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Thursday, March 12, 2009
Middle Eastern Clerks Shot in Memphis; Hate Crime Suspected
Any form of criminal offense committed against a person based on race, nationality, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability can be considered a hate crime under the law.
So when Mohammed Al Hadi was murdered while working at a Foodtwon grocery, the community spoke out. Hadi was the most recent Middle Eastern male to be targeted.
Members of the neighborhood believe that trouble has been growing between the Middle Eastern employees at corner convenience stores and some of the African-Americans in the area. The racial tension seems to have increased as the economy has gotten worse. The rumbling in the neighborhood is that young African-Americans believe the Middle Eastern store clerks are “taking all the jobs.”
Memphis Police have treated the Foodtown killing and a separate case where another Middle Eastern clerk was shot dead on the exact same day, as robberies.
Norman Redwing, a community activist in the Memphis area, has doubts that crimes like these are robberies only. He watched the surveillance video from the Foodtown shooting as a gunman in a blue plaid shirt fired at both employees in the store. Redwing was not surprised by how calmly the suspect appeared to aim and shoot his gun.
"It almost appears he has some vendetta," said Redwing. The store manager of that Foodtown location also acknowledges it’s the first time they’ve ever been robbed.
Redwing is hoping to negotiate a truce between both sides. However, with two dead clerks and emotions running high, he's skeptical.
Hate Crimes
Hate crimes are usually committed by strangers who identify someone associated with a certain group in a negative way. They can take place in different forms:
-Any type of violent threat that can potentially be carried out
-Any action which results in a serious injury
-Any type of injury suffered regardless of amount of injury inflicted
-Any act that leads to property damage
These crimes also include murder, physical assault, rape, assault with a weapon, harassment, robbery, vandalism, and attacks on people's homes or places of worship.
If you believe you may be the target of a hate crime, it is necessary to have a legal professional help you investigate and present your claim. In the Memphis, Tennessee area, The Cochran Firm has a staff of attorneys ready to assist you in your claim. Please contact our office today.
So when Mohammed Al Hadi was murdered while working at a Foodtwon grocery, the community spoke out. Hadi was the most recent Middle Eastern male to be targeted.
Members of the neighborhood believe that trouble has been growing between the Middle Eastern employees at corner convenience stores and some of the African-Americans in the area. The racial tension seems to have increased as the economy has gotten worse. The rumbling in the neighborhood is that young African-Americans believe the Middle Eastern store clerks are “taking all the jobs.”
Memphis Police have treated the Foodtown killing and a separate case where another Middle Eastern clerk was shot dead on the exact same day, as robberies.
Norman Redwing, a community activist in the Memphis area, has doubts that crimes like these are robberies only. He watched the surveillance video from the Foodtown shooting as a gunman in a blue plaid shirt fired at both employees in the store. Redwing was not surprised by how calmly the suspect appeared to aim and shoot his gun.
"It almost appears he has some vendetta," said Redwing. The store manager of that Foodtown location also acknowledges it’s the first time they’ve ever been robbed.
Redwing is hoping to negotiate a truce between both sides. However, with two dead clerks and emotions running high, he's skeptical.
Hate Crimes
Hate crimes are usually committed by strangers who identify someone associated with a certain group in a negative way. They can take place in different forms:
-Any type of violent threat that can potentially be carried out
-Any action which results in a serious injury
-Any type of injury suffered regardless of amount of injury inflicted
-Any act that leads to property damage
These crimes also include murder, physical assault, rape, assault with a weapon, harassment, robbery, vandalism, and attacks on people's homes or places of worship.
If you believe you may be the target of a hate crime, it is necessary to have a legal professional help you investigate and present your claim. In the Memphis, Tennessee area, The Cochran Firm has a staff of attorneys ready to assist you in your claim. Please contact our office today.
Labels: Memphis
posted by Anonymous at 7:17 AM
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