GEORGIA: No Hates Crime Charges For Marines That Beat Gay Man

In June two U.S. Marines were arrested in Savannah, Georgia after viciously beating a gay man they claimed had winked at them. The victim was hospitalized after suffering two seizures at the site of the attack. The case prompted national outrage and a local protest vigil after the men were only charged with misdemeanor assault. On Friday a joint investigation by the FBI and local police concluded that the case did not merit any hate crimes charges.

Johnson said after the FBI, the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department and the DA’s office reviewed Daly's medical records and conducted further investigation, they determined this case had “no merit” to be considered a hate crime. “I can’t speak on the specifics because this is pending litigation, but for a crime to be considered a felony [which a hate crime is considered to be] there has to be proof of a sustained injury,” Johnson said. “It’s my understanding Daly suffered only a punch. Based on his medical records we could not upgrade the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony.” If convicted of a misdemeanor, the Marines could face less than a year in jail and a fine of no more than $1,200, she added.

Unbelievable.

Kokesh Loses In Tribunal

Cpl. Adam Kokesh, Iraq vet, anti-war activist, UMSC reservist, and AMERICAN HERO, lost his case before the Marine Corps today as a three-member panel recommended that he be involuntarily released from the Individual Ready Reserves and have his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps downgraded to a "general", or less-than-honorable discharge. Kokesh was brought up on charges that he had dishonored his uniform by wearing a "stripped-down" version of it to anti-Iraq war protests.

A general discharge means that Kokesh will get to keep his GI benefits, which a dishonorable discharge would have ended. The separation from the Individual Ready Reserves is largely symbolic, as Kokesh was scheduled to complete his committment on June 18th.

Kokesh's lawyer said, "What that means is he is not dishonorable, and he's only kind of honorable, so in effect, the board picked the safe route." Kokesh vowed to appeal the ruling, saying, "I'm standing on principle and we're going to contest this on principle. It's not going to go away. It's clear these tactics of intimidation are being used against members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Freedom of speech means the right to say what other people don't want to hear."

On Sunday, Kokesh appeared on Good Morning America with two other Iraq vets charged for their anti-war activities:

The Iraq Veterans Against The War are spinning today's ruling as a victory, since Kokesh did not receive the severest punishment available. Please leave your messages of support for Adam Kokesh at his blog, where right wingers have been leaving hate messages, including calling Kokesh a "faggot" for his anti-war views.
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