Robbery Or Hate? Another Immigrant Attack On S.I.
NEW YORK (CBS 2) ― Despite additional police patrols and help from the Guardian Angels in the Port Richmond section of Staten Island, CBS 2's Jay Dow reports another Mexican immigrant was assaulted on the streets.
A 17-year-old Mexican boy, reportedly on his way home from work, was beaten up and robbed by three people who allegedly yelled racial slurs at him.
The attack happened, according to the Staten Island Advance, around 2:30 a.m. Saturday near the intersection of Castleton and Simonson Avenues.
Although the community has approached these cases as bias incidents, classifying this and some of the other incidents presents a challenge.
Although they allegedly yelled racial slurs at the teenage victim, at least one the assailants was said to be Latino. After beating him up, they ultimately robbed him.
Determining a primary motive, racial bias or robbery, is not that easy. As Staten Island Borough president James Molinaro explained on July 29, "It's easy to just holler 'bias.' It's easy. It's the easiest thing to do, but you have to prove it."
Of the 10 cases currently under investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, most of the victims are Mexican.
"I hope the violence ends," said victim Alejandro Galindo.
In this community, where there are many people who are simply too scared, for whatever reason, to talk to police, all of them have been Latino.
"The criminals have targeted people who they deem vulnerable. And it happens to be the Mexican community," said Councilwoman Debi Rose.
