Weekly News Post #16

Hate Crime?

Samuel Woodward

Blaze Bernstein, a 19 year old college sophomore, was visiting his family during a break when it's said he went out with his suspected murderer late at night on January 2nd; He was then not seen till his body was recovered from the park a week later. According to the Daily Mail, the teen had been stabbed 19 times, whilst other sources say he had been stabbed over 20 time. The suspect was arrested soon after Bernstein's body was recovered and has pleaded not guilty.

The 20 year old suspect, Samuel Woodward, went to the same high school as Bernstein although it hasn't been said they has any relationship at the time of the murder. Bernstein was gay and Jewish; traits that Woodward is said to despise. ProPublica, claims that Woodward is "an avowed neo-Nazi and a member of one of the most notorious extremist groups". ProPublica revealed Woodward to be part of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division; a group that has been tied to 5 murders over the past 8 months. It’s said Woodward joined the group in 2016, and having attended a training camp in Texas for three days.

Not too long ago, in Virginia, a 17 year old allegedly murdered his girlfriend's parent after they pushed for a breakup between the couple once discovering his neo-Nazi affiliations which he supposedly spread to their daughter. The teen also had suspect connections to the infamous group Atomwaffen Division. (News article)

The parents of Blaze Bernstein are certain that this murder was carried out from hatred, however the police have yet to decide if the incident is a hate crime. In 2016, (according to the FBI uniformed report) there was 6,121 reported hate crime incidents in America. From the 6,121 incidents there was 7,227 offenses committed, 7,615 victims, and only 5,770 known offenders. Of these incidents 58.5% were motivated from race/ethnicity/ancestry bias; 21.3% from religious bias; and 17.7% prompted from sexual orientation bias. However, in England and Wales, in 2016/2017, there was 80,393 reported hate crimes. 62,685 of these were race bias motivated; 5,949 religion bias prompted; and 9,157 sexual orientation bias motivated. Although these statistics show hate crime to be a problem in both area, they show the issue to be bigger in England and Wales.

The overriding issue presented in this incident is the fact that in today's society we're still experiencing hate crimes, and people still have ideologies similar to Hitler's. Even though decades have passed, new generations born, and new laws passed, it seems hatred and discrimination will always seep into society and many people will be influenced by dangerous ideologies. I don't think anyone should have to experience attacks, trauma, and even death due to who they are as a person; due to their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and many other factors. These differences in people should be celebrated, not attacked; hence why gay pride is such a big thing as it hopefully will change the way some people think.

U.S News is supposed to be left leaning in politics, however, the news outlet seems to take more of a right winged political standing in the article. The article only briefly talks about the suggestion of the incident being a hate crime, and it doesn't include any information about Woodward being part of a neo-Nazi group. This written article about the incident would be expected from a right winged newspaper since many followers of right winged politics have very controversial views and opinions about race, religion and sexual orientation- this isn't to say they're as extreme as Nazi's and Woodward's.




Reference
U.S News. (2018). California Man Pleads Not Guilty to College Student's Murder . Available: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2018-02-02/suspect-in-university-of-penn-students-murder-due-in-court. Last accessed 5th Feb 2018