Anti-Trump protesters stream torture of mentally disabled person on Facebook Live

[Omar_Little]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/05/4-in-custody-after-group-beats-disabled-man-on-facebook-live-while-shouting-anti-trump-profanities-chicago-police-say/?utm_term=.0b9a03c56d4d

The shaky video shows a terrified young man in a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark pants crouching in a corner, his wrists and neck bound with orange bands, his mouth taped shut.

A young woman films as two young men slash the sleeves of his shirt with knives, then take turns punching him, slapping him and stomping on his head. At one point, one of the men can be seen cutting the victim’s hair and scalp with a knife, and the victim is later shown bleeding from his injuries.

As the victim cowers with his back to the wall, someone can be heard repeatedly shouting, “F‑‑‑ Donald Trump” and “F‑‑‑ white people.”

I also appreciate the Washington Post’s description of Facebook Live:

On Wednesday, those four people were being held on suspicion of abusing and torturing the man in a possible hate crime police say the group streamed on Facebook Live, which allows users to broadcast real-time events from their mobile phones and has increasingly been employed to air disturbing and often criminal conduct, along with personal rants, cat videos and hoaxes.

[Azeotrope]

I believe that’s what TV Tropes would call “murder, arson, and jaywalking.”

I saw this on Good Morning America and I only hope that poor man will be all right.

[Just_Asking_Questions]

@Omar_Little

also appreciate the Washington Post’s description of Facebook Live:

On Wednesday, those four people were being held on suspicion of abusing and torturing the man in a possible hate crime police say the group streamed on Facebook Live, which allows users to broadcast real-time events from their mobile phones and has increasingly been employed to air disturbing and often criminal conduct, along with personal rants, cat videos and hoaxes.

I hope it isn’t cat juggling videos. That’s horrible stuff!

Ah, this event was probably a false flag operation anyway. You wait and see! [sarcasm]

[Okrahoma]

“As the victim cowers with his back to the wall, someone can be heard repeatedly shouting, “F‑‑‑ Donald Trump” and “F‑‑‑ white people.””

… and

"When asked if the attack was politically motivated, Johnson said “at this point we don’t have anything concrete to point in that direction.” "

I guess “F‑‑‑ Donald Trump” and “F‑‑‑ white people.” is just not concrete.

[iiandyiiii]

I will bravely step out of the liberal shell of the Dope and condemn this incident. Bravo, me.

[Omar_Little]

@iiandyiiii

I will bravely step out of the liberal shell of the Dope and condemn this incident. Bravo, me.

But will you condemn streaming cat videos?

[Velocity]

@iiandyiiii

I will bravely step out of the liberal shell of the Dope and condemn this incident. Bravo, me.

Is this really a situation for snark?

[Donpeyote]

Hate Crimes charges or My Baby d’int do nuffin ???

[Velocity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/05/4-in-custody-after-group-beats-disabled-man-on-facebook-live-while-shouting-anti-trump-profanities-chicago-police-say/?utm_term=.243d110806f6#comments

Area North Detectives Commander Kevin Duffin said the department was weighing whether to bring hate crime charges against the suspects, saying it was not yet clear whether the attack was motivated by bias.

“They’re young adults. And they make stupid decisions,” Duffin said. “That certainly will be part of whether or not we seek a hate crime to determine whether this is sincere or just stupid ranting and raving.”

It seems that they are applying a much more reserved/cautious stance about this attack than they would have had the situation been reversed. If a group of assailants had shouted “F— Obama” and “F— black people” while attacking a disabled black man, I don’t think there would be much, if any, hesitation in swiftly applying hate-crime charges, and it wouldn’t be dismissed in a “youth will be youth” way.

[iiandyiiii]

@Velocity

Is this really a situation for snark?

My condemnation is serious – this is bad. If my snark offended, I apologize.

[Patx2]

I am sad and I am sickened by this.

[Ludovic]

@Velocity

Is this really a situation for snark?

Apparently.

[Machine_Elf]

The OP’s subject line is rather odd. “Protesters” merely seek to make their opinions known. These people sought only to hurt someone for their own entertainment. They are sadistic thugs, one step away from being thrill-killers; they are NOT protesters by any definition.

[pulykamell]

@Okrahoma

“As the victim cowers with his back to the wall, someone can be heard repeatedly shouting, “F‑‑‑ Donald Trump” and “F‑‑‑ white people.””

… and

"When asked if the attack was politically motivated, Johnson said “at this point we don’t have anything concrete to point in that direction.” "

I guess “F‑‑‑ Donald Trump” and “F‑‑‑ white people.” is just not concrete.

Well, honestly, no. If a group of whites were beating up a black person, and some guy in the crowd yelled “Fuck Hillary” or “Fuck Obama,” I wouldn’t call that a politically motivated attack without any further information.

Now, a hate crime of some sort, that seems much more likely.

But regardless of the motivation, this is sick and I hope they throw the book at them.

[Chefguy]

@Donpeyote

Hate Crimes charges or My Baby d’int do nuffin ???

:rolleyes: Are you also wearing blackface at the moment?

[Darren_Garrison]

@Chefguy

:rolleyes: Are you also wearing blackface at the moment?

Much more likely a white hood. It is a racist meme (more often spelled “dindu nuffin.”)

[monstro]

How horrible. I hope these jerkfaces face severe punishment.

[Donpeyote]

@Chefguy

:rolleyes: Are you also wearing blackface at the moment?

Nah , no Kluxer hood either , but. " when liberals attack incidents " do tend to rile me up (a little)…

[Donpeyote]

d’nt do nuffin is a take off of L’il Abner

[Tom_Tildrum]

@Velocity

It seems that they are applying a much more reserved/cautious stance about this attack than they would have had the situation been reversed. If a group of assailants had shouted “F— Obama” and “F— black people” while attacking a disabled black man, I don’t think there would be much, if any, hesitation in swiftly applying hate-crime charges, and it wouldn’t be dismissed in a “youth will be youth” way.

There also might well be discussion as to whether inflammatory rhetoric by politicians and public figures who however nominally share the same side of the political spectrum as the attackers bear some responsibility for creating a heated climate in which such crimes might flourish.