Viewsday

Hope each and every one of these little POS enjoy prison. Their parents must be SO proud of the Hitler youth they've raised.

How come this faux newspaper never eulogizes any of the white people murdered by immigrants? Approximately one dozen Americans are murdered by illegal immigrants every day and another dozen killed in DWI's by boozed up bozos from the third world. But a story like this is meat to politicians and their media pimps.

1) This crime is an outrage and a tragedy.
2) Why is crime only "hate" when committed by whites.
3) Why don't the crimes of illegal aliens ever receive this type of coverage?

WRONG ISLAND:
where mindless conformism is WORSHIPPED and
BIGOTRY is A RELIGION.

The article does not mention that one of the perpetrators is black; the article does not mention the victim is in the U.S.A. ILLEGALLY; the article is pushing the poor "Immigrant" is a peaceful person but the victim has been in this country for 16 years ILLEGALLY breaking the law every day that Senor Lucero has been in this country working at a dry cleaner.

No person deserves to be stabbed to death for no reason or for that matter just for the fact that they are a Latino.

""Last week, the Washington Post reported on a growing unease among Latino civil-rights activists, who say they are being threatened more frequently due to their advocacy work on behalf of immigrants. "" Let's face it, these so called advocacy groups are working on behalf of the ILLEGAL ALIENS in the U.S.A. The Legal Constituents have been pleading to their government for 20 years to stop the Illegal Aliens from coming in, staying in, working in and committing crimes in the U.S.A.; and for 20 years the Legal Constituents are called racist, bigots and hate mongers from the "Immigrant Advocacy" groups and their own government. Imagine that, our government does nothing about the up to 20 million Illegal Aliens in the country of the people and they side with the "Immigrant Advocacy" groups.

When a person that is in this country Illegally is a victim to a crime it makes the papers, when a person that is an Illegal Alien that commits crime; it just might make the news and if it does most of the time it is hidden of their immigration status. The First Amendment is being abused again and again just for ideology and an Illegal cause against the Legal Taxpayers of this nation.

This past August my son and his friend were followed by a car at night in Medford. These boys ended up cornering him down a dead end street blocking him with their car. All 5-6 boys got out of their car. two walked around to the drivers side where my son was. One boy grabbed him and punched him in the head sending him falling into the drivers seat of the car. Another boy began to stab him 14 times while the other kids started were attacking my sons friend who managed to get away and run into the woods. After it was over they just got in the jeep they were driving and left my son to die. Thank god neighbors heard the noise and helped my son who survived but needed surgery for his injuries. But I want you to know That beside the kid who stabbed him. Not one of the other kids that were there were even questioned. When I asked about what will happen to the rest of the boys I was told by the police there was really nothing they could do about it. It turned out these boys were looking for a white grand prix who stole from them. My son was driving a white monte carlo.

I would take a thousand "illegal aliens" over one of these "citizens" any day.

Are the above nitwits actually claiming that there are roving gangs of foreigners in the United States looking to attack and kill people just because they're Americans? Please post details! I'm truly shocked.

why was that overton kid in the streets? he was involved in a crime involving murder!! why wasn't he in awaiting sentencing?? what judge cut him loose, let's make sure that judge is not re-elected, re-appointed. who was the judge? anybody know?

The animals that attacked my son actually went back to a beach party full of blood. At the party there were people who overheard them speaking about how they stabbed someone. It turned out that one of the people who over heard the boys actually knew my son from school. Thats how we found out who did this. We immediately called the police who said that there is nothing they a can do we need to speak to the detective in charge who wont be back for two days. Here we are, calling the police station from the hospital and they wouldn't even listen to our story. My family had to actually bring all of our info we found to the police station when the detective finally came back to work. He took all the info we had names, car type , addresses. A couple of weeks later the stabber was arrested but the others involved were never even brought in. The stabber made a full confession. I truly believe that the police should of at least questioned the rest of the boys in the car. Who's to say since they got away with this they won't do this to some other innocent person.

