Goth Justice?

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Update: A 15-year-old boy kicked and stamped to death a woman because she was dressed as a Goth, a court heard. 

Ms Lancaster's injuries were so severe, paramedics did not know what sex she was.

There are a hell of a lot of injustice in the world, but dying because someone doesn't like your clothes ~ or what they represent ~ whatever those clothes may be is a really F-king stupid reason to die.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Lancaster

Lancaster's family and friends have set up a website in her memory and have decided to use the contributions from wellwishers and these events to set up a special fund to be known as "S.O.P.H.I.E" standing for "Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere" aiming to "provide an appropriate memorial; a lasting legacy to raise awareness of the injustice perpetrated against Sophie Lancaster and to work towards a more tolerant, less violent society."

I wonder if the Downing street e-petition will have an effect?

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Widen the definition of 'Hate Crime', to include crimes committed against a person or persons, on the basis of their appearance or subcultural interests.

Submitted by Ade Varney – Deadline to sign up by: 28 March 2008 – Signatures: 2,881

Comments

[Lucy]

horrible that kind of hate.  Sad and infuriating.  Hard to see being a parent and somewhat a punkish middle-aged woman.

 

lucy

[ES]

I have too many friends that don't fit into the nice neat box society would like us to be in. Hell, I think most people would see me fit into the Stereotype of a Nice ordinary person [White, British, Blonde, Female, plump, decent job, 2 car family, mortgage, 1 cat, no kids]. but... I roleplay stuff like Dungeons & Dragons, have played online games, I have weird philosophical/religious views, I am liberal and have a mind so open I get drafts!

Labels are only a shorthand.

People are too complex for labels :(

I have friends who knew Sophie, went to the clubs she did, I am certainly within 6 degrees of seperation from her, probably 2-3. This could all too easily been someone I know.

[Sheri]

So long as the "us vs them" mentality exists, there will always be hate crimes. If it became socially unacceptable to attack people based on any of the categories of bias that we describe now, people would find some new group to pick on. Until we learn on a large scale to coexist and to see those who are unlike us as equally human to us, and thus endowed with inalienable human rights, this will always continue.

[ES]

This is also the extreme face of bullying ~ simple, nasty, brutish playground bullying.

You are different, you wear A-line skirts, alice bands and knee high socks while we wear slump jeans and popsocks therefore we bully you. You have long blonde hair and a faint american accent while we are mostly short-haired brunettes and are well british, thus we snark and rip of your alice band and call you nasty names and refuse to let you sit with us at lunch. You like science fiction and star trek while we are all rabid Neighbours fans ~ we call you names and think you are a nerd. You are slim and active and can run the hocky pitch ragged while I am short, plump and big breasted and can't hit a tennis ball to save my life so I am fat and dumb.

bitter? Moi? :)

Cheap and nasty and brutish. And sometimes deadly.