It seems that injustice can strike even in the most tolerant and accepting of the fifty states, Massachusetts. In recent weeks, outrage has arisen around the sentence imposed by Boston District Court Judge Thomas C. Horgan on Fabio Brandao for the brutal beating of three gay men and a woman.
On August 24th Brandao and three other men attacked the victims as they were on their way home from a night out at Roxy nightclub. Two of the victims were kicked and punched so brutally that it left them with mild concussions and no recollection of the assault. Furthermore, Brandao and friends repeatedly called the victims "fucking faggots," clearly demonstrating that this was much more than simply a vicious beating; it was a crime against an entire community motivated by pure hate.
Unfortunately, even having pleaded guilty to nine criminal charges, Brandao was not sentenced to any jail time. He was given a two-year suspended sentence and mandatory completion of an anger management program. The reason for such a lenient sentence? Brandao had no criminal record. We can assume that the other three yet unidentified men, whose names Brandao has refused to disclose, also lack any criminal record and will get lenient sentences when, and if, they are ever caught committing a crime.
Criminal record or not, punishments for such crimes need to be harsh enough to discourage others from doing the same, especially for hate crimes which threaten and psychologically terrorize entire communities.
What you can do? If you are in the Boston area, join the 120+ confirmed protesters on June 18th! Find more information at this Facebook event.... http://tinyurl.com/na9jwl
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