal rang up the sale. While she was facing the register, the woman unscrewed the lid to her water bottle and dosed Crystal with the contents.
“Your mind goes numb and doesn’t want to believe it. It tells you that she accidentally knocked the bottle over,” Crystal said. “But when I smelled the kerosene, I started screaming and running for the door.”
A malfunction in the young woman’s lighter is all that save Crystal from flames. Instead, she suffered chemical burns from the kerosene and the young woman fled when assistance came from a neighboring store.
Now, here’s where the story gets truly terrifying. Right now, my local police department is not classifying this as a hate crime. They initially said it might have been a gang initiation or just a random (though clearly pre-meditated) attack. The connection between Crystal’s faith and the burning seems to be lost on local police.
Duh! Ummm, somebody get me a new police officer, please.
There is no way, knowing the facts of this case, to put it off as a random attack. And, even if it were a gang-initiation, couldn’t it still be a hate crime?
As for Crystal, she’s fine. She suffered some chemical burns from the kerosene and has upgraded her personal security, but I still want answers. Why is this not clearly an act of hate?
It amazes me that people will hate something without knowing what it actually is. Anyone who researches pagan religions will find that they are some of the most peace-loving people on the planet. With the exception of a few kooks, they wouldn’t harm anything. Yet they are still the target of hateful acts.
You would think in this day, there would be more religious tolerance. But many Pagans are still forced to hide behind a facade of what is acceptable to society.
And to have something like this glossed over by the people who have sworn to protect is intolerable.
So now Crystal feels like in order to protect herself, she has to resort to violence of her own. I’m not blaming her at all. I would probably have the same reaction, but it just goes to show that violence breeds violence, and hate breeds hate.
Sigh…okay, I’m stepping off my soapbox now.
That is so very tragic and sad. Yes it is a hate crime.
As ssosbe said, most pagans are peaceful. They worship the earth and nature. I know people who have been accosted for wearing symbols of their pagan faith.
I am not pagan. I do, however respect it and all religions. I feel the only way to truly appreciate others is to learn about different religions, and so I have learned about Wicca. While some of the practices might seem odd or dark, they are not. They are mysterious to outsiders, but they are not doing dark things.
In addition to that, I use aromatherapy. I make my own. I am not a witch. More and more people are using natural methods with holistic medicine, being more green and using natural products becomes more and more popular.
It is very unfortunate that this is not being classified a hate crime. As you said, regardless of gang initiation or not, this needs to prosecuted to the fullest extent.
~Kelly
http://www.30somethingandsearching.today.com/
That’s just awful. People don’t have to go in the store if they don’t agree with it. I can’t believe how mean and simple-minded some people are.
I’m so glad Crystal didn’t get hurt badly.
Good thing she wasn’t hurt too terribly bad. I guess I’m an oddity in thinking that hatred is behind most crimes… but it’s really not hatred toward the other person. People who commit these types of crimes really hate themselves and the world around them and this violence is the result.
Love and stuff,
Michy
I know Crystal and I can not believe that anyone would want to hurt her. It is obviously a hate crime!Not to mention attempted murder and this nut is still out there! Why? So she can try again and acctually kill someone!? Something has to be done about it. The paper said the police had a sketch of the woman but i have yet to see one. It is ludicris! I too am thankful that Crystal is okay but I am outraged that the police are so blind.
Love and blessings
Beth
I like your postings they are really interesting. Keep me updated