Dec 4, 2008 7:16 pm US/Eastern
Immigrant's Death Sparks Hate-Healing In Patchogue
PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Marcelo Lucero, 37, was stabbed to death in what police believe to be a "brutal murder motivated by racial bias."
CBS
A refuge for victims of bias attacks: In the wake of the killing of an Ecuadorean immigrant, a Patchogue church opened its doors to those targeted in bias crimes. They gave them a chance to share their painful stories and offered them a place to heal.
Family members of bias attack victims shared their stories of pain at the Congregational Church in Patchogue on Wednesday night. At age 9, Diana Tcuir may be the youngest victim. She says a boy at her school threatened her life because she's Hispanic.
"I feel really bad how I'm treated, [how] all of us [are treated] because we're Spanish and America's a free country and we could be here," she tells CBS 2.
Three weeks ago Ecuadorean immigrant Marcelo Lucero was murdered in Patchogue, believed to be targeted by a group of teens because of his race.
After that alleged bias attack, the Congregational Church and Hispanics across America organized the night for victims of hate crimes to come forward in a closed-room supportive environment, with opportunities to speak with law enforcement.
"There is no reason why they can't come to us. The policy in Suffolk County is to help the victim. It doesn't matter what their status is whether illegal, not legal or a citizen. We serve the community and that's what we're all about," says Lola Quesada, a Suffolk County Police Department Community Outreach Liason.
Jacinto Jaramillo was best friends with Lucero. Jaramillo says he was robbed, nearly beaten, and was harassed because of his race. He says he never reported the three attacks because he feared police, but is coming forward now for his friend.
"Now it's time to wake up. To wake up to talk to somebody. I always keep inside of me so now this happen. Now no more, no more," says Jaramillo.
As for the crime that sparked the meeting, the teens accused in the fatal attack on Lucero all face hate crime charges.
Lucero was buried last month in his native Ecuador.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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