02/27/2007
Andrew Anthos Death Inspires Reintroduction of Hate Crime Bill
Sometimes it takes a horrific tragedy, in this case the cold-blooded murder of Detroit senior Andrew Anthos, to move people to action.
The Detroit Free Press reports that Senator Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) says he'll re-introduce legislation to expand Michigan's hate crime statues to include sexual orientation. Similar legislation, of which Clarke was a co-sponsor, failed to pass last year. Hopefullly Anthos' murder will inspire people to see that it needs to happen.
Said Clarke: "I believe Mr. Anthos death will be a watershed. It’s going to be successful."
Clarke also vowed to give Anthos what he campaigned for for nearly 20 years — the lighting of the Michigan statehouse dome in red, white, and blue. Anthos cousin, Athena Fedenis, said it was his dying wish:
"One of the last things he said to me was 'Promise me my dearest cousin,' to continue the fight."
Neal Rubin, of the Detroit News, has written a column about Anthos' attempts over the years to get his message heard.
Sadly, it took a metal pipe, a crushed spine, and a man's soul for people to finally listen.
Background
Funeral Set for Slain Gay Detroit Senior Andrew Anthos [tr]
Gay Senior Citizen Brutally Beaten in Detroit Hate Attack Dies [tr]
72-Year-Old Detroit Man Paralyzed After Brutal Anti-Gay Attack [tr]
Posted 1:43 PM EST by Andy in Crime, Detroit, Michigan, News | Permalink
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"One of the last things he said to me was 'Promise me my dearest cousin,' to continue the fight."
That's enough to make any grown man teary eyed. This world is a harsh place to live. Each human being creates the world we live in, and I will never understand why another human would want to cause pain to another. Never.
Posted by: Cory | Feb 27, 2007 1:56:45 PM
Send a message to Michigan Senators.
SenJAllen@senate.michigan.gov
SenGAnderson@senate.michigan.gov
SenJBarcia@senate.michigan.gov
SenRBasham@senate.michigan.gov
SenPBirkholz@senate.michigan.gov
SenMBishop@senate.michigan.gov
SenLBrater@senate.michigan.gov
SenCBrown@senate.michigan.gov
SenNCassis@senate.michigan.gov
SenDCherry@senate.michigan.gov
SenIClark-Coleman@senate.michigan.gov
SenHansenClarke@senate.michigan.gov
SenACropsey@senate.michigan.gov
SenVGarcia@senate.michigan.gov
SenTGeorge@senate.michigan.gov
SenJGilbert@senate.michigan.gov
SenJGleason@senate.michigan.gov
SenTAHunter@senate.michigan.gov
SenGJacobs@senate.michigan.gov
SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
SenRJelinek@senate.michigan.gov
SenRKahn@senate.michigan.gov
SenWKuipers@senate.michigan.gov
SenMMcManus@senate.michigan.gov
SenDOlshove@senate.michigan.gov
SenJPappageorge@senate.michigan.gov
SenBPatterson@senate.michigan.gov
SenMPrusi@senate.michigan.gov
SenRRichardville@senate.michigan.gov
SenASanborn@senate.michigan.gov
SenMScott@senate.michigan.gov
SenMSwitalski@senate.michigan.gov
SenBThomas@senate.michigan.gov
SenGVanWoerkom@senate.michigan.gov
SenGWhitmer@senate.michigan.gov
Posted by: Jack! | Feb 27, 2007 2:34:28 PM
Jack: Thank you. It is a relief to see a productive message, and hopefully more commentators will be productive and active by making use of thos addresses. Thank you again.
Posted by: Cory | Feb 27, 2007 2:45:17 PM
Extroadinarily sad it required this lovely man to be beaten to death for new steps to be taken to make possible changes in Michigan's state laws. How many more of us across the country must give up our souls in order for this to be a national policy? Must we go state by state?
Posted by: Bill | Feb 27, 2007 3:01:01 PM
Yes, good for you, Jack! (When you think of it, although 72 might be too old to have sex appeal for most of us, it's not too old re. life these days. Anthos should have been able to enjoy another ten or twenty years).
Posted by: Joe T. | Feb 27, 2007 4:13:59 PM
Woah, it really feels like I'm dreaming right now..
Cause I admit I was hoping that everything Senator Hansen Clarke is promising right now would come to reality one day, but I never in a million years envisionned it would happen this quickly..and in such a beautiful way.
I think it's definitively our turn to say this:
God is good!!!
Posted by: Da | Feb 27, 2007 4:16:30 PM