Two Georgian defendants were just collectively sentenced to 35 years for invading an African-American child’s birthday party while waving Confederate flags and weapons.
Kayla Rae Norton, 25, and Jose Ismael Torres, 26,
were a part of a “Respect the Flag” convoy of over a dozen Confederate flag-laden pick up trucks who had drunkenly rampaged through two Georgia counties. They screamed racial epithets at black motorists and on at least one occasion approached a black motorist with a gun.
“Many good people in Paulding County saw you for what you are,” Superior Court Judge William McClain said before handing down the sentence. “Everywhere you went, 911 call centers were flooded with calls.”
The group eventually descended on an 8-year-old black girl’s birthday party. Members of the convoy claimed that one of the partygoers had thrown an object at their trucks.“Members of the group pulled out a shotgun and pointed it at the victims,” Douglas County District Attorney Brian Fortner said in a statement. “They used racial slurs and threatened to kill some of the party-goers. They even threatened to kill children at the party. This is behavior that even supporters of the Confederate battle flag can agree is criminal and shouldn’t be allowed.”
The attack occurred less than a month after Dylann Roof killed nine African-Americans in a black school in Charleston, SC.
McClain sentenced Torres to 20 years, with 13 to serve in prison; Norton was sentenced to 15 years, with six to serve. They will be permanently banished from Douglas County upon their release. Two other members of the convoy were given four years and two years for their participation in the event, and the ones who were “minimally involved” were given community service.
Both Torres and Norton openly sobbed during sentencing.
“I do accept responsibility for what I’ve done,” Norton said, addressing some of her victims while choking with tears. “What happened to you is absolutely awful. From mother to mother, I cannot imagine having to explain what that word means.”
http://usuncut.com/news/racists-terrorized-black-childs-bday-party-confederate-flags-just-got/
