Violence grows against homeless, sparking push for hate crime - TopicsExpress

Violence grows against homeless, sparking push for hate crime status According to a August 25, 2014 article by Sandra Fish: A 12-year-old was accused of shooting a 54-year-old homeless man on July 28 in Jacksonville, Florida. In Syracuse, New York, two young teenagers were accused of throwing rocks at a homeless woman on July 31 after ripping open a tent she shared with others. In Cape Coral, Florida, a 13-year-old held without bond after a homeless man was stabbed to death on Aug. 5. And finally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, two homeless Navajo men, unrecognizable and beaten to death on July 19, with three teens being held on $5 million bond each after being charged with murder and a range of other crimes. Unfortunately, violence against the homeless isn’t unusual. “There has definitely been a steady stream of attacks,” said Michael Stoops, director of community organizing for the National Coalition for the Homeless and lead author of a report issued in June that described the problem in shocking detail. “It goes on and on and on,” Stoops added. Stoops and other advocates for the homeless cite the spate of recent cases as justification to add crimes against the homeless to hate crime laws in New Mexico and nationally. Thomas Rebman, the CEO of Homeless and Hungry, Inc., which maybe the first non-profit company born from a Facebook page, stated he feels Orlando community members who are homeless are marginalized and not given the same rights and protections as other citizens. He further believes that the only way to bring change is through grass roots action. We have to get every local ordinance that does not make sense repealed and then go for statewide and national legislation to protect our citizens, Rebman exclaimed. That is a tall order for a non-profit company that has existed for only a couple of weeks and has only one non-paid employee, Rebman himself. My job is to teach awareness of the problem and I believe one man can do that. It is not my job to give solutions to cities, counties or states that is the job of the experts on homelessness and the public. National Awareness seems a grand vision for just one man. If it is possible, Rebman may be the man for the job. His previous life experiences seem to chart a course for success. A retired 23 year Naval veteran, he was a two time Sailor of the Year (USS Saratoga 1987, USS Canopus 1988), former member of the Presidential Honor Guard (1992), the CEO of a Sports Company (2003), the VP of an Arena Football Team (2006) and has previously advocated for students by filing a 15 million dollar class action lawsuit against Follett books. Only time will tell if one man can make this kind of a difference. Rebman feels confident, if it can be done, he is the person for the job. My whole life has prepared me for this job! I dont know how to quit. Either things will change or I will die trying. With all of the violence in Orlando against the homeless and Florida recently being named the Most Dangerous State for the Homeless by the National Coalition for the Homeless, Rebman has his work cut out for him.