Posted on 08/31/2012 8:21:21 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A Los Angeles artist who allegedly painted the words ‘Tastes Like Hate’ on a Chick-fil-A restaurant following the announcement that their president was against marriage equality, is not going to be criminally charged.
Manuel Castro, 30, of West Hollywood, was arrested on suspicion of vandalism a few weeks ago, but will not be criminally charged by the LA County district attorney’s office, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Prosecutors said earlier this week that they would not be pressing charges after police in Torrance submitted a case.
The District Attorney’s letter said: “The suspect has acknowledged his wrongdoing and offered to make restitution. Finally, the record does not establish the suspect was motivated by religious hatred.”
The cost of covering the graffiti is around $700 and the case could still be reviewed for prosecution by the Torrance city attorney’s office.
The graffiti appeared when demonstrations at Chick-fil-A restaurants across the US were taking place, sparked by company President Dan Cathy’s public declaration that he was against marriage equality.
The graffiti’s appearance coincided with the National Same-Sex Kiss Day, when LGBT rights supporters asked couples to take photos of themselves kissing at branches of Chick-fil-A.
Interviewed by the Huffington Post, Mr Castro said: “Everybody is entitled to free speech, but it seems like for the gay tribe, this is more of an issue of equal rights – human rights.
“I’m against what these [Chick-fil-A] people stand for, what this company stands for. They’re trying to take away what little rights we already have.
“I didn’t use violence. I used paint. Artists for centuries have expressed their opinions through this medium and I am no different.
“I am happy to pay for the costs of repainting the wall, but I am not — nor will I ever be — happy to sit quietly at the back of the bus.”
So does this guy get a free pass because of his hispanic name or because he is a homosexual? Or are the authorities worried about what might happen if they put him in a local jail?
Talk about a busman’s holiday...
Of course.
There were laws against black people sitting at the front of the bus. The CEO of Chick-fil-A did nothing more than merely express his personal opinion. There is a difference.
CFA is lucky the DA didn’t charge them for the “art work”.
Some animals are more equal than other animals. The prosecutor’s office is not applying the law and it appears to be simply because they are supporting the vandalist’s opinion. When laws are not equally prosecuted, we have tyranny.
How is this governmental endorsement of vandalizing private property, simply because of a political point of view, any different than the Nazi endorsement of vandalizing Jewish businesses?
‘Now just imagine that a Christian had painted **THE EXACT SAME THING** on a Muslim-owned restaurant. Would that individual be walking away scot-free?’
Or a Gay Bar.
” ‘Now just imagine that a Christian had painted **THE EXACT SAME THING** on a Muslim-owned restaurant. Would that individual be walking away scot-free?’
Or a Gay Bar. “
Or a gay muslim bar. I don’t know where they’re at, ask Obama.
“Killing Babies IS Hate!”
on a PP facility, wouldn’t be met w such dismissal....
Where is this guy’s art studio? I have some free speech that I would like to apply.
Welcome to a fascist state.
I don't care what his motivation was. The suspect intentionally damaged someone else's private property. That is a crime.
The suspect has acknowledged his wrongdoing...
Here are a few quotes from the suspect:
“Everybody is entitled to free speech...
“I didn’t use violence. I used paint. Artists for centuries have expressed their opinions through this medium and I am no different.
“I am happy to pay for the costs of repainting the wall, but I am not — nor will I ever be — happy to sit quietly at the back of the bus.”
That doesn't exactly sound like contrition. It appears the DA's office has decided not to prosecute because they consider crimes against the Christian minority in that state to be less serious than other crimes. I wonder how long it will be before they wink at the lynching of Christians.
If the bus had a closet, you should be quietly sitting in it. If you don't broadcat your mental illness, you'll be treated like anyone else.
Not surprising. It is just like the New Black Panther Party members who had their charged dropped for voter intimidation.
JoMa
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