Hate crime is a crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice, typically one involving violence. In this case, the new year has started off this way. As of Thursday January 5th of 2017, there were four African American teens arrested for live-streaming, kidnapping and torturing an white disabled man. These teens are charged with aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and a hate crime.

“ I felt as if they express themselves wrong, because Trump is becoming president. What they did was pointless and it wasn’t the smartest way to solve their issue, but they got what they deserved,” said senior Gregory Boyle.

It’s very disturbing, as an African American, to know that these teens are setting a bad example for our race. It’s bad enough that African Americans tend to get treated a certain way and now we see why we get the treatment. Others think we deserve it. We act all wild and out of character, until it’s time to face the crime, and then we’re “innocent”.

“ They are setting a bad example for our youth because they make everyone look at African Americans as if we are all the same,” said Boyle.

They tied the man up, and cut his clothes and hair. They made the man drink toilet water. How sick are they? They made him scream bad things about Donald Trump, just because he was white. They even threw cigarette ashes into his wounds.

“Even though I don’t support Trump’s behavior and actions, I still wouldn’t express my feelings out on another individual or a disable person,” said Boyle.

The oldest of the group was 24 years old. How immature can you be, to sit here and allow these teens to do what they did and think it’s right? If anything, she was suppose to lead by example, and show them the right thing to do. This is why we need people in this world who knows right from wrong and is very mature about a lot of situations. I’m pretty sure they have relatives who are in this condition, but they wouldn’t want anyone messing them, I bet.

Most of the time, you have to sit down and think about decisions that you make or going to make. It’ll make life much easier.