A kid dies in Cleveland

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A Kid Dies in Cleveland

By John Perazzo

FrontPageMagazine.com | July 25, 2002

On his sentencing date this past April, a convicted killer stood before Richard and Carol Bozak in a Cleveland courtroom. By the time the Bozaks were finished addressing this man who had slain their thirteen-year-old son Raymond last summer, there wasn’t a dry eye among anyone in attendance. Describing the anguish that they and their four other children had endured since the day of Raymond’s death, the Bozaks made it clear that their lives would never again be the same.

Raymond was a really nice kid. He attended Saint Paul School in Euclid, and held an after-school job delivering a weekly newspaper called the Sun Scoop Journal. Like so many youngsters, he liked playing with his electronic Game Boy, riding his bicycle, and playing baseball in the Northeast Cleveland Little League. Notably, he also enjoyed bringing gifts of fruits and vegetables to his neighbors in town. For this purpose, last August 21 he made an afternoon trip to Cavotta’s Garden Center in Cleveland to gather some produce. By the time 5 p.m. rolled around, he and a few friends were happily immersed in the task of picking pears from a tree and placing them into a wagon containing some tomatoes and apples they had already gathered. Yes, all in all, Raymond was a really nice, thoughtful kid.

Then suddenly, without warning or provocation, the passenger in a passing car fired a high-powered air rifle at Raymond — and laughed with glee upon seeing that the boy had been struck. The pellet penetrated the youngster’s flesh and broke an artery in his lung, causing him to bleed to death within a short time. The driver of the car from which the fatal shot was fired, Dontell Lassiter, was eventually sentenced to five years of community control sanctions. The gunman, Andre Beasley, was sentenced to six years in prison.

This story didn’t make much of a splash in the media. But that is standard procedure for cases like this, where black assailants and white victims are involved. The New York Times was silent. The Los Angeles Times turned a blind eye. USA Today didn’t notice. The Washington Post devoted all of 52 words to the incident — with no mention of its interracial component. Relatively few Americans outside of Ohio ever heard about Raymond Bozak’s death.

Like the Washington Post account, an Associated Press wire story ignored the racial angle completely. "A boy was shot and killed while picking fruit with friends," read the AP version, "who told police a gunman fired from a passing car." In its description of the leads the police were following, the AP story stated, "Police are looking for a light-blue car, possibly a Chevrolet Celebrity. Two men seen in the car were thought to be in their late 30s or early 40s." For some reason, the color of the car — but not of the men — was deemed relevant. Similarly, the perceived age of the suspects found its way into the story, but not their perceived race. Given that the suspects were, at that time, still at large, would it not have been logical to at least mention that they were black — so that Cleveland residents who might have potentially helped locate the culprits would have had a bit more information? After all, a suspect’s skin color is far easier for witnesses to accurately identify than is a suspect’s age. And indeed, it turned out that Lassiter and Beasley were both under twenty years old — meaning that the report of their estimated ages was far off base, and thus actually counterproductive to the search effort.

In the relatively light attention that the local media gave the story, the element of race was similarly ignored — in stark contrast to the manner in which white-on-black attacks are typically covered. The Akron Beacon Journal reported only that "two men" had been arrested in connection with "a fatal drive-by shooting that apparently began as a prank." The sole mention of color in the article was a reference to Bozak’s neighborhood as a "blue collar" area. The Cincinnati Enquirer’s version was virtually identical: "Two young men have been arrested in a fatal drive-by BB shooting that apparently began as a prank two days before one suspect arrived at college." Sun Newspapers reported, "On Aug. 21, two teenagers driving past Cavotta Garden Center on Nottingham Road fired a BB from a high-powered air rifle and hit 13-year-old Raymond Bozak. He died an hour later." On its Website, Cleveland’s WKYC Television reported that "Raymond Bozak...was murdered as he picked fruit at a Nottingham Road nursery. The teen-ager was killed by two youths who fired a pellet gun as if it were a drive-by shooting."

