Anyone with any information on this matter should contact Detective Tim Finley, 931-648-0656, ext 4008 or the TIPSLINE at 931-645-8477.

On June 25, 2009 at approximately 7:32 p.m., a fisherman found a deceased person in the water near the West Fork Bridge off of the 101st Parkway.  The person is believed to be male.  Clarksville Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating the death as a homicide; this is normal procedure in the case of an unattended death.

The report, which can be found here, is one of the most comprehensive reports ever filed and gives a broad picture of just who is being attacked and why. In Clarksville, authorities reported a total of ten hate crimes. Three of those crimes were due to a person’s race, four were attacks based on religion, two were motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation, and one was bias against the person’s ethnicity. The FBI report indicates that the single most targeted ethnic group is Hispanics/Latino-Americans.

The national statistics are fare more interesting. According to the report, there were 770 attacks across the US against Hispanics/Latino-Americans last year. Antisemitism still rears its ugly head, since 1,027 incidents against Jews occurred. In contrast, there were 1,485 attacks based on the victim’s sexual orientation. These hate crimes are everything from graffiti to robberies to assaults to hanging nooses. The report indicates “crimes against property” and “crimes against person,” and lists some broad categories of each. The crimes against persons would include assault, robbery, murder, etc. Crimes against property would be vandalism, graffiti, and other related incidents.

Sadly, the report indicates a lot of silence as well. In fact, in Tennessee only 65 agencies even bothered to submit a report. “Well,” one might say, “Aren’t there 95 counties in the state?” Yes, there are. However, in those 95 counties, there are 459 law enforcement agencies. In fact, the national average isn’t much better with a little less than 17 percent of all agencies providing hate crime data.

Unfortunately, other Southern states are not at all interested in reporting their hate crimes, with only one Alabama agency reporting, and Mississippi was completely silent. Four agencies in Georgia (including one in Atlanta) reported a combined 13 hate crimes. Were there really zero hate crimes in Mississippi? Somehow, I think that’s a little far-fetched. And if the only hate crime in Alabama was not one of was the infamous noose hanging in Jena (that noose led to the “Free the Jena Six” campaign), then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell for dirt cheap (I incorrectly stated that Jena was in Alabama, which was pointed out in a comment by Kladner on Buzzflash – Interestingly, neither the city of Jena nor LaSalle Parish submitted any data to the FBI for this report).

Even though a handful of agencies in Tennessee reported their hate crime statistics to the FBI, the numbers are still staggering. Along with the ten hate crimes recorded here in Clarksville, there were 30 hate crime incidents in Nashville. Memphis had 36 crimes, including one committed with a motivation based on disability.

Anti Hispanic Hysteria

Scanning through all of the data can be a bit of a daunting task, one of my largest concerns is that the growing hysteria of nationalism would be that Hispanics would be targeted more and more. Alas, this appears to be exactly what’s happening. By “nationalism,” I’m referring to the rising call to “close the borders” and to “get rid of all of the illegals.” After all, “illegals are committing lots of crimes” or “are taking government services,” and what’s worse, “they’re taking all of our jobs.”

You know, I read about this kind of talk just a few decades ago in 1930’s Germany. Only then, there was another group that was being blamed for their country’s woes: Jews. We all know how that turned out. The reality is that it’s no surprise that Hispanics and Latinos are targeted for hate crimes.

How long will it be before someone actually calls for concentration camps for anyone who looks Latino or Hispanic? Well, that’s already started. How long before we start asking people for their “papers?” Yep, you guessed it. That’s happening too. In fact, last June, one Clarksville woman who was born in Puerto Rico was asked for her green card to renew her driver’s license. By the way, anyone born in Puerto Rico is an American Citizen. Several states and cities have passed laws that have blanket penalties for anyone who hires or even transports someone who is “illegal.”

“What part of ‘illegal’ do you not understand?” or so the mantra goes. Replace “illegal” with “Jews” in that sentence, and you can see just how dangerous this attitude really is. No, it’s not really “that simple.” Anyone who’s dealt with the Immigration and Nationalization “Service” knows very well how visas can expire, and how much of a hassle it is to renew. In fact, one colleague of mine recently went to inquire why his permanent visa had expired, and was told he’d have to leave if he wanted to get a new visa… or become a citizen. He chose the latter, and that put an end to the problem.

