Nov 23, 2007 10:13 am US/Eastern
Westchester Family Targets Of Hate Crime
5 Foot Burning Cross Erected On N.Y. Lawn
CORTLANDT, N.Y. (CBS) ―
An African-American family found a burning cross on their lawn at their Westchester County home. The horrifying discovery of hate came on the eve of Thanksgiving.
It was just after 8 o'clock Wednesday night when the Artope family looked out their windows to find a wooden cross, over 5-feet tall, on fire on their front yard.
In an interview with CBS 2, the Artopes said they have never had any issues with their neighbors. The family believes the incident is related to one earlier in the day in which racial slurs turned to physical violence in a Hendrick Hudson High School classroom. The altercation, according to Clara Montague-Artope, stemmed from an argument their son Timothy, 15, had with 2 Caucasian girls.
"A girl shoved my son, using all kinds of profanity," said Montague-Artope.
Timothy gave the police a statement of his account of the school incident according to the Journal News, which says: " Timothy Montague was in class playing a video game. The teacher decided to have a free period for the children because of the holiday. Montague got up from his seat, and when he returned a short time later a female classmate was sitting in it. He asked her to move, but she refused. He said to her, "I'll remember that," and walked away.
The girl, who is Caucasian, then allegedly started calling Montague vulgar names and using racial slurs. He then called her names. The girl walked over to where Montague was sitting and started shoving him. She allegedly shoved him several times and continued to use racial epithets until Montague stood up and shoved her onto a couch in the room.
Another Caucasian girl, presumably a friend of the first girl, came up to Montague telling him to fight her and also used racial slurs. Montague then punched the second girl in the face.
The teacher, who had been in another room at the time, came in and sent Montague to the office, where Montague admitted hitting the girl, according to the account."
Police still have not released any details of the incident. State police and Lake Mohegan fire officials did confirm the burning cross however, according to the Journal News.
Names of the girls or the teachers in Timothy's account have not been released and school officials have yet to comment.
Town supervisor, Linda Puglisi, spoke with CBS 2, telling them she is appalled by what happened and said acts of hate will not be tolerated in Cortlandt.
"We will not stand for this in our community...Never happens again," she said.
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