Tuesday, November 5, 2019

36 Months for Cross-Burning

The Justice Department issued the following statement. 


The Honorable Judge Keith Starrett, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sentenced Defendant Graham Williamson, 38, to serve 36 months incarcertation on federal charges for his commission of a crossburning on Oct. 24, 2017, in Seminary, Mississippi. Williamson previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 5, 2019, to one count of interference with housing rights, a federal civil rights violation, and one count of conspiring to use fire to commit a federal felony. Williamson, along with a co-conspirator, built and burned a wooden cross near the home of a juvenile victim, M.H., who lived in a predominantly African-American residential area of Seminary. He burned the cross to threaten, frighten, and intimidate M.H. and other African-American residents because of their race and color, and because they lived in and occupied residences in that area of Seminary. 
 

“The defendant invoked a terrifying symbol of racial violence to threaten and intimidate the victims for no other reason than their race and where they lived,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division.  “Hate crimes like this contravene our society’s well-established principles of equality and freedom from race-based intimidation, and the Department of Justice will continue to pursue and prosecute such crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Those who terrorize our people and commit crimes based on the color of someone’s skin will receive swift and certain prosecution from this office,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to do all that we can to prevent such racist crimes so that all our people can live in peace and without fear.”
“When people violate the civil rights of others for the sole purpose of intimidation, specifically burning a cross as in this case, it terrorizes an entire community,” said FBI Jackson Division Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin. “Mississippians shouldn't have to fear for their safety within their own neighborhoods, and this case should send a strong message to those who threaten others based on race or color. Civil rights investigations remain a top priority for the FBI in Mississippi, and we will continue to vigorously investigate and seek prosecution for these violations.”
Defendant Williamson is the second individual to be sentenced for participation in this crossburning. Williamson’s co-conspirator, Louie Bernard Revette, previously pleaded guilty to one count of interference with housing rights and one count of using fire to commit a federal felony. On Sept. 10, 2019, the Honorable Judge Starrett sentenced Revette to 11 years incarceration on those two charges. 
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Jackson, Mississippi Field Office, including the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Jackson Public Corruption Task Force. Special Litigation Counsel Julia Gegenheimer of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Mayberry of the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

and we still know nothing about the nooses that were hanging at the Capitol?

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Judge Keith Starrett. No one should have to suffer this kind of abuse and terrorism. Graham Williamson must be a really sick individual.

Anonymous said...

If only the feds would put that much effort into investigating real crimes.

Anonymous said...

But it's OK for armed black militants to intimidate white voters at a polling place?

Got it.

Burning a cross is stupid and moronic, but protected by the First Amendment. Snowflakes!

PotentPotables said...

I mean...I'm tired enough just juggling my family, work, church, keeping my yard clean and maybe some physical exercise once or twice a week. A little time in a deer stand, duck blind or a dove field a half dozen times a year if I'm big time lucky. Who in the hell has time to think of, much less carry out, lots of these things?

Anonymous said...

What about the murder and burning of Cort Gatlin? That was big news and then all of the sudden, silence. Was there even a trial?

Anonymous said...

When will they start prosecuting flag burning? I'm permanently disabled from wounds I got fighting for that flag; where is my justice?

Anonymous said...

3:13. thank deceased justice Scalia for standing up FOR flag burning. he’s the one that made it “free speech”

Anonymous said...

Looks like the Kingfish cesspool has decided, cross burning is good and wholesome fun for the whole family.

Anonymous said...

It appears if you put the flag on a cross and set it on fire in a black neighborhood that you will be prosecuted. That make you feel any better? Asking for a Russian.

Anonymous said...

All of you racists acting alarmed about this conviction need to cool you man boobs. The African-American that was convicted for a church arson and Pro-Trump vandalism got sentenced to 10 years!
https://www.wtva.com/content/news/Man-sentenced-in-burning-of-church-painted-with-Vote-Trump-509392761.html

Anonymous said...

When the Supreme Court comes to its collective senses, they'll toss out this 'hate crime' bullshit.

Anonymous said...

@5:48 PM - amen.

Anonymous said...

@4:49 PM - that's your cross to bear.

Anonymous said...

2:16 - The Supreme Court held you can burn a cross on your property; you can't burn a cross on someone else's property.

Anonymous said...

"The African-American that was convicted for a church arson and Pro-Trump vandalism got sentenced to 10 years!"

That's because he actually committed a crime, destroyed property, defaced property that did not belong to him.

Anonymous said...

2:16 pm There is nothing in the Constitution that allows you to damage the property of others or take actions that threaten,injure or kill.

For the rest of you, the reality is that not all criminals are identified, caught and punished. They never have been in the history of mankind and never will be. So arguing that because one criminal got away that a criminal that didn't shouldn't be punished, is an argument for lawlessness. You are making a false equivalency which is convincing only to those who are of below average intelligence...unfortunately that is half of all humans.

As to those who are incensed over flag burning: Please be consistent. You should be also incensed by those who disrespect the flag by flying a flag that is damaged or faded or unlit at night. Damaged or faded flags should be destroyed by burning ( see flag code). If you own a flag, you can burn it in protest but you can't burn my flag. You may not like that form of protest, but it isn't illegal.

Frankly, I'm more offended by those who don't live by the principles and ideals our flag is supposed to represent, including respect for our laws and the commitment to change laws within the legal system.

Look up " convenient ethics". That describes those bemoaning this sentence as you would all cry " foul" if anyone damaged your property or left a threatening message for your family.







Anonymous said...

For you commenting on @2:16 PM, you have been reading the internet to much.

Protected speech is protected speech. Contrary to internet legends, YELLING "FIRE" in a theater is PROTECTED SPEECH.

Yes, do your own research.

But if people are hurt or injured, or property is damaged, there may be both civil and criminal liability.

But, the speech itself is still protected.

Burning a cross that you own is not illegal, and is protected speech.

The people were not charged with "burning a cross."

Anonymous said...

I live not far from where all this took place. If the background of the whole story was known no one would be taking either side here, this is more about a bunch of drug-addled idiots than any sort of racial animus, and in a perfect world all of them, including the "victim", would be in prison. Bad decisions can ruin your life.

Anonymous said...

Fact is there is a dis-appropriate number of blacks committing crimes than whites, but blacks rarely if ever comment “hate crimes”. Go figure.



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