A cross was burned at the home of a gay man in Athens, Tennessee.
ATHENS, Tenn. — The Meigs County Sheriff's Department is investigating a possible hate crime after someone burned a cross at the home of a gay man. The cross, between 6 and 8 feet tall, was discovered by Brandon Waters, along with a derogatory message late Thursday at his home.
"There are a lot of people that don't approve of it," the 23-year-old Waters told The Daily Post-Athenian, referring to being gay. "They are always bashing us. It makes me fearful of what could happen. I just want to live my life."
Sheriff Walter Hickman said if the burning is determined to be a hate crime, it could warrant federal charges. "Right now we are looking at all angles," Hickman said. "It's a concern because it's a crime."
I'll say it again. When you have leaders who make it their job to create second-class citizens, you have leaders who encourage and promote intolerance and hatred.
Our leaders promote hate crimes.
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