OlderRemembering Lawrence King
CNN host Anderson Cooper just blogged about a shooting at a junior high school computer lab in California that happened two weeks ago. Consequently, as a result of a hate crime, 15-year-old Lawrence King was shot to death.
Anderson, 40, posed the question, “When does bullying become a hate crime?” Here’s his entry:
“We are focusing on a story that hasn’t received the attention it deserves. The story is about a young man named Lawrence King. He was 15 years old. On the morning of Feb 12, a classmate of Lawrence’s allegedly walked into the computer lab in front of some two dozen other students and shot Lawrence in the head. He was declared brain dead later at the hospital. According to authorities, this was not a random killing, it was a hate crime. Lawrence had recently told people he was gay, and apparently wore clothing that was viewed as effeminate. According to many accounts he had been bullied repeatedly, and some parents have even claimed students knew of threats to Lawrence’s life. At this point it doesn’t seem clear how much school officials knew of the bullying, but a full investigation needs to be done. If this had been an African-American student bullied by a teenage skinhead would it have received more attention? Would school officials have taken it more seriously if it had been a Christian campus leader attacked by another student because of his/her religious beliefs? I don’t have the answers to those questions, but I do think they are worth asking. Bullying is a problem in schools across the country. We’ve seen this time and time again. Is enough being done to stop it?”
In response to this hate crime, both Democratic presidential candidates released statements regarding this tragic event:
Said Hillary Clinton, “I was deeply saddened by the recent death of 15-year-old Lawrence King who was killed at his school in Oxnard, CA. No one should face intimidation or violence, particularly at school, because of their sexual orientation or the way they express their gender identity.We must finally enact a federal hate crimes law to ensure that gay, lesbian and transgender Americans are protected against violent, bias-motivated crimes. We must send a unified message that hate-based crime will not be tolerated.”
Barack Obama is on the same page, adding, “It was heartbreaking to learn about Lawrence King’s death, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. King’s senseless death is a tragic example of the corrosive effect that bigotry and fear can have in our society. It’s also an urgent reminder that we need to do more in our schools to foster tolerance and an acceptance of diversity; that we must enact a federal hate crimes law that protects all LGBT Americans; and that we must recommit ourselves to becoming active and engaged parents, citizens and neighbors, so that bias and bigotry cannot take hold in the first place. We all have a responsibility to help this nation live up to its founding promise of equality for all.”
The L.A. Times also has a write-up of last week’s memorial service for King: “At a memorial attended by more than 500 people in Port Hueneme, Lawrence “Larry” King was remembered Friday as a sensitive child who liked to draw, paint and crochet. One Christmas, he helped his mother crochet hundreds of scarves so that U.S. troops in Afghanistan wouldn’t be without a holiday gift.”
You can also visit the website that King’s family set up: RememberLarry.com.
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96 Comments
Parents should teach their children tolerance. The thought that someone so young thought it necessary to kill someone because they’re gay is mind boggling. I am so glad that Anderson Cooper brought this story to his show.
It is so sad that a precious life was taken because of ignorance. It is not right that this country is still in this position of intolerance. The people who can make a difference (our government) are setting this country back with their bigotry towards a group of people who don’t deserve to be hated. These people are our fathers, brothers, sisters, mothers, friends, clergy, congressman…everyone has a gay in their family whether they like it or not. It is time that this country moves towards acceptance!!!!!
hmm… @ 02/26/2008 at 3:47 am
hate crimes happen everyday in america because our country is full of hate, but the crime only matters if it’s a white gay male.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
interesting point. if we were to follow the media, we would think only blonde hasir, blue eyed pretty girls like natalie holloway and madeline get abducted. who was the last black kid to be abducted that you heard of that got national attention? so let’s not bring race into this because victims of hate crimes, of sexual violence and abduction come in all kinds. there are a lot of black gay teens suffering this same fate. they are on the street because they have nowhere to go. contact your local gay and lesbian association and help those kids out. that is better . do something! for all kids not just the ones “worthy” of cnn coverage.
