Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 5:23 am
By: Denise Stewart, BlackAmericaWeb.com
A black Missouri teen, who last month was doused with gasoline and set afire by two white schoolmates, now faces charges himself as he recovers from burns over most of his body.
Walter Currie Jr., a 15-year-old in Poplar Bluff, Mo., was burned on June 13 after an exchange with two teens with whom he reportedly had a previous altercation.
The youth who allegedly doused him with the gasoline and lit the fuel has been charged with assault as a juvenile, Currie’s parents said.
On July 6, several weeks after the incident, authorities gave Currie and his parents notice that he is being charged in connection with another incident where a teen related to the youth who set him afire was hit in the face, said Winonia Currie, Walter’s mother.
“All of a sudden, they decided to charge him with something that happened on June 10, but Walter said he didn’t have anything to do with it,” she said.
Because all of the people involved are juveniles, court officials in Butler County, Missouri said they can give only limited details on the incidents and cannot discuss names.
“I can tell you that there are charges against everyone involved,” Lesi Smith, chief juvenile officer for Butler County, told BlackAmericaWeb.com.
This isn’t racism this is war. What we see here is the sad use of the court system attempting to justify a “War Crime.” If they used “White Phosphourus” and the Black kid was running naked through the woods someone could take a picture and we’d be outraged. This incident was blind retaliation for an event that took place earlier and revenge fueled the hearts of two boys at war. This isn’t a hate crime it’s a war crime. Some of us who take matters into our own hands need to be taught there are limits. These two kids know no limits and are looking for excuses to justify such evil. Race is just an excuse for this heinous act of war.
@ Cecil Jones – You are right, this isn’t about race it’s about WAR: spiritual war that is destroying our youth because we are not giving them the life-saving knowledge of jesus Christ they NEED to survive in this world. Lord, we lift these young people up, we ask for your healing to be poured into their hearts – open their eyes, strengthen us to reach them for you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/02/teen.burned.recovery/index.html