Groups Say Video Game Depicts Haitians As Criminals (Grand Theft Auto)

NY1 ^ | 11/25/03

[finnman69]

Two Haitian-American advocacy groups want to pull the plug on a popular video game in which players earn points for carjacking and other violence.

The Haitian Centers Council and Haitian Americans for Human Rights say the game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" promotes racism against Haitians, depicting them as criminals.

Dozens of community leaders denounced the game at a protest on the steps of City Hall Tuesday, calling on federal and local prosecutors to investigate whether the game violates civil rights laws. They are also calling on consumers to boycott products against the maker, Rockstar Games, and its parent company, Take Two Interactive Software.

“While freedom of speech is protected by our constitution in this great country,” said Sanford Rubenstein, an attorney with the protestors, “we all know that that freedom does not protect yelling ‘fire’ in a crowded theater. By the same token video games with racist dialogue, including ‘Kill all the Hatians,’ should not be protected either.”

Another demonstration is planned for December 15 in front of Rockstar’s Lower Manhattan offices.

Rockstar has not yet responded to the allegations.

[finnman69]

Comeon, GTA3 made fun of everyone. If you don;t like ethnic stereotypes, don't play the game. It's also a little late, this game has been out for a year. If they think these games are bad, wait till they see Rockstar's new game 'Manhunt' which lets you kill someone cinematically using a plastic bag.

[finnman69]

Frankly this seems a little more disturbing than Haitan accents.

[finnman69]

GTA3 portrayed Blacks, Hispanics, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Jamaicans, Columbians, etc. as criminals. Are these not the typical backgrounds of gangs, drug dealers, Asian triads, and the mafia?

[discostu]

Wow, sure took these guys a long time to get to the second island.

[Callahan]

I have to say GTA:VC rocks. I just passed the part where you use a rooftop assault rifle to protect the Cuban druglord from a gang of Uzi-wielding Haitians. No offense to either victim-group, of course. I was a little concerned that the lead character/killer's name is Tommy Vercetti. What have the developers got against Polish people;)

[Steel Wolf]

Vice City is an awesome game.

GAME

Not reality. Not a documentary. It's just a game, folks. (Man, is that chainsaw sweet)

[Callahan]

Anybody played "True Crime: Streets of L.A."? I'm thinking about adding that one to my Xmas list.

[SunStar]

The Haitian Centers Council and Haitian Americans for Human Rights say the game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" promotes racism against Haitians, depicting them as criminals.

Yes, and also Cubans, Italians, Irish musicians, white bikers, and more.

Also, in GTA3, Jamaicans along with Mexicans, Italians, white people, etc. were all criminals.

[SunStar]

Wow, sure took these guys a long time to get to the second island.

LOL!

[billbears]

LOL!! Took me quite a while as well. I put Vice City on hold and went back to play the other one for awhile (got both in the XBox pack). I think Italians, Haitians, Asians, and practically anyone else could probably be offended by either one

Personally I think I may have a case because all the cheat codes aren't clear :)

[Pikamax]

True Crime is an average game, the driving stages are mediocore, the dialogue in the game is terrible, the soundtrack is not good, the fighting in the game is below average. I would rent it first before putting the money down for it.

[billbears]

Thanks I was thinking of that one next. Will put it on the hold list then

[finnman69]

We forgot the gay lisping construction workers walking around with construction boots and plaid shirts saying "Young man! There's no need to feel down!".

[Dan from Michigan]

They make fun of everybody. Italians, Cubans, Haitians, Conservatives, Liberals, Talk Radio, PBS, Bikers, Rednecks, yuppies, anticommunists, hippies, and commies.

The game parodies everybody, and is hilarious.

[Dan from Michigan]

It's the guy from Goodfella's. Ray Liotta.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

"Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" promotes racism against Haitians, depicting them as criminals.

These people need to get a life. It doesn't depict Haitians as criminals. It depicts ALL Hispanics as criminals. Yeesh...

[finnman69]

Donald Love....rich white man with an evil media empire who also dabbles in crime.

[Old Professer]

I believe the dominant dialect in Haiti is very similar to Creole.

[Tacis]

But, Haitians ARE integrity challenged! Maybe, there are some Haitians who are honest or have integrity but, I've never met one either in Haiti, Miami or Toronto. Nice people, warm people, but don't leave anything laying around lose, in the open, except, maybe, soap (unless it has perceived value in a market, then it's gone, as well).

Simply equating lack of integrity with Haitians is not racism. This is what the PC neocommunists do, call a generalization by a negative label, thereby, discounting the generalization, no matter how accurate it might be.

[chriservative]

Agreed. True Crime was a waste of money.