What year is this, again? Three white teens allegedly wrapped a noose around a black kid’s neck twice and tried to choke him, while threatening to kill him with switch blade, and calling hip the n-word while holding him hostage against his will.  The three white teens will be charged with hate crimes because of the racial nature of the crimes against 17 year old Joshua Merritt. The parents of the youngest white teen called the allegations lies, although their son’s friend admitted to school officials that the noose incident was just horseplay. The oldest of the white teens is 18 year-old Matthew Hermann (pictured to the left), who will be charged as an adult for unlawful restraint (felony), hate crime (felony), and misdemeanor battery.

He walks over to me, with the noose in his hand, he comes puts the noose around my neck and he begins to tighten the noose, almost strangled me to the ground.

What would make three white teens do something so awful to another kid? A girl! It seems the victim, a black teen named Joshua Merritt, was becoming too friendly with one of the boys’ cousin. Details of the incident when you continue… Continue Reading →