Sean Kennedy, 20

[antonyh]

Sean Kennedy was the victim of a hate crime and died on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 in Greensville, South Carolina. I have posted a "Transcript of a hate crime" on http://www.hatecrimesbill.org/2007/0...ript_of_a.html.

I have been contacted by a pastor from the area and he says that the whole LGBTQ community is traumatized by the hate crime. There was a vicious hate crime there in 2006 as well.

This relates very much to Soulforce, because you visited Bob Jones University. I wanted to give you a small taste of the religious based bigotry in the area:

http://www.scpronet.com/point/9606/p04.html

Yes, they actually have an Anti-Gay Resolution passed in 1996 ("We don't want your kind here"). Who said that hate crimes don't have a context?

I'll tell you folks, I've shed a lot of tears over this one.

[keltic63]

http://www.soulforce.org/forums/show...9625#post29625

Originally Posted by keltic

not sure if anyone else linked to this story yet: http://www.wyff4.com/news/13345546/detail.html

Just another reason that we need this legislation.

no wonder I feel this way: http://www.soulforce.org/forums/show...0102#post30102

[antonyh]

Originally Posted by keltic63

http://www.soulforce.org/forums/show...9625#post29625



no wonder I feel this way: http://www.soulforce.org/forums/show...0102#post30102

It was your post that started my research into the incident.

[pnggrad79]

I used to live in Greenville, SC back in the mid 90's. I am here to tell you some people in that area still don't know that the Civil War has ended and they didn't win. It is one of the most repressive environments I have ever seen. But it isn't a whole lot different than any other Southern state.

I am horrified that this young man was murdered for his sexuality. It is unbelievable, but given the Bob Jones mentality of this state, it doesn't really surprise me.

If everyone cared and nobody cried, if everyone loved and nobody lied, if everyone shared and swallowed their pride, this'd be the day that nobody died. from I'm Alive by Nickelback. This pretty much sums up what I believe.

Mr. Kennedy's death was the result of pure hatred and I know God can't be pleased or glorified by this.

[antonyh]

From his site:

"Fred Phelps was born Nov. 13, 1929, in Meridian, Mississippi. Graduated Meridian High at 16 with highest academic honors, American Legion Citizenship Award, track letter, Bausch-Lomb Science Award, Eagle Scout, Principal Appointment to West Point Military Academy. The summer following graduation, he had a profound religious experience, gave up West Point, enrolled instead for Bible/ministerial training at Bob Jones College, Cleveland, Tennessee (later moving with them as they transitioned to Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina). Ordained by the Southern Baptists Sept. 8, 1947."

[pnggrad79]

Hmmm, Phelps graduated from the illustrious Bob Jones University? Why is it that when people have so called religious experiences they always turn to a virulent form of Christian harassment when purveying that experience? Has anyone ever heard of Michael Woroniecki? This nut case was the dude who preached to Andrea Yates that she was not a good mother and in her delusional, psychotic mind, she wasn't able to differentiate between sound doctrine and bull#*&%! He also says that anyone who pursues a job that pays money is satanic. Look him up. He and Phelps are both religious terrorists who damage and castigate people. Tell me, where is God in all this mess!

[antonyh]

Originally Posted by pnggrad79

Tell me, where is God in all this mess!

God is in the middle of the mess even more hungry for justice than we are.

[antonyh]

This comment was posted by John Kennedy, Sean's brother, at Keeping Up With Jonas:

"This is the brother of the victim. According to what we have heard is that the FBI wont be able to file charges bc it isnt considered a hate-crime if it wasnt premeditated. So most likely he will be trialed according to SC laws. Sometime this week we are getting a Non-Profitable Organization Bank account under seans name to goto a charity. With the donations we are hoping to get a bill passed in SC to prevent hate-crimes. when i find out more information on the Charity, i will inform you.

Thanks
John Kennedy"

South Carolina does not have hate crimes laws. There are bills in the South Carolina House and Senate right now.

Source:
http://www.keepingupwithjonas.com/ke...mment-70328096

[antonyh]

The family of Sean Kennedy have established a charity to raise money to push for the passage of the Hate Crimes Bill in South Carolina. Bills have been introduced into South Carolina's Senate and House.

Write checks to:

Sean's Last Wish
CPM Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 2297
Greer, SC 29652

You can email the charity at seanslastwish@yahoo.com with any questions. The charity's future Web site will be http://www.seanslastwish.com.

[antonyh]

Originally Posted by wikipedia

The law generally differentiates between levels of criminal culpability based on the mens rea, or state of mind. This is particularly true within the law of homicide, where murder requires either the intent to kill, or a state of mind called malice, or malice aforethought, which may involve an unintentional killing but with a willful disregard for life. The less serious offense of manslaughter, on the other hand, is the taking of human life but in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. Manslaughter is usually broken down into two distinct categories: voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

There you have it. Stephen Moller did not intend to kill Sean Kennedy. He just wanted to punch a fag and teach him a lesson. He was killed when his head hit the pavement.

It appears that because it was not premeditated (the murder that is), the FBI will not pick it up the case as a hate crime and it will be tried under SC laws where Hate Crime law does not exist.

[sjbouza]

All I can say is that this just sickens me. It gives me that bad taste in my mouth and makes my stomach twist. They say that we dont need hate crime legislation?! They say that what they preach has no far reaching violent affects?! I wanna live in their little world where everything is tea and roses.

Well, I guess I will just have to reject their "reality" and substitute my own. 'Cuz I live in a world that is violent towards people they dont understand or are different. The world I live in is full of people that profess to love God, but vomit nothing but hate and bigotry. Sure they cover it up nicely with "Gods word". They conveniently stand behind what "the Bible says". They announce that God is on "their side". They really think that just because they say they love the sinner but hate the sin it make a bit of difference to anyone?! Well it fucking doesnt. I am sorry but this is just really gotten under my skin. I am so inflamed right now. The word anger doesnt even go the distance for the feelings I am having.