In cases like the killing of Raymond Bozak, it is difficult not to notice the glaring absence of any journalistic references to race. This is not to say that race should always be a central focus of crime reporting, nor that it was even a motivating factor in Bozak’s shooting. But one may legitimately ask why the media employ such a blatant double standard that assiduously explores racial angles in cases of white-on-black attacks, but routinely dismisses such angles when the races are reversed.

Link

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeeD@yahoo.com), July 31, 2002

Answers

Just saw on Fox News where a rental van went out of control and jumped a curb in South Chicago and hit a bunch of people hurting some of them seriously. A group of men pulled the two middle aged men out of the vehicle and then beat them to DEATH. Video showed black victims that were hit by the van but nothing said about whether the van occupants were white or black. I've got a sneekin suspicion that they were two white guys that got beat to death by several black guys. We won't here Jack Shit about this if this is actually the case. You can sure as hell bet your grandmas dirty underwear if 10 white guys pulled two black drivers out of that van and beat them to death south Chicago would be up in flames by 5 this evening! I apologize if I am wrong but I don't think so. This double standard shit just pisses me off!

-- Boswell (fundown@thefarm.net), July 31, 2002.

Don't forget the Wi chita massacre.

-- (The Rev Al Sharpton@get.whitey), July 31, 2002.

So, what’s new here? Don’t blame the niggers….they at least have their paid media pimps like Sharpton and Jackson to stir the racial pot at the drop of a hat. White politicians are so busy kissing up to the blacks for votes; they wouldn’t have the balls to say shit. And anyone else that speaks up is labeled a fanatic racist. The bleeding heart liberals are so concerned about being PC that the crazy-ass niggers are without fear of retribution.

Because of this lopsided bullshit, I predict MAJOR race riots throughout this country in the next 3 years.

-- Free (head@case.analysis), July 31, 2002.


The 3 women hit by the van are black.

The two men in the van were black.

The killers are all black.

The ‘citizens’ that stood around watching, and doing absolutely nothing, are all black.

The people the cops are hoping will help identify the killers are all black.

This would be an excellent opportunity for the Reverend Jackson, who is based in the Windy City, to come forward and denounce this vigilante action and insist that the good citizen’s who witnessed the murders help the authorities. Same deal for Reverand Sharpton.

Don’t hold your breath on either count.

-- Fact (finders@r.us), July 31, 2002.


Wh y Are Black Leaders Silent on Black Hate Crimes? Salon.con

-- (niggaz@payback.time), July 31, 2002.


What a bunch of racists.

Do you know how many blacks were mistreated, lynched, beaten, killed, and worse, by whites for centuries?!

Have you never heard of karma?

-- (why@the.surprise), July 31, 2002.


Didn’t take too long for this ‘touchy feely’ liberal shit bag to crawl out from under the rock.

-- Blacks (are@bottom.feeders), July 31, 2002.

What twaddle!

In your world, blacks should be free to mistreat, lynch, beat, kill, or worse, whites for centuries to come simply because of the behavior of SOME whites in the past. Two wrongs make a right huh?

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeeD@yahoo.com), July 31, 2002.


(why@the.surprise) just couldn’t wait to parade out this worn-out tome of the liberal non-thinkers. Do you think the blacks are the only racial/religious group to be persecuted down through history?

What makes them somewhat unique is their time proven inability to overcome adversity, take care of their own, except responsibility for their actions, and at least attempt to be productive members of the world community.

They are also unique in that they have conned an entire group of white liberals into supporting their every action; regardless how outrageous it may be.

They are the dregs of humanity…….have always been, shall always be.

-- Just (my@2.cents), July 31, 2002.


Unk, of course it's not right. But it's sort of that old adage, 'you made your bed, now lie in it'.

