A preliminary investigation determined that this was the third time the Trump supporter's home had been targeted. The home was previously vandalized on October 16, police said, and a Trump-Pence sign was stolen from the front yard of the property in late October.
This incident shows the danger of jumping to conclusions, as the Montgomery County Council has, in regard to a handful of hate-based vandalism incidents since the election. With no evidence, and not a single suspect having been arrested and questioned, our County Council has alleged these incidents were inspired by Trump and/or perpetrated by his supporters.
The Council has now been wrong twice in the last week; the only physical hate violence in the County so far has been directed against a Trump supporter, during a student protest last Wednesday in Rockville. And now in Four Corners, the only case where we have a clear motive, all evidence again points to anti-Trump forces.
Fortunately, the police are not taking a political approach, and are examining all cases objectively in their investigations. In a statement, detectives said they believe the homeowner's support for Trump is the motivation for the thefts and vandalism in the Four Corners case.
Anyone with information about these thefts or the vandalism incidents is asked to contact the 3rd District Investigative Section at 240-773-6870. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s). Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
Photo courtesy Montgomery County Police
This is called vandalism. "Hate crime" already has a definition: https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/civil-rights/hate-crimes
ReplyDeleteThe other vandalism/swastika incidents in the County have been termed "hate crimes;" this must be given the same classification to avoid hypocrisy. Spray painting a swastika on someone else's property is indeed a hate crime.
DeleteNo, because intent matters. If it's attacking someone for their race or religion then it's a hate crime. If it's attacking someone for their political leaning, then it might very well be hate and it certainly is a crime, but it's - by definition - not a hate crime.
DeleteAnonymous just demonstrates that the notion of hate crimes isn't productive. Religious identity is an ideology and is included but political affiliation is also an ideology and not included. It's not useful to judge identical acts differently because of the identity of the victim or perpetrator.
Delete"It's not useful to judge identical acts differently because of the identity of the victim or perpetrator"
DeleteThat's a stunningly absurd claim as our legal code is rightfully filled with differentiations based on intent and effect.
Intent and effect are different from identity.
ReplyDelete