"Men of God" no they are not. Falwell, Dobson. Robertson and all of the ones like them are no men of God. God is not in or with them. They speak for only one thing, they worship only one thing, they believe in only one thing...spreading fear to gain wealth. Their god is the Almighty Dollar. That is what they worship. It is blood money. It is money made off of the blood and souls of all the GLBT people that have been killed because of the bullshit that they want everyone to believe. I dont soley blame these people. I also blame the stupid idiots of this country. The ones that are to lazy to get off their asses and see if what they are being told is the truth. No they would just rather sit on their fat butts and believe what comes over the radio or in the mail or whatever. We in this country have become to lazy and lax. If "insert name here" said it then it has to be true, they are men of God, they wouldnt lie.

%$^&*%##^&&*((%^##()*^^^T^$@#@$*^&%*&&(&%&^^&$%&*( )*&^$%@&**^%*&^&*%*(

[BrianB]

Originally Posted by antonyh

There you have it. Stephen Moller did not intend to kill Sean Kennedy. He just wanted to punch a fag and teach him a lesson. He was killed when his head hit the pavement.

It appears that because it was not premeditated (the murder that is), the FBI will not pick it up the case as a hate crime and it will be tried under SC laws where Hate Crime law does not exist.

That reminds me of the Tom Cruise character; Vincent, in Collateral. Vincent said after shooting his first victim; "I shot him. The bullets and the fall killed him." It's the same kind of twisted logic to say "I didn't mean for his head to hit the pavement so hard."

[antonyh]

Originally Posted by BrianB

That reminds me of the Tom Cruise character; Vincent, in Collateral. Vincent said after shooting his first victim; "I shot him. The bullets and the fall killed him." It's the same kind of twisted logic to say "I didn't mean for his head to hit the pavement so hard."

Yes it is twisted logic. I'm been searching the web for criteria that the FBI would use in taking on a murder as a hate crime but have come up short. This is why hate crimes legislation is important. It clears up the confusion about what the law demands.

[antonyh]

I just noticed that the Website about Sean's Last Wish is live:

http://www.seanslastwish.com/

[BrentRichards]

This is actually a great example of a need for a federal standard. State laws treat this differently ... the "intent" was not to kill, but the death occurred as a direct result of the comission of another crime. How legally culpable the agressor is for the death depends on how the state law treats it: Was his original act a felony? If so, some states say that a death that occurred during the commission of a felony is murder. Others say it's manslaughter. How about a consistent standard?

[antonyh]

It looks like Sean Kennedy's killer, Stephen Moller, is going to be indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges. Here is what Elke Kennedy, Sean's mother wrote:

Yesterday I found out that the Grand Jury in Greenville County indicted Stephen Moller on (not murder) but involuntary manslaughter. This carries only a sentence of 0 - 5 years, most likely he won’t serve any or very little time.

I gave a press conference today and if you have access, it should be on Fox21 at 10 pm and on Channel 7 and 4 at 11pm. For those that are outside of this, please take a lookon Greenville online, WYFF4 and WSPA. Both WYFF4 and WSPA covered it in their 6 o’clock news.

With this, there will be no trial (unless he pleads not guilty - which is highly unlikely)

Even though this news is devastating to me and my family, it is not unexpected. This proves now more then ever that we must have hate crime laws in SC and at the federal level.

Our fight to stop hate and violence is just beginning and it has gained even more momentum because of this decision.

I thank all of you for all of your support - Together we will make difference and we will initiate change.

Love you all,
Elke

Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham of SC both voted against the Federal Hate Crimes Bill. Here is the letter that Elke Kennedy sent to them about the S. 1105:

Dear Senator,

My name is Elke Kennedy and I’m the mother of Sean Kennedy who was murdered on May 16th 2007 at 3:45 am when he was leaving a local straight bar. He was the victim of a hate crime - his murderer did not like his life style - his sexual orientation. He called him anti-gay names as he punched him so hard, that his face bones were broken. He fell back with such a force that his brain separated from his brain stem. He never had a chance. When his murderer got back into the car they made a phone call to one of my son’s female friends and left several messages laughing about it. “Tell your fagot friends when he wakes up that he owes me $500 for my broken hand” was one of those messages and that is putting it nicely.

His death is what intolerance and hatred can do. We must send a clear message to perpetrators who, based on bias motivated hatred, think that this type of crime is acceptable.

It sounds like to me, that based on statements made by you to others here in the upstate, that you support these types of crimes, does this mean that you support the 45 hate groups active in this state instead of providing equal rights and protection to all of your SC citizens and to our nation as a whole?

Law enforcement agencies and solicitors based on nation wide statistics agree that they need the laws, education and tools to be able to investigate and prosecute bias motivated crimes - there must be stronger sentencing to send a clear message that we will no longer tolerate this.

How many others have to suffer and/or die without seeing justice? Now is the time you can make a difference - I urge you to vote Yes to S. 1105 - the Matthew Shepard act currently before you in the senate.

How many more people have to die or get seriously beaten and injured before you will take a stand for your citizens?

As Americans, we must defend our neighbors from becoming victims of bias-motivated violence.

Thank you for helping ensure passage of this very important legislation. I pray that you will do the right thing!

Sincerely,

Elke Kennedy

Sean Kennedy, we will never forget you! Here is a tribute:



Sean's site:
http://www.seanslastwish.com

[antonyh]

I just noticed that Sean's mom is dealing with the religious bigotry at the root of the hate crime against her son by partnering with Faith in America. Check out the video here:

http://www.faithinamerica.info/