The killing of anyone is wrong. Why do we need a federal law for a hate crime? Anyone being killed is illegal and wrong. If that law alone doesnt stop someone what is a law against hate crimes going to accomplish???? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO STOP OR DETER THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY DERANGED.
I just can’t believe this. I mean look at him…look at his face…so sweet, so young, so precious, so angelic. Someone’s son. Someone’s grand-son. Someone’s brother. Someone’s friend. A beautiful life snuffed out because he was gay??? This just breaks my heart.
The picture is not Larry…this is the site set up by the family. http://www.rememberlarry.com/
It is really horrible and sad.I so sorry his family.Who are these people who kill children?!!
Everything in this story is right on. No one should go through somethingl ike this. What a fin line though. I teach my children at home, that even if you do not agree with the way someone lives their lives it does not mean they don’t count, or that thier life has less meaning. But, I don’t want my children told that they have to tolerate and accept a certain behavior that they have been told is not ok. There should be kindness and concern for everyone. The flip side though is , I don’t want the idea and thought that homosexuality is ok. It’s not. I don’t want that pressed on my children and this will open that door. Teach love, kindness, and concern to these kids, punish the ones that are abusing these kids that are different. But, don’t push the gay agenda onto my family. Tolerance is one thing full acceptance is completely another.
Not to start an argument, but April, you think that this 15-year-old boy CHOSE to be gay? Why would anyone make that decision if choosing to not be gay kept things like this horrible, senseless murder from happening? Gay agenda. That’s funny.
is it just me or does that kid kinda look like nick jonas….
Yes the person in the pic looks kinda like Nick Jonas
but it is not Larry King.
lawrence’s story made me sob in my office. it is so incredibly heartbreaking that such a young life was cut short by an act of unjustified hatred. i do not understand how somebody can hate somebody so much for something that they don’t agree with, to the point of committing murder and hurting so many lives so deeply with that act. how do they excuse their hatred of homosexuality (assumingly bc of religious beliefs?)…when they commit the most awful of sins in God’s eyes: murder of one His children?
this hatred and judgment we see in the States break my heart into pieces.
neil thanx for the link
April ur part of the reason why toterance is not respected
no one not even the presidential candidates said acceptance
“BUT EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOSE
WHO AND WHAT THEY WANT TO BE AND NO ONE BUT GOD HIMSELF CAN JUDGE “! REMEMBER THE
“GOLDEN RULE DO UN TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD WANT TO DO UN TO YOU”! MAY GOD BLESS LARRY’S FAMILY AND GIVE THEM THE PEACE THEY SO DEEPLY DESERVE
ANDERSON COOPER…………YOU NEED TO BE THE ONE TO DO AN “EXPOSE’” ON THIS STORY.THE FLAMING BUSH GETS NOTICED FASTER THAN “THIS LIL LIGHT OF MINE’” SHINING ON SOME STOOL SOMEWHERE.
BLACK FOLK,WHITE FOLK, GAY FOLK, JEWS, SPICS, POLACKS….ON AND ON. BOYS REFERRING TO THERE GIRLFRIENDS AS “HOES”,,,,,IT’S NO WONDER PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD LOOK AT THE USA AS A VERRRRRY DANGEROUS PLACE IN THE WORLD.
WE GOTTA SMARTEN UP…..REEEEEL FAST, BECAUSE WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND EVERYTIME.!!!! WE’RE GONNA BE IN REAL TROUBLE IF WE …:WE THE PEOPLE ” DON’T GET ACTIVE AND START YELLIN OUR HEADS OFF ABOUT THIS CRAP!!! AND REALLY DEMANDING (WE HAVE THAT RIGHT AS CITIZENS TO DEMAND, YOU KNOW!!!) THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS GET OFF THEIR COLLECTIVE GLUTEOS MAXIMUS (****, to those who don’t know Latin) AND START DOING THEIR JOBS…OR WE’RE GOING TO THROW THEM OUT.
WHERE IS OUR SENSE OF POWER ANYMORE??? WE GOTTA START TAKEING IT BACK, BY GOD!!!
WAKE UP!!!!!
It`s a shame and so sad.
just because he was gay.they`re is nothing wrong with it.
he was just a boy who want to bew himself.
best wishes to his family.
