Race Relations

[TheMercenary]

Man, some real racists up there in Ohio.... and most of the US thinks the South is racist.

Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family

Akron police say they aren't ready to call it a hate crime or a gang initiation.

But to Marty Marshall, his wife and two kids, it seems pretty clear.

It came after a family night of celebrating America and freedom with a fireworks show at Firestone Stadium. Marshall, his family and two friends were gathered outside a friend's home in South Akron.

Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys, who shouted ''This is our world'' and ''This is a black world'' as they confronted Marshall and his family.

The Marshalls, who are white, say the crowd of teens who attacked them and two friends June 27 on Girard Street numbered close to 50. The teens were all black.

''This was almost like being a terrorist act,'' Marshall said. ''And we allow this to go on in our neighborhoods?''

They said it started when one teen, without any words or warning, blindsided and assaulted Marshall's friend as he stood outside with the others.

When Marshall, 39, jumped in, he found himself being attacked by the growing group of teens.

His daughter, Rachel, 15, who weighs about 90 pounds, tried to come to his rescue. The teens pushed her to the ground.

His wife, Yvonne, pushed their son, Donald, 14, into bushes to keep him protected.

''My thing is,'' Marshall said, ''I didn't want this, but I was in fear for my wife, my kids and my friends. I felt I had to stay out there to protect them, because those guys were just jumping, swinging fists and everything.

''I'm lucky. They didn't break my ribs or bruise my ribs. I thank God, they concentrated on my thick head because I do have one. They were trying to take my head off my spine, basically.''

After several minutes of punches and kicks, the attack ended and the group ran off. The Marshalls' two adult male friends were not seriously hurt.

''I don't think I thought at that moment when I tried to jump in,'' Rachel Marshall said. ''But when I was laying on the ground, I was just scared.''

Marshall was the most seriously injured. He suffered a concussion and multiple bruises to his head and eye. He said he spent five nights in the critical care unit at Akron General Medical Center.

The construction worker said he now fears for his family's safety, and the thousands of dollars in medical bills he faces without insurance.

''I knew I was going to get beat, but not as bad as I did,'' Marshall said. ''But I did it to protect my family. I didn't have a choice. There was no need for this. We should be all getting along. But to me, it seems to be racist.''

Akron police are investigating. Right now, the case is not being classified as a racial hate crime. There were no other reports of victims assaulted by the group that night.

The department's gang unit is involved in the investigation, police said.

''We don't know if it's a known gang, or just a group of kids,'' police Lt. Rick Edwards said.

The Marshalls say they fear retaliation at home or when they go outside. They are considering arming themselves, but they're concerned about the possible problems that come with guns.

For now, they are hoping police can bring them suspects. They believe they can identify several of the attackers.

''This makes you think about your freedom,'' Marshall said. ''In all reality, where is your freedom when you have this going on?''

[depmats]

Why am I afraid it will eventually be found that the whole story is BS? 3 drunk white guys decide to beat on eachother and blame it on a roving mob of black kids.

[Shawnee123]

Man, some real racists up there in Ohio.... and most of the US thinks the South is racist.

Would this be a bad time to say Go Bucks!? You know. Ohio State Buckeyes.

Anyway, it could have been anywhere. Not all of us think that people in the south are racist. I know it's everywhere.

Is this Personal Inner Vengeance Agenda Day?

[TheMercenary]

Well as one poster stated, it could be a Tawana Brawley type event. I guess we will see.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys,

If they had shot the first dozen, the others would have thought twice.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by depmats

Why am I afraid it will eventually be found that the whole story is BS? 3 drunk white guys decide to beat on eachother and blame it on a roving mob of black kids.

Or the white guys started it. Who knows?

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

If they had shot the first dozen, the others would have thought twice.

Yeah, shooting unarmed teens is always a good thing.

What if the black teens had been armed, and shot the white family? Yippy guns! In this situation, nobody died. The family still has a father, parents of the group of teens still have their children.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Oh goody, dozens of parents still have their little hoodlums... until they are jailed raping their teacher or for killing a cop, because nobody taught them there are consequences for gangsterism, this time.

[DanaC]

Yeah...gettin shot and killed. Now there's a proper lesson in life...

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yeah, just get a few dozen friends together and you can terrorize/beat people with impunity. Now there's a proper lesson in life...

[DanaC]

Are you seriously suggesting that it would have been a much better outcome, had some of those boys been shot?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes, teach the rest of them a lesson they won't soon forget.
You can let these punks beat on you till the cows come home, I will not.

[Shawnee123]

Just shoot their penises (penii?) off. Then they can have their own gang of guys with no dicks. All the other gangs will be so busy laughing at No Dix Gang, with their pink colors and highly-pitched war cries, that they'll totally forget to rape and rampage and thieve and sell crack.

Never burst someone's balloon: just prick them so they know they're leaking.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

What if the black teens had been armed, and shot the white family?

Ya fuckin' shoot back, Spexx. (Well, not you. You'd just fucking die right on the spot. End. Finito. Cancel all life memberships. Become a statistic owing to your mental short circuit.) Didn't you learn anything from your meltdown of a couple years ago??? Were you as intelligent as I, that is as genuinely enlightened, you would have done so by now, but I guess you're just crippled in the head by being such a raving hoplophobe. I must remember to thank God I'm smarter than you, tonight before bedtime...

[Shawnee123]

Why is it that people who love guns get terribly bent out of shape at other people who don't love guns? Is it necessary that I love guns so that I can see as you do? Does the love of guns make you smarter, and a more worthy individual? Really? See, I don't give a rat's ass if you love guns. Love them to death. Sleep with them. Marry them. Who cares?

Expecting everyone to see it as you do, and viewing them as lesser if they don't, only serves to make you look like the fool.

I will never ever order a pizza with you. I am sure that my hate of mushrooms will be met with disdain, disbelief, and disgust...and will result in receiving a pizza with mushrooms because you are right and I am just stupid to hate mushrooms. You'll tell me to pick them off, but I will know that the scent and taste and general essence of mushrooms linger long after I've flicked the offending fungus at your face.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Why is it that people who love guns get terribly bent out of shape at other people who don't love guns?

I don't think most do get bent out of shape. Well they may only get bent out of shape at the ones who want to further restrict our proctect right to own and shoot them or place other restrictions on ownership or shooting. Other than that it is really a non-issue.