First Arrest in Alleged ‘Justice for Trayvon’ Mob Attack in Mobile, Alabama
Posted on | April 25, 2012 | 12 Comments
The case of Matthew Owens, a white man who suffered critical injuries after being beaten by a black mob — some of whom allegedly shouted “that’s justice for Trayvon” — has produced its first arrest: Terry Rawls, 44, who “has an extensive criminal history . . . including assault, burglary, theft and cocaine possession.”
Meanwhile, however, it appears that the victim in this incident was not exactly a model citizen himself:
Records from the Mobile County Metro Jail show that Owens had been arrested multiple times in the past, including multiple violent confrontations including charges of domestic violence, assault and sex abuse over the past 12 years.
Some witnesses say Owens brandished knives at the black kids playing basketball in the street — the incident that allegedly prompted the beating — and Owens may have shouted racial slurs.
Thus, as with the Trayvon Martin case itself, the beating of Owens does not appear appropriate for simple narratives of victimhood.
Quin Hillyer lives in Mobile and wrote in his American Spectator column that there is “almost no doubt that racial animus played the major role in the vicious beating.” Quin attended a press conference at Mobile police HQ today and was not convinced by the official assertion that there was “absolutely no reason to believe” the beating was racially motivated.
Maybe there is ultimately no way to know the motives. Maybe, rather than engaging in a snipe-hunt for “social justice,” people will have to be content with whatever outcome the law-enforcement system produces. Maybe everybody just needs to calm down, mind their own business, stay out of trouble and stop demagoguing every damned thing.
UPDATE: Well, what have we here? A “more nuanced portrait of Zimmerman has emerged,” according to Reuters, including this:
Though civil rights demonstrators have argued Zimmerman should not have prejudged Martin, one black neighbor of the Zimmermans said recent history should be taken into account.
“Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. I’m black, OK?” the woman said, declining to be identified because she anticipated backlash due to her race. She leaned in to look a reporter directly in the eyes. “There were black boys robbing houses in this neighborhood,” she said. “That’s why George was suspicious of Trayvon Martin.”
Read the whole thing. And calm the hell down, everybody.

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