And there are still people like blacks@bottom.feeders, and just@two.cents who will always believe they are superior to blacks. Look how far we've come. {sigh}

just@two.cents, just how many blacks do you know personally? The ones I know are hard-working professionals and are great people.

-- (why@so.surprised), July 31, 2002.



2cents,

That's more horseshit. Many, many, MANY black individuals have overcome staggering adversity. Many of them also take responsibility for their actions, ect. ect.

Read the writings of Walter Williams, Thomas Sowell, and Larry Elder sometime, just to name a few. This thread wasn't posted as an anti- black rant, but as a dis-honest, over-sensitive, politically correct media rant.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeeD@yahoo.com), July 31, 2002.


“just@two.cents, just how many blacks do you know personally? The ones I know are hard-working professionals and are great people.”

I suspect you are a typical suburban soccer mom’s husband with a very narrow portfolio of life experiences. In your simplistic rational, a few good apples make the orchard great. There would be no reason for me to explain my background with the black community…..this is the Internet and there is no proof of what I say. It’s hard to understand how any living person in today’s world could underestimate the problems with the black’s, unless you are so isolated from or ignorant of the social decay all around you.

That’s cool. Enjoy the next episode of South Park and your morning ‘mixer’ at the local Starbuck’s.

Everything is fine…no worries.

-- Just (my@2.cents), August 01, 2002.


Just@2.cents, you are so far off, it's hilarious. You offer no argument, because you have none. You don't know any blacks.

I am a female, and have been through so much in my life, it would make your head spin if I told you half of it.

Btw, I won't pay $5 for a cup of coffee. Unless I'm stuck in the Tokyo International airport again.

-- (why@so.surprised), August 01, 2002.


Btw, I do know some really rotten white people. I think you're going on the list.

-- (why@so.surprised), August 01, 2002.

Ed & Gloria across the street and Lee next door to them are the only blacks I really know. When my pirate box is working we (cept for Gloria) watch the fights here and otherwise share garden tools and talk about the weather. Me be missing something here?

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), August 01, 2002.


There are good black folks around and some really nasty white folk. But look at the statistics. Half the people on welfare are black the other half white. Since the population consists of 12% black, that says that a black person is 8 times more likely to be on welfare than a white person. To me this says that black people, even though they've been given many opportunities, have not made productive lives. And yes I know many black people and grew up in the 'projects'.

But as Unk points out, that wasn't the purpose of this thread. It's just another example of the liberal pinko-commie media.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), August 02, 2002.


I had a roomate from Kenya once. Coolest guy you could ever meet. The funniest thing I have ever seen was when he did his impression of American black people.

-- dr. pibb (drpibb@new.formula), August 02, 2002.

(why@the.surprise), I stand corrected. So you’re a soccer dad’s wife….whatever. Everyone ‘thinks’ that their life experiences are worthy of note, when in fact most are surprised to discover how ‘average’ they really are. You may quite possibly have had a very interesting life but trust me when I tell you that there is nothing about it that would spin my head.

· I was raised in a black community where we were the decided minority.

· I’ve lived with two black ladies (not at the same time unfortunately).

· I have a cousin that is married to a black man.

· My personal physician is a black man, and a good friend.

· Of my 30 best friends, 3 are black and 1 is a woman.

· My business activities interface with the black community on a daily basis.

· I’m confident that my knowledge base of the black community is light years ahead of yours, for whatever that may be worth.

· It is the black folks that I know who are the most outspoken and discouraged regarding the state of their race.

Black people that I know do not call themselves ‘African Americans’, but they are quick with the ‘N’ word. So, I wasn’t trying to offer any arguments just stating the obvious.

That is if your eyes are open.

I do respect your opinion and hope this reality check has not ‘spun you out’.

BTW, you may have noticed that the authorities in Chicago are not able to get ANYBODY in that neighborhood where the two guys were beat to death, to come forward with any information.

-- Just (my@2.cents), August 02, 2002.


