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Black Judge Attacks White Victims Of Home Invasion For “Stereotyping” Black Men
The 3-year-old was watching “SpongeBob SquarePants” when two thugs broke into their house and robbed them at gunpoint.
When the case went to trial the two black assailants were found guilty. As part of the sentencing, Jordan and Tommy Gray wrote in a victim impact statement that their daughter is still in “constant fear” of black men.” Tommy Gray implored prison time for the attackers.
Since the crime, Tommy Gray said the attack has left deep psychological wounds on their young daughter.
Whenever we are running errands, if we come across a black male, she holds me tight and begs me to leave,” the mother said. “It has affected her friendships at school and our relationships with African-American friends.”
Tommy Gray also wrote that since the crime, his daughter had been terrified of black males and that probation was not sufficient punishment for Gregory Wallace, 27, who had pleaded guilty to robbery.
“If holding a little girl at gunpoint gets you probation, then our system is flawed,” Gray said.
But at sentencing time, Judge Olu Stevens’ scorn lay at the small child and her parents, not at the thugs who committed the crime.
Over and over again, he announced how offended he was that the small child would be traumatized by the robbery, that she might be afraid of black men, and that her parents were fostering her “stereotype.”
“I am offended. … I am deeply offended that they would be victimized by an individual and express some kind of fear of all black men,” he said.
“This little girl certainly has been victimized, and she can’t help the way she feels,” he said. “My exception is more with her parents and their accepting that kind of mentality and fostering those type of stereotypes.”
He then laid down his sentence: Six months’ probation and no jail time.
To pile on, Stevens then took to his Facebook page (which seems to have been deleted, the link is a cache) to continue to attack the little girl and her parents, apparently as a family of horrible racists.
The Courier-Journal reported that Stevens said he did nothing improper by criticizing a small child’s victim impact statement on Facebook. “I was cautioning the parents against allowing racial stereotypes to impact their behavior and that of their child,” he said.
But leading experts on judicial ethics condemned his remarks, as did Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine and friends and family of the Grays, some of whom have started a Facebook page urging Stevens’ removal from office.
“Judge Stevens blamed and shamed the victims,” said the girl’s paternal grandmother, Dawn Renee Bryant, who said her daughter-in-law cried when she read the judge’s post. “It is very disturbing to be called something you are not.”
Wine said his office would disavow any racist victim impact statement but the statements made by the victims in this case “were not intended to be and were not.”
“The mother of a 3-year-old was describing how the home invaders, armed with guns, affected her family,” Wine said. “She differentiated how the adults and the child were affected.”
Courtesy the Courier Journal, here is the original Facebook post by Judge Stevens:
Court brought it front and center this week. The case involved a burglary and the victims were a young couple and their three year-old child. The written victim impact statement on behalf of the child read that as a result of the offense committed against her parents in her presence, the child is in “constant fear of black men.” The statement, written by her mother, continues that the child clings to her parent when in the presence of any black man. The incident, the mother concluded, “has even affected our relationship with our African-American friends.”
I read this statement aloud in open court. For a reason. It was of little surprise to me that neither parent nor the child was present in court for the sentencing. After all, the defendant and the judge are amongst the individuals the three year old has fear of as a result of the crime. Do three year olds form such generalized, stereotyped and racist opinions of others? I think not. Perhaps the mother had attributed her own views to her child as a manner of sanitizing them.
Let me be clear. The statement played absolutely no role in the sentencing decision and the commonwealth disavowed the statement. Needless to say, I was deeply offended, however, that this statement was put forth for the purpose of persuading me to impose a lengthy prison sentence. Had the perpetrator been white, I doubt it would have resulted in such gross generalizations. The race of a perpetrator of a crime is not a reason or an excuse to fear an entire race of people.
We must stand against it in whatever form. As a judge I do my work without regard to race. It is incumbent on me to confront and dispose of language based on racism and stereotypes. We should all do our part to eradicate such nonsense. And let me be clear, silence does nothing to contribute. It simply sends a message that such views are acceptable and fear somehow excuses wrong.”
And here is the Victim Impact Statement of mother Jordan Gray:
Has the crime had a psychological impact on you?
My husband works nights and there are many nights I still can’t sleep. Even with a security system I don’t feel safe in my own home. I’m nervous about when random people walk down the street and constantly have our doors locked.
Has this crime effected the lifestyle of you or your family?
Due to the impact it has had on my 5-year-old daughter we have to consider the area in which we go. While my daughter and I used to play outside, we are hesitant to do so now by ourselves.
If you have any additional information, please feel free to attach it to this form. (i.e, recommended sentence).
This incident has had the most impact on my daughter. She is in constant fear of black men. When we are running errands, if we come across a black male, she holds me tight and begs me to leave. If (she) is playing in a room and I walk into another, she freaks out. It has affected her friendships at school and our relationship with African American friends.
(Tommy Gray, father)
Has the crime had a psychological impact on you?
For months after this crime I couldn’t sleep. I would relive this incident every night before bed. I would constantly see their faces every time I closed my eyes.
Has this crime affected the lifestyle of you or your family?
Since the crime occurred my daughter is terrified of black males. Where ever we go, we are constantly reminded of her fears. She brings up the crime and can’t be left alone in our own home because she is afraid someone will bust in the door.”
Has this crime resulted in any damages or loss of property?
My wife’s cell phone and vacation fund of about $1000.
If you have any additional information, please feel free to attach it to this form. (i.e, recommended sentence).
I don’t have a recommended sentence but I feel like probation is not enough. This crime will affect my daughter for the rest of her life and Mr. Wallace deserves to serve time. If holding a little girl at gunpoint gets you probation, then our system is flawed.
1. ‘Judge Selfie’s’ rebuke of victims stirs racist backlash – USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/ story/ news/ nation/ 2015/… Proxy Highlight
Apr 20, 2015 … Judge Olu Stevens (Photo: Contributed). He denied he was trying to exact revenge for his score. “Sour grapes describe statements borne solely …
2.
Racist Judge Olu Stevens Lets Black Armed Robber Go Free …
http://www.freedomoutpost.com/ 2015/ 04/ racist-judg… Proxy Highlight
Apr 18, 2015 … You heard that right. Judge Olu Stevens, a black judge, berated a couple who were victims of two armed, black thugs that broke into their home.
3.
Judge Olu Stevens slams victims for tot’s ‘black men’ fear
http://www.courier-journal.com/ story/ news/ local/… Proxy Highlight
Apr 15, 2015 … Experts on judicial ethics condemn Judge Olu Stevens’ remarks about victim statements.