(forwarded from GayNet)
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The following article appeared in the Fall River Herald News,
Fall River, Massachusetts on Novenber 4, 1994.  It is reprinted here

See Comments at end of this message.

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Durfee student busted, charged with hate crime
By JOHN MOSS
Herald News Staff Reporter

FALL RIVER - Police are charging a 17 year old B.M.C. Durfee High School
student with assault and a hate crime after he allegedly beat another student
because the victime is a homosexual.

  Officer Andrew Phillips, who is assigned to Durfee, asked that
Marco P. Cabral of 138 Oman Street be summonsed into District Court on
charges of assault and battery and a civil rights violation - a hate crime.

  In a report filed Thursday, Phillips stated that the victim told him
Monday he was walking to class near Room 400 last Friday about 8:15 a.m.,
when Cabral said aloud, "Look at the fag and queer."

  The youth said he told Cabral, "Okay, you're cool," then began to walk
away when Cabral struck him several times in the head and face.

  Phillips said the victim confirmed he is a homosexual and is sure that is
why Cabral attacked him.

  Security Officer Joseph Barbosa also related to Phillips that Cabral admitted
to him that he hit the youth, saying, "but he is just a fag."

  Another student told Phillips she has heard Cabral call the victim a "fag"
and
 a "queer" in the past, Phillips stated.

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  This act occurred in a Massachusetts, a State where the Civil Rights of
Homosexuals are protected by law.  A State where the legislature passed a law
that protect gay and lesbian students from such acts.

  But know this, odds are this perpertrater will be let off this charge totally
or with probation.  The victim will be stigmatized and harrassed further.

  The Fall River School System has never done anything to protect Gay and
Lesbian Students and the City Government in general deny that homosexuals
have a problem here.

  Fall River well known for crime, the Robin Murphy Murders, Lizzie Borden
Murders and now hate crimes against students.  Further, this is a rare
development in that usually the Fall River Police Department will harrass
the Gay community.  I believe that this is the first time the Fall River Police
 Department has done anything GAY POSITIVE.

  I strongly suggest flooding the Bristol County District Attorney's Office
with letters requesting that this crime get priority and that the individual
who committed the act receive maximum penalties.

 The address is as follows:

   District Attorney Paul Walsh
   38 Rock Street
   Fall River MA 02720

6


  508-679-1717
   508-673-1429

and/or send letters to:

   Judge's Office                         James Gibney, Superintendent
   District Court                         Fall River Public Schools
   45 Rock Street                         417 Rock Street
   Fall River MA  02720                   Fall River  MA  02720
   508-679-8161                           508-675-8443

  Please send your support for this victim as soon as possible.  I will
accept support through the net if necessary.

Thanks,

CJ Ferry, R.N.
S14219CF@UMASSD.EDU
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
North Dartmouth  Massachusetts 02747