In fact, I, too, am a naturalized citizen. I was born on foreign soil (Germany), and thus have a German birth certificate. Even though my parents are both Americans, I still had to be naturalized. Why isn’t anyone asking me for my “green card?” Well, it could be due to the fact that I have blond hair and blue eyes. However, anyone with dark skin and black hair is immediately suspect. One man I spoke with has a great job as a manager of a local shop and lives comfortably in a well-to-do neighborhood. Once when he was mowing his own yard while wearing T-shirts and cutoffs, he was asked by a neighbor how much he would charge to cut their lawn. Racial profiling, anyone?

These instances only illustrate just how “low” so many of us will view our Hispanic or Latino neighbors. It’s unfortunate that today’s America has forgotten that we’re all immigrants. Our country has always been made richer by its diversity. Maybe we should remember that next time we talk about “closing the borders.” We are the land of the free and the home of the brave, so why not welcome anyone who is searching for a better life? And spare me the “what about terrorists” line. We are the land of liberty, not oppression. Or are we?

Crimes with a Sexual Orientation motivation

For the first time in a major report, we’ve been given data that clearly lists crimes that were committed based on a motivation of the victims’ sexual orientation. Unfortunately, gender identity isn’t included in the data, but rather is combined with the others. There were nearly 1500 incidents across the country last year, including at least two right here in Clarksville. Unlike our Hispanic/Latino neighbors, those of us that are gay or lesbian have absolutely no protection whatsoever when it comes to hate crimes.

Some have said “show me how people are attacked because they’re gay.” Well, we have that now. All of this goes on while the Matthew Shepard bill languishes in a Senate committee, and is in jeopardy of being killed outright. For the record, the Matthew Shepard bill is a bill that would provide federal resources to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, and would include sexual orientation and gender identity in the list of hate crimes.

Now that we know there are real numbers, this should be a clear indicator that it’s time to add sexual orientation and gender identity to non-discrimination clauses everywhere (including in Clarksville’s new charter). I’ve always been an advocate for complete equality, so this is just the right thing to do. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has been updated a few times since its passing, and has since added age and disability to its protections. Several states have added sexual orientation to their civil rights laws, and it’s time for Tennessee to do the same.

Many conservatives are afraid that such an addition would force churches to hire gay people or would force a Christian landlord to allow two men to rent a one-bedroom apartment they own. A person’s religion has little to do with their sexual orientation or their perceived sexual orientation. Some people won’t hire someone just because they might look a little effeminate. At the moment, that’s perfectly legal. It doesn’t mean it’s right.

Can someone please tell me what’s “Christian” about denying a qualified person a job, or kicking a couple out on the street because they might be gay? “Well, it’s behavior,” some say. I tell you what. If you see someone having sex on the job, then that’s a different story. But seriously… how many of us actually engage in sexual activity in the work place? That’s just a rhetorical question, by the way; I really don’t want to know.

Let me be perfectly clear: By sexual orientation, I’m referring to whether a person is sexually attracted to members of their own sex, and might engage in healthy consenting relationships among adults. Gender identity disorder (GID) is a legitimate diagnosis for persons who have the firm belief that they are the wrong physical sex. Neither of these impacts on a person’s ability to do their job or to form healthy relationships. Interestingly, GID is the only psychological disorder that has a proven cure: gender reassignment surgery and hormone therapy.

No matter how we slice it or how we sugarcoat it with Bible verses or doctrines, discrimination is wrong. Hate crimes are clearly committed against people for their sexual orientation, and as of right now, there is zero federal protection for them. Hate crimes aren’t listed by how much someone hates another group, but rather by their motivation in a crime they’ve committed. No one is talking about “thought police.” We simply need to have protections in place that will allow local law enforcement agencies to prosecute and investigate properly these incidents which are all-too-often swept under the rug.

Local victims like Jerry Cope (P’Knutts) and Barry Winchell deserve to know that their deaths were not meaningless. Cope’s murder remains unsolved after over fifteen years. Even now, there seems to be little interest in actually finding out who killed him.

