Viewers react, respond to attack story
7:17 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2008
The crime in Waterville and Blue Rapids happened more than one year ago.
But now,- people are sounding off about the graduation party where a black student was tied up and taunted.
19 year-old David Endsley of Waterville, and 19 year-old Isaac Clark of Blue Rapids admitted to trying to drive the juvenile out because of his race.
They tied him up at the party, urinated on him, then spray-painted his the victim's arms and legs white.
They then told the victim to "go back home."
And that is bringing passionate reaction at ktka.com.
One viewer writes, "If everyone knew this black kid as a troublemaker. Then why didn't they ask him to leave as soon as he showed up to the party?... They were going to teach him a lesson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Another says, "the victim was an "outsider", he was not part of the community, this is why it happened! Small town folks stay together and stand up for each other, isn't that true?"
Another comment: "This was racial vengence plain and simple. They attacked him, tied him up, urinated on him and then spray painted him because of the color of his skin. Why did they paint him white?? ... These cowards attacked an eight-grader."
And.. "Just because he happened to be black and the can of paint was white does not mean it was a "hate" crime. Maybe the spray paint should have been green and then crime could of been dubbed a "hate" crime against aliens. The alleged victim should have been charged with trespassing and sexual harrasement."
Lastly, "This makes me sick; to think that I live in a community that this is happening, Good boys or not, it was wrong."
The viewer went on to ask where were the parents?
So, when all is said and done, what can be learned from this story and the reaction it produced? Watch this story.
You are invited to leave your comments under the story entitled "Two Kansans plead guilty to trying to drive a black youth out of town".
Comments
Note: ktka.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor vouch for the factual claims made therein. Nor do we review every post.
Jul. 3, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)robwelcher (Rob Welcher)
Sounds like we have a few "small town" folk who need to learn about a thing called the civil rights movement...just an idea. My favorite moronic quote was the one that basically said it was the victims fault and he should be charged...yeah, how dare he walk in front of these boys as they were tying something up...or how dare he walk in front of their stream of urine...grow up Billy Joe Bob Danny Frank...you're not 5 anymore...more like 9.
Jul. 3, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)honeybabe16 (anonymous)
I am from Blue Rapids and am utterly ashamed. I am praying for my family and friends back home... we are all suffering from shock in light of these events. I pray that all of you out there will realize that this was an isolated incident and does not in any way reflect the views or opinions of my hometown. I have spoken with so many friends and family from BR, and we are all embarrassed and in no way approve of what happened. I am still proud of my peaceful hometown and its residents, except for those who chose to put us on the map for this atrocious crime. There is no defending such an awful crime, and the comments defending these two BOYS (not men) should be removed on account of their stupidity. And to the boys? I have nothing to say except SHAME ON YOU.
Jul. 4, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)vhstudent31 (anonymous)
The student was out of his place, as you've heard it was a graduation party so why was an 8th grader there? He was taunting people the whole time at the party and trying to pick fights while being intoxicated. If you think that tying him up and urinating on him was bad, I don't know about you but I've heard of worse things happening to people at parties than being tied up and urinated on. It was "their" graduation party. "Theirs" not "his" he was not welcomed and he obviously did not make the party fun, instead he tried to get attention like an 8th grader at a 12th grade party. Definitely out of place.
Jul. 4, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)robwelcher (Rob Welcher)
He may have not been invited...but if that's the route you wish to take, wrap your mind around this. It was a 12th grade party, which means alcohol shouldn't have been involved at any level, and the two suspects TIED A BOY UP, SPRAY PAINTED HIM WHITE and then URINATED ON HIM!!! At what point does that sound right to you? Let's take a minute here to say that the 8th grader was probably out of line with whatever he was doing, but that doesn't make what they did right either.
Jul. 10, 2008 at 1:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)brutallyhonest (anonymous)
I was raised in the Waterville and Blue Rapids area........ I still know many people from the area.
I have never been drunk enough to piss on anyone, no matter the color. Personally I don't know anyone from the area that I believe would stand around and allow it to happen....... if I would have seen anything like this, these boys would be picking teeth out of their behind........... I don't know the two in question, but they deserve time for pissing on someone, and I don't care what color they were. If the victim in this case was being rude or sexually harassing like I saw mentioned in a previous post, then call the cops, daddy will save the day. Bottom line....... you don't piss on people, you don't piss on dogs, what the hell were these boys thinking? It was once big news in these two towns if you shot out a window with a BB gun, now its stained by a couple of idiots. The people of these towns are not racist, these towns are full of people that will help anyone who needs a hand, regardless of color.
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