Comments on: Family to memorialize slain trans woman

By: Nichole

Nichole — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:50:45 +0000

“Sometimes crime is just crime” By definition a crime against a Transgender citizen is a hate crime. By simply targeting a Trans-woman Gary Montgomery made the decision that his victim was more deserving of his violence than a non-Trans woman. The U.S. Attorney’s office in the District rarely if ever prosecutes under the Hate Crimes Act.

There’s no doubt that D.C. has more than ifs share of felonious crimes taking place. But that should better prepare the U.S. Attorney to prosecute under the Hate Crimes Act given all their experience..

By: Crista

Crista — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:14:19 +0000

Me thinks the family is attention hos. IF they TRULY respected and loved thier daughter then the sure in the heck wouldnt be addressing her by her MALE name. Just sayin. I pray I am wrong. But at 34 I understand reality all to well Smh. And Chris Trans peeps are targetd WAY more than whAt is reported o/ reported on as the perps know we a essentially greenlit by the police and society…

By: Chris C

Chris C — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:21:38 +0000

Not every crime against a Gay person is a hate crime, not every crime against a Black person is a racially biased crime. Sometimes crime is just crime. Some people try to make more drama out of life; for what purpose, I don’t know.

By: A $400 million windfall for D.C.

A $400 million windfall for D.C. — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:11:11 +0000

[...] A year later, family and friends remember slain transgender woman Deoni Jones (Blade) [...]

By: brian

brian — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:12:03 +0000

“Although the taking of the purse indicates the motive of the attack was robbery, police said they have not ruled out the possibility that Jones was targeted because of her status as a transgender person.”
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This is what former WaPo editor Ben Bradlee would call, “a non-denial denial” by MPD. The simple truth is, if MPD does not look for a hate crime motive, MPD will not find a hate crime motive.

Did MPD investigators ask witnesses and nearby residents asked if they heard any transphobic or homophobic slurs made by the suspect?

Were the suspect’s known, previously expressed attitudes towards transgender and/or gay people within his circle of neighbors and others ever investigated by MPD investigators?

DC LGBT residents and stakeholders need to know the hidden arrest statistics of MPD applicable to the number of anti-LGBT hate crimes incidents MPD has actually reported. We also need to know what MPD investigative time and effort is being applied to those hate crimes.

Moreover, we need a BIG PICTURE examination of the criminal justice process as it applies to anti-LGBT hate crimes in DC.

Like Lucy’s famous chocolate scene*, this process can be thought of as a conveyor belt/ assembly line. (*-Google “YouTube Lucy’s Famous Chocolate Scene” )

It takes real lawyers and real support staff to prosecute anti-LGBT hate crimes. Has USAO-DC been given enough lawyers and staff to prosecute hate crimes in DC?

What are the stats/ graphs of USAO-DC’s budget for the last 5 or 10 years? Were there cutbacks to DC street crime prosecutions during Bush 43 and the 9/11 era? If so, were they ever restored under President Obama and A.G. Eric Holder?

If USAO-DC needs more staff to accomplish their public safety mission for DC residents in TODAY’s world, for Pete’s sakes, let’s ask the White House and Congress to get it for them. It’s partly their job to protect this federal city, too.