And Justice For All
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Tuesday, November 6 2007, 10:47AM
Just over a year after 29-year-old Michael Sandy died from injuries sustained in a brutal hate crime attack in New York, the last of the four defendants on trial pleaded guilty yesterday in court. Facing a possible life sentence on murder charges, 21-year-old Ilya Shurov agreed to serve 17-1/2 years in prison after admitting that he chased Michael Sandy onto the Belt Parkway on October 8, 2006. Shurov pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted robbery as hate crimes.
Two of Shurov's co-defendants, Anthony Fortunato and John Fox, were convicted in trial and face up to 25 years in prison when sentenced. But Shurov was looking at the possibility of life in prison because he was the only defendant accused of physical violence. Witnesses in the first trial said that Shurov had hidden behind a dune, run out, punched Sandy, chased him into traffic and then rifled his pockets after he was struck by a car.
I hope that Shurov's sentence will bring some measure of comfort to Sandy's family and friends. These young defendants were at the beginning of their adult lives, and now they will spend most of their 20s and 30s in prison. That is the debt they owe to society after murdering another human being.
I hope also that the sentence will send a message to other would-be hate criminals that the lives of LGBT people, black people and all people are valuable. All the fear and anger in our society directed at people who are different must surely contribute to the violence directed at these same people. So if we really want to stop hate crimes, then we have to do something about the venomous culture of fear that contributes to these crimes.
It's time to stop vilifying people because of their differences or perceived differences and judging entire groups of people based on their group affiliation instead of their individual behavior. It's time to stop using gays and blacks and Arabs and immigrants as the scapegoats for all our problems in society. And for those who call themselves Christians, it's time to stop preaching about Christian love and start practicing it.
Michael Sandy did not have to die. And nothing that happens now can bring him back to his parents or his friends. But his death need not be in vain. If Michael Sandy's passing teaches us anything, I hope that it teaches us to love.
Comments conceal
Myra
November 6 2007, 12:42PM
Well, I'm glad to see that at least one of these killers will actually do some real time, since, the others are up for what 4 years, which means a year a half of hard time?
Although, I don't think this murder has to do with scapegoats, like immigrants and such, this was a crime of opportunity, and, the one thing that I think should come out of it, is if you are looking on line for sex, or in bars, or in a park, beware, there are folks out there who want to do you harm.
As for love, I don't think this country will ever reach that point, and, is head deeper into the pit with no leadership to teach tolerance at the top of the chain, its anything to keep the staus quo.
saint james
November 6 2007, 12:53PM
Yes, it is time to stop merely preaching about Christian love and practicing it without hypocrisy. That happens to be a partial, paraphrased quote from the New Testament. Jesus loves everybody.
Question: Do any of the posters believe the admissions of two of the attackers, co-horts, etc., were actually gay themselves? Or do you think it was a ploy to get rid of the hate crime aspect to their sentencing?
Billy
November 6 2007, 1:23PM
While, it won't bring Sandy back it will send a message to America. Sadly, black media failed us in this particular case by not being as vocal as they were about the Jena 6 story. Love was demonstrated by Sandy's parents in their choice to forgive-R.I.P. Michael.
MLee
November 6 2007, 6:22PM
Saint james, I believe the admissions of two of the attackers, co-horts, etc., that they were actually gay themselves was a ploy to get rid of the hate crime aspect to their sentencing.
I would have only been satisfied of the outcome if Ilya Shurov served many more than 17 1/2 years and Anthony Fortunato and John Fox served at least 17 years.
THEGAYTE_KEEPER
November 6 2007, 6:48PM
I HATE IT WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, MAKES US REALIZE HOW MUCH HATE THERE IS IN THIS WORLD...HOWEVER, I AM SURE THAT MICHAEL SANDY DIDN'T DIE IN VAIN...HE HAS FULFILLED HIS PURPOSE!
Ostend Street
November 7 2007, 9:25AM
This was a hate crime. It was vicious, cruel, and unnecessary. Although one defendant received a harsher sentence, all of the them should have received stiffer sentences. None of this will, of course, bring back Mr. Sandy, but I wish his family all the best. No matter what's said about this case, it's just a sad, sad story.
Solo
November 7 2007, 1:42PM
Michael Sandy's killers got off easy! Ilya Shurov and his co-defendants, Anthony Fortunato and John Fox should all have gotten 25 to life. Ilya punched Sandy and the others didn't is the reason given that the others were charged with lesser crimes, sorry but that would only make sense if it was the punch that killed this young brother. It wasn't! It was the act of chasing him onto the highway that killed him and they all did participated in that act so they all should have gotten the harsher sentence!
Jaye
November 7 2007, 2:28PM
Even a year later this story STILL makes my heart sad. I am at least glad those bastards have been sent up the river!
Blue
November 7 2007, 4:10PM
I too hope his family finds a measure of peace. This story is very sad all the way around.
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