Thankfully, the FBI has been directed to tabulate this data. My greatest hope is that we’ll find a way to bring down these numbers, and to have a level of equality for everyone that we are indeed a beloved community that a person’s appearance, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity without being an issue. Until that time, we need to ensure that there are protections for everyone.

Editor’s Note: Also published in David W. Shelton’s blog Skipping to the Piccolo 

But like any fantasy, I had to come to a realization that those heroes in colored tights and flashy capes would never materialize. Sure, they’d come close. Comic books have made some really great movies in the last thirty years. Some of the more notable successes of the panel-to-big-screen transfer are Superman: The Movie, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Batman, Batman Begins, and this year’s Superman Returns.

I had the great pleasure of watching Superman Returns with my two best friends from childhood. We were once again those three crazy boys as we watched the opening credits fly past on the screen. It was a chance to be a child again. And we were children in awe of the hero as he saved the day and carried on his legacy. Not to spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it, we see him save a Boeing 777, a space shuttle, a number of cars and falling signs, and the damsels in distress.

But like most heroes, Superman is alone. The character is remembered for his impact far more than his flashy blue tights. This is a character that is recognized across the world as a symbol for idealism.

But symbols are sometimes overshadowed by real people whose lives are reflected in those they have touched. These people—living, flesh and blood people—are examples of the best that humanity has to offer, warts and all. One such person was a soft-spoken person by the name of Juan Julian Vasquez.

I got to know him over the last year as we served on the Human Relations Commission. His soft voice and vision of hope was one that I quickly recognized as one of sincere passion. He was a businessman, a ballroom dance instructor, and most importantly, a father of four: Juan, Jr., twins Matthew and Thomas, and Eva. Their mother, Deborah, is very much involved in all of their lives.

Most of us in Clarksville will remember Juan as a freedom fighter for the Latin-American community in that area. A few years ago, he started an organization called HOPE, the Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education. Today, that organization is known for its many forums and its passionate leadership.

On June 23, just a week ago as I write this, the entire city was horrified as we learned that Juan and his son Thomas were both brutally murdered. Thomas, just two days away from being nineteen years old, was found near a local school. Police later found Juan’s body in his home more than ten miles away.

Their deaths were immediately felt like shockwaves throughout the state. It was no different than if a piece of my own heart was ripped out and shredded before my eyes. People from all walks of life paused to ask how large of a hole their deaths would leave. I’ve been repeatedly asked if it was a hate crime. No. It wasn’t. It was senseless and brutal. It was an act of violence that we’ll not fully understand until those responsible are brought to justice; maybe not even then.

In the shadow of this black cloud of death, we can take some solace in the fact that both men left a powerful legacy. Thomas had something that so many of us dismiss. He had a dream. He had a passion for life; a passion that was inspired by his father’s. He excelled as a drummer and his friends stood by him no matter what. I met some of those friends this week. They were people from all walks of life, from all races, from all cultures. In a very real sense, he lived as his father dreamed: color blind.

I recently met Thomas’ girlfriend. His mother introduced her as “his first true love.” I asked her to tell me about her boyfriend and she spoke without hesitation. She told me that he was the sweetest, kindest, and most sincere person she ever met. She told of how he’d often make her laugh by feigning a stumble or a fall in an attempt at slapstick comedy. What a powerful image of humility and grace. It’s one worth remembering.

Juan’s legacy was even more profound. No matter how soft-spoken, no matter how passionate he seemed, he was persistent in his work for equality. That legacy will continue long after the tears stop. It will continue long after the anger, the bitterness and the frustration gives way, leaving only the sense of deep loss that the entire city is feeling right now.

I loved his attitude. “Let’s get beyond all this B.S.,” Juan said once. “Let’s do something positive.” Sure, some people in Clarksville actually like “all the B.S.” but Juan saw through it. He saw it for what it was: a hindrance to equality.

He looked beyond what separated us, and searched for ways to unite. He was a bridge-builder, an advocate for real change. He once wrote that one man can make a difference. He said that a person should be a part of the solution.

Both Juan and Thomas were part of the solution; they made a difference. Whether it was through dancing lessons, the beat that led a band, or just those tender moments of intimacy that are never spoken, but never forgotten; they touched the lives of thousands.

Even to the end of their lives and beyond, they were true heroes. And they didn’t even need a cape.