Liberian Immigrant Teen arrested for attack on Mexican Immigrant in Staten Island

Hate crime: Hate crimes (also known as bias-motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or political affiliation.

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"Hate crime" generally refers to criminal acts which are seen to have been motivated by hatred of one or more of the listed conditions. Incidents may involve physical assault, damage to property, bullying, harassment, verbal abuse or insults, or offensive graffiti or letters (hate mail).

I ran across a news article that simply saddened me:

A 15-year-old boy has been busted in the robbing and beating of a Mexican immigrant on Staten Island, the latest in a string of hate crimes in the borough, authorities said Monday.

The 18-year-old victim was beaten and robbed of $10 early Saturday in Port Richmond near the suspect's home, cops said.

The victim, who suffered cuts and bruises on his face, volunteers with Eye Openers Youth Against Violence.

The suspect a Liberian immigrant who is now a U.S. citizen, was picked up by police about 7:20 p.m. Sunday because he matched a description of the attacker.

He was charged with assault, robbery and harassment as a hate crime and was due to appear in Family Court later Monday.

-New York Daily News

This story involves so many issues, I don't even know where to begin. Hate Crimes in America are nothing new. Hate crimes against immigrants are now common ground. Hate crimes against Mexicans are on the rise, especially with the heated SB-1070 Arizona Law. But, hate crimes amongst immigrants, child immigrants. What is this world coming to?