I am glad this story was written because it was being swept under the rug.
With that being said, i think saying “african americans getting more attention etc” perpetuates some sort of racism; instead of letting it be clear that no matter “who(race) and what(sexual orientation) gets EQUAL protection.
This happens too often in schools and it has a lot to do with parents values. This guy who shot Lawrence was so bold about it and I think that those people who new about the threats should be held as an accomplice as well as the parents or something. Just my thought.
thanks so much for posting jared
I agree with what cooper said; My god, prayers be with his family, and I have to say I agree with you Jill @ 02/26/2008 at 2:21 am
Great point, ALL AMERICANS MUST STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. There are those who may not agree with the lifestyle, however to be silent is disgusting!!!
REPUBLICANS WE NEED YOU TO SPEAK UP!!!
ok, now the pic does not look like nick, and if it wasn’t larry king who was it?
Oh yeah by the way, i believe this story is very heartbreaking and should have never happed. Just because someone lives a lifestyle that you are uncomfortable with or think is wrong you should not kill them. I am, a Christan and i do believe homosexual acts are wrong but we should love them anyway and should not be unaccepting of them, not that we should be okay with what they’re doing but that we accept them as people, love them for who they are and not who they should be.
I don’t want to start anything here, but why does this type of thing always happen in the States? It’s really the only country (uncorrupt developed country, I should say) where this type of thing happens on a regular basis. Canada, Australia, England (all of Europe for that matter), it rarely, if ever happens.
This issue spans further than just homosexuality and frankly, Clinton and Obama’s responses were pretty weak and politically driven. Do you honestly think creating laws to punish hate crimes is going to solve the issue? It only puts a bow on the forever ticking bomb.
Thank for JJ for publicizing this story. As a mom who has a son entering the “public school system” in the Fall - it hit me like a ton of bricks. This needs to be publicized above all else so we can do something to stop it. We’re in MA and heard nothing about it. What a shame - my heart and thoughts go out to his family.
If only our candidates would actually do something about it rather than just talk…
That’s very sad. I didn’t even know this happened. Poor kid he was cute too. I hate bullies and haters who think they have the right to control and decide people’s lives just because they think they are superior and can mess with weak people.
To jenny and anyone else who feels the way they do, that is fine. When I say gay agenda I do not mean in this case. What I mean is, the face of this boy and what happened will be erased and it will be used as a platform for the gay agenda. What happened to this kid should never be tolerated. I do believe that some people are born homosexual, not making a choice. These days though…There are many, many people simply making the choice to behave a certain way. Almost as if it is a cool thing to do. Which then trivializes what true homosexual people endure and deal with. There may be many peole that go from the politicaly correct platform and try to make it all seem ok. The truth of the matter though, down deep in the core of human nature, homosexuality goes against all that is natural. You cannot procreate, or have sex in a normal manner which is the basic human nature and reason people get together. That you cannot argue or make any different. Killing or abuse of any kind cannot ever be tolerated for any reason. I won’t ever be won over to the politically correctness of accepting a behavior that does not correlate with basic human nature though.
I don’t agree with the gay lifestyle but i be damned if i think someone should be killed because of it. Only God can judge something like that no human being has the right to take another human being life. Unless its by the death penalty.
#73
And what exactly is a gay lifestyle?? Gay people don’t live their lives differently from straight people. Some may go to work, drive a car,watch tv, go to college….there is nothing uniquely gay about that.
Straight people have their idiosyncrasies and
fetishes too. The straight lifestyle isn’t any better. Whatever it is.
If you are a Christian, sex before marriage is wrong anyway.
So it’s still a sin to have your straight sex.
The bible never really condemns pedophilia and Christians
like to focus more on homosexuality rather than child sex abuse.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this young man. I had not heard about this case, thank you to Anderson Cooper and Jared for shining the light on this horrible crime. I agree with with the Democratic candidates it is time for a hate crime law that includes all people who are victims including those persecuted because of their sexual orientation. Why are the Republicans quiet on this issue? When will people learn to teach tolerance and acceptance to their children? How many innocent people have to die?
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