I first became aware of the Mallory Owens case on the Justice for Mallory Facebook page. The page contained graphic photographs of the victim after she had been beaten while attending Thanksgiving dinner at her girlfriend’s home in Mobile, AL. She suffered multiple skull fractures and crushed bones. Her attacker? Her girlfriend’s brother, 18-year-old Travis Hawkins Jr.
Hawkins was arrested on second degree assault charges. Initially, it was reported that Travis beat Mallory Owens because she is gay but Mallory is now stating to the media that it was not a hate crime. Alabama does not consider sexual orientation a hate crime - perhaps they should. Everyone else does.
Mallory was released from the hospital yesterday and has returned to the Hawkins’ home. Regardless of whether the attack was spurned because of her sexual orientation or not, one has to ask what kind of man beats a woman to the extent that Travis Hawkins beat Mallory? It is alleged that his family stood by and did nothing as he beat her. What type of person stands by as another human is violated and does nothing? Wait…don’t answer that. It happens far too often in our society.
Petition for Travis Hawkins to be tried for attempted murder here: http://www.change.org/petitions/mobile-county-alabama-prosecutor-bring-travis-hawkins-jr-to-justice?utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=6826624
It is obvious that whoever attacked this young lady did so with a heart full of hate. However, it is poor policy to label some crimes as hate crimes and others as not. It is better to prosecute based on the offense committed rather than based on an opinion about the alleged motivation.
Largebill(Quote) (Reply)
I think what happened in this case is that the victim’s family had created a FB page to bring awareness and initially stated that because Mallory is gay that was the reasoning behind the attack. From there the news spread and it appears that is when it was labeled a “hate crime”. The victim has since stated that this was not an assault over her sexuality, but because she and her girlfriend’s brother did not get along. Regardless, it gives pause for the question - what kind of man brutally beats a woman like this?
prinnie(Quote) (Reply)
My question is where is her girlfriend?? She sat there and let her boyfriend do this to her girlfriend???
Tiffany(Quote) (Reply)