Schoolyard Fracas Gains National Attention
ATLANTA—Nine-year-old Bobby Tish was arraigned in federal court Friday
morning on charges of violating the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA). The charges stem from an April 14th incident in which Tish allegedly attacked classmate Kirby Willard on the playground of Wentlestein Elementary School in northwest Atlanta after Willard told Julia Gammons, a female classmate, that Tish “thinks you’re a real dish and wants to kiss you on the mouth.”
Speaking briefly to the press on Tuesday, federal prosecutor Langston Greene told reporters that “there is considerable evidence that the attack was motivated by some form of hatred or malice. Consequently, we’ll be asking the district court to try Mr. Tish as an adult.”
The prosecution’s chief witness against Tish is Lennie Tobber, an
off-duty school crossing guard who witnessed the attack and separated
the two boys. “There’s no doubt about it. At that moment Bobby hated little Kirby, alright,” Langston told reporters. “Even after I pulled the boys apart,
Bobby kept yelling and calling Kirby names, saying that he hated the
little bastard and was going to kick his ass. Yes, he used the word ‘hate’.” Tish has denied to his teacher that he ever harbored any hatred of Willard, contending that he was just pissed-off about what Kirby had done.
The case is gaining national attention as the first brought against a
minor under the HCPA provisions against schoolyard violence. Attorney General Eric Holder alluded to the case Friday afternoon while addressing students at Georgetown University. “This government intends to send a clear message to all American school kids that if you hate somebody, it’s gonna cost you. We’re going to put your ass in jail. Count on it.”
Although President Obama has made no public statement concerning the
Tish case, sources inside the White House are quietly saying that the
President is working with congressional Democratic leaders on an
amendment to the HCPA. The measure would broaden federal
jurisdiction in the area of hatred, providing prosecutors with the
authority to imprison not only those who hate people, but those who make certain ugly faces defined in the amendment or act really snotty.
