link: cbs2chicago.com/local/cta.hate.crime
I thought this was an important story, so I am diaring it here. On Jan. 10, 2010, a man was brutally attacked by three men while riding the CTA Red Line train in Chicago. This is how it happened:
While riding the train, minding his own business, a young man was verbally harassed and shoved for no other reason than being openly gay. Daniel Hauff, of Rogers Park (a Chicago suburb), came to the youth's aid, at which point the alleged harasser began directing anti-gay slurs at Hauff and pushing him. Two other men, who had been watching before, joined in the assault and began punching and bloodying Hauff's face in front of the other bystanders on the train. Another man attempted to help Hauff and other passengers pushed the train's emergency button.
Initially, misdemeanor battery charges were filed against the three alleged attackers. Yesterday, these charges were dropped, and as the three men left the courtroom, they were immediately re-arrested and charged with felony hate crimes after a review of the case by the State's Attorney and Chicago Police Department.
I'm writing this because this story really struck a nerve with me and touched my heart for the senseless crime perpetuated against this young man (whose name is never given), and for the gentleman who came to his aid although he did not personally know him. It highlights two incredibly different aspects of the human spirit, on opposite ends of the spectrum--the impulse and capacity to love, care and help a fellow human being regardless of who they are, as well as the capacity to hate that same human being and the impulse to act on that hate simply because of who they are. Let us continue to work to make sure the former human impulse prevails over the latter more often than not.