Right Wing Threats of Violence Grow As Republicans Embrace Fringe

Those on the radical extremist fringe are no longer stuck on the margins, as Republican politicians break their necks to embrace them as part of the mainstream. There are only a small handful of progressive commentators pointing this out.

Racial Tensions at South Philly High

I grew up in Philadelphia in the 1980’s and am an alumnus of Central High School, one of the city’s public schools. We had our share of racial tensions back in the day but it never got very bad from what I remember.

The Angry Asian Man blog has been chronicling racial tensions and violent encounters at South Philadelphia High School the past few weeks primarily between African-American students and Asian-American and immigrant students. These reports have been shocking me in a “I can’t believe these things are still happening in 2009” kind of way.

What the hell is happening in Philadelphia? Yesterday, 26 Asian students at South Philadelphia High School were attacked and beaten by a gang of other students throughout the day: Asian students under attack at S. Phila. High.

District officials said that ten students have been suspended. (That's it?) No arrests were reported, but students who were outside the school yesterday said they had seen students being led out of the building in handcuffs. Well, that's great -- but how about some actual arrests and charges?

This is just the latest in several ongoing incidents of violence against Asian immigrant students that were reported at the school last year. Can you blame these students -- many of whom came to the U.S. specifically to attend school -- for just wanting to stay home? It beats going to school under fear of getting your ass kicked every day, all day.

This week's spate of attacks began Wednesday, when a Vietnamese student was jumped by 14 students across the street from the school. Yesterday, the attackers were apparently roaming the halls "searching for victims class by class during school."

26 Asian Students Attacked at South Philadelphia High

Asian Students Boycotting South Philly High

Students Speak Out Against South Philly High School Violence

Superintendent Refuses Meeting With South Philly High Students

AALDEF to File Civil Rights Complaint Against Philadelphia School District

Fear and Loathing in South Philadelphia (Philly.com)

Asian Students Describe Violence At South Philadelphia High (Philly.com)

PA Human Rights Will Air Strife On South Philly High (Philly.com)

Exec Director Of Tancredo PAC Admitted Karate Chopping Pedestrian, Calling Her 'Nigger'

From Jack Turner at JJP

via Tancredo Aide Pleads Guilty to Karate Chopping Pedestrian, Calling Her 'Nigger' | TPMDC.

On July 7, 2007, at approximately 7:15 p.m. at Jefferson and M Street, Northwest, in Washington, D.C., defendant was walking down the street making offensive remarks when he encountered the complainant, Ms. [REDACTED], who is African-American. The defendant uttered, "Nigger," as he delivered a karate chop to Ms. [REDACTED]'s head.

For real. Karate chopped. Called her nigger. The defendant is Marcus Epstein, former Tancredo speechwriter. This is madness.

rikyrah here: I found this in a DailyKos diary about this CRIMINAL racist thug-


From that DailyKos Diary on him:

Apparently Epstein
is a repeat offender:

CRIMINAL OFFENSE 1
Offense Date:
Case Number: 830GC0400168200
Offense Type: Trespassing
Offense Code: 18.2-119
Offense Description: TRESPASSING
Date Reported: 08/31/2004
Disposition: GUILTY
Sentence Details: COURT COSTS

CRIMINAL OFFENSE 2
Offense Date:
Case Number: 059GT0607878900
Offense Type: Traffic/Other
Offense Code: C.46.2-862
Offense Description: 075/55 RECKLESS
Date Reported: 04/06/2006
Disposition: GUILTY
Disposition Date: 06/05/2006
Sentence Details: COURT FINE & COSTS

CRIMINAL OFFENSE 3
Offense Date: 02/18/2007
Case Number: 013GC0700061400
Offense Type: Alcohol
Offense Code: 17-7
Offense Description: DRUNK IN PUBLIC
Date Reported: 02/20/2007
Disposition: GUILTY IN ABSENTIA
Disposition Date: 09/25/2007
Sentence Details: COURT FINE & COSTS

CRIMINAL OFFENSE 4
Offense Date:
Case Number: 830GC0400168300
Offense Type: Alcohol
Offense Code: 18.2-388
Offense Description: PUBLIC SWEARING/INTOXICATION
Date Reported: 08/31/2004
Disposition: NOLLE PROSEQUI
Disposition Date: 10/28/2004

CRIMINAL OFFENSE 5
Offense Date:
Case Number: 830GC0400168100
Offense Type: Larceny
Offense Code: 18.2-96
Offense Description: PETIT LARCENY
Date Reported: 08/31/2004
Disposition: NOLLE PROSEQUI
Disposition Date: 10/28/2004

CRIMINAL OFFENSE 6
Offense Date:
Case Number: 830GC0400168000
Offense Type: Assault
Offense Code: 18.2-57
Offense Description: ASSAULT & BATTERY
Date Reported: 08/31/2004
Disposition: NOLLE PROSEQUI
Disposition Date: 10/28/2004


Pensitoreview did a good write up on this and made some excellent points.

"The fact that the Buchanans and Tancredo rushed to the cameras to bash Judge Sotomayor with such glee, all the while knowing that at the end of the week Epstein would plead guilty plea for a racist assault is significant. They likely assumed — correctly — that Epstein’s plea would not get the attention of the corporate media, and even if it did, the Beltway bouffants would not connect the dots from him to them.

As of 6:30 a.m. Pacific on Monday, there has been no reporting about Epstein’s plea. Nor has an announcement that he has been fired made its way onto the Google — but why would there be when his bosses have known about this attack since the summer of 2007 and could have, should have, distanced themselves from him then."

Seems as if The University of Virginia Law School actually DOES have issue with this thug.

From Talking Points Memo:

University Of Virginia: Epstein Will Not Enroll With Us
By Brian Beutler - June 1, 2009, 4:12PM

One thing that struck us about The Karate Chop Heard 'Round The Blogosphere was the news that the chopper--Marcus Epstein--is saying goodbye to Tom Tancredo and Pat Buchanan this summer to go to law school at the University of Virginia. Dave Weigel reported this, and Bay Buchanan told me the same thing.

But Jason Wu Trujillo, UVA's Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, now says Epstein will not enroll this fall, or ever.

Trujillo couldn't discuss the specifics of that decision, but it raises a question: The incident itself occurred on July 7, 2007, before Epstein applied, but the school requires applicants to disclose all criminal convictions.