I am a female, and have been through so much in my life, it would make your head spin if I told you half of it.

Please oh please, make my head spin.

-- (nemesis@awol.com), August 02, 2002.


You're head is already spun

-- (no need@for.that), August 02, 2002.

I apologize for assuming the two victims were white. Damn! Now I guess I'll pick on the Indians for awhile. In these parts the tribes are crying foul to their standard of living, the treaties, and wanting to tax the whites for any reason they can come up with. They say we stole their land and they are a conquered people. And I say they're lucky they got whipped back in the 1870s-80s. If it had not happened that way, Hitler would have met the Japanese Imperial Army in the middle of Kansas and the tribal survivors would have been loaded in boxcars and shipped off to the concentration camps in Colorado and they would have all ended up in that big sweat house in the sky. They call themselves sovereign Nations, so why don't they need a visa to come back in this country? Now they complain their sacred Salmon is contaminated by the white man and making them sick. But I say if they wouldn't hang it on their front porch for three days and put the damn thing in the fridge it wouldn't happen! They are a fun and interesting people but I'm tellin ya it gets stretched to the limit at times

-- Boswell (fundown@thefarm.net), August 02, 2002.

Naughty Boswell!

-- (helen's@gonna.getcha), August 02, 2002.

Boswell, oh Boswell ...

You know I love you dear.

It is wrong for any group to use past victimization as an excuse to avoid succeeding in the here and now, so in that regard you are quite right.

I'm not the one who can explain why contaminated salmon is and should be an issue for a tribe. The only thing I can point to is a fictitious story about 'Borg' and our heroes' efforts to avoid being assimilated -- not a bad analogy, and being science fiction, it avoids getting into a nit picking argument based in reality. :)

-- helen (one@with.many), August 02, 2002.


Those damned Injuns!

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeeD@yahoo.com), August 02, 2002.

Don't know any Indians cept for the flood of docs from India. Ever tried to pronounce Myruthanjaya the first time? Town calls him Dr. MJ. Pretty good pediatrician but has lousy taste in ties.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), August 03, 2002.

Sheeesh, I can't leave you pugs alone for a second before you're talking about how much you hate niggers! No wonder Roloboy isn't responding, he's starting to realize that conservatives are not as cool as he thought, LOL!

-- bwahahaha! (the truth comes out @ racist. pugs), August 03, 2002.

bwahahaha,

I'm not sure you're correct in thinking that the racial stereo-typers here are conservatives in the true sense of the word. But that definition aside, the Left is surely as full of racists as is the Right. The racism on the Left merely assumes a different form and uses a differnt language.

While refraining from the use of the "N-Word", the left believes that blacks are so inherently helpless and inferior that they cannot make way for themselves in this world without handouts and giveaways from the government. Sadly, those on the left state these beliefs so stridently and so well guised in the terms of "compassion" that far too many blacks have come to believe them and have given up hope before they even start.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeeD@yahoo.com), August 03, 2002.


PS,

Blacks are not helpless to better their life in America. Just look at the amount of money Jesse Jackson is able to extort from big bidness. Blacks can be VERY successful financially!

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeeD@yahoo.com), August 03, 2002.


The primary tragedy in black America is no longer white discrimination and prejudice, often deadly prejudice. The primary trajedy is the shitty behavior of too many black folk, especially young men. Crime, absentee fatherhood, drugs and "attitude" are ruinous. The demagogs who make a living by selling blacks the notion that all our problems are due to whitey just make it worse.

The patronizing by white Liberals makes it worse.

-- (roland@hatemail.com), August 03, 2002.


Don’t forget the young black girls who are doing the same shit, in between spitting out welfare babies.

-- Just (my@2.cents), August 03, 2002.

Hip-hop raises health concerns

-- (P Diddy @ J. Lo's.boudoir), August 03, 2002.

Best said, roland.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), August 03, 2002.

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