Update: (September 11, 2009): A federal judge sentenced four men responsible for the election night hate crimes to prison terms ranging from four and 1/2 to nine years.
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New York, NY, January 9, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) hailed the indictment of three Staten Island men for an attack on African-Americans and others in "retaliation" for President-elect Barack Obama's election victory. After learning that Mr. Obama had won, the men allegedly carried out a series of racially motivated assaults with a metal pipe and a police baton.
Joel J. Levy, ADL New York Regional Director, issued the following statement:
The brutal Election Night assaults are a tragic reminder of the dangers of racism and hatred. Even as we have come so far as a nation in overcoming racism, it was disturbing to wake up and hear of a vicious hate crime. New York should be no place for hate.
We applaud the authorities for the speed and seriousness with which they treated these incidents, sending an important message that such acts of hate are unacceptable in our community.
The suspects, Ralph Nicolleti, 18; Michael Contreras, 18; and Brian Carranza, 21, were indicted on Federal Hate Crime Conspiracy Charges.
The League thanked the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force for their diligence in the case.