Most of these animal who attack people have done this before. I agree with you lets keep these animals in jail where they belong

has the election of barack obama taught us nothing in the last week?
regardless of our country of origin or color of our skin we are all one america
this man, living and working in the united states for the last 16 years was an american

What kind of stupid ignorant animals did these kids' parents raise. Hope they all rot in cell for the rest of their lives or better yet maybe get stabbed to death in prison for what they did. This story is horrible, just keep these losers off the streets.

long live long island -

You are truly misguided and also have no respect for the laws of this nation; when you say, "this man, living and working in the united states for the last 16 years was an American". Wrong, this man, living and working in the united states for the last 16 years ILLEGALLY and so is his brother who by the way is on television with the stabbing story with no fear of being deported. So now we the taxpayers are going to fund shipping his brother’s body back to Ecuador.

Again, No person deserves to be stabbed to death for no reason or for that matter just for the fact that they are a Latino.

Again; if this man was not in this country ILLEGALLY he would still be alive today.

HEY "JUST ANOTHER JOE" lets have some PROOF to your allegations as to the ILLEGAL status of the DEAD MAN!

PROOF my man, PROOF. NOT REPUBLICAN DIATRABES!

And if it was not this man it would have been another. Cause these CREEPS were out to OFF some Latino that night!

The election of an African-American to the highest office in the land while a fantastic stride for equality is not going to be the "cure all" that a lot of people think it will be.

Creeps like these men heve no interest in equality. As a matter of fact it would not surprise me to hear that Obama's election triggered this event!

We have supposed elderly Southern Christians on a Christian message board trying to drum up a pettition to overturn the Obama victory in direct violation of Biblical teachings to respect and obey all elected officials.

So we still have a long way to go.

I am truly tired of the ignorant people that surrounds me in this island. "Just another Joe" please... go back to school and get some education before you speak in public again. Thank You.

To Just Another Joe: Do you really think those kids knew that Mr.Lucero was an illegal immigrant?? Or actually cared? They were out looking for anyone who looked to be of Hispanic origin. What an ignorant statement to make.

I hope these bastards get released into general population and have to taste pain every minute of every hour till someone shanks them.

Parents of the children if you are raising any younger children I hope you open your eyes now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spoke with someone who knew the Overton boy, apparently the parents had marital issues and did not pay enough attention to their kids. The Conroy boy has a swastika tattooed to his leg... how'd that happen? Did Mom & Dad know? I heard from some teens that this is someone they did regularly, going out looking for "beaners" to beat and rob. Did any of these kids' parents know where their kids were at midnight, who they were with, what they were doing? Parents need to parent! Teens don't have the brain function to make good decisions.

Parents of the children if you are raising any younger children I hope you open your eyes now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really hope that some of the people posting comments and showing their ignorance do not HAVE ANY KIDS of their own (including another Joe). I do, and I know where they are, with whom and what they are doing. I know if they have any tatoos, I know how they rate in school and who their teachers are. I taught them to be respectful of everyone's rights, but I have to worry that now days, in Long Island NY my son could be walking in the street and be killed by a bunch of ill-raised ignorant kids with un-involved ignorant parents.

The father of Jeffery Conroy is one of the most involved people in this district. He has done EVERYTHING any parent could possibly do to keep his son out of trouble. He led the Pat-Med booster club that got the sports and extra curricular activities back for ALL of our children when the voters did not approve our school budget. He started a youth football league for your children. He was heavily involved in the school for his son. He has a relationship with the administrators, teachers and coaches to help not only his son, but all of our kids. Please do not judge the parent by the acts of the child. In this case, it is wrong to do. I have seen all that this father has tried to do for his son, I have also seen what coaches and teachers have done. Sometimes it just is not enough. There is no one that can say they tried harder than Mr. Conroy. I do not in any way condone what Jeffery has done, but I can say that his father is not to blame

This is so screwed up , now they want to sue the parrents so they can send money back to Ecaudor ? charge the kids as adults but sue them in civil court as minors? make up your mind. I saw a comment to release the kids into general pop in prison so the hispanic majority can have there way with him , well why is there a hispanic majority in prison for violent crimes? I have never heard of a white family bring to civil court the family of a Hispanic that kills one of there children. The kids should get the max jail time. But dont think this dosent happen the other way around every day .

This stupid act has ruined the happiness and futures of eight families. There is no good news here, only sorrow. Then, along comes the HAS group threating nuisance lawsuits against the parents, who no doubt are in shock and bewilderment. There is no need to try to make this any worse for these people. If HAS wants to do something constructive, I suggest they look to the example set by the great leaders of the past like Gahandi and ML King. Compassion for all eight families is in order, and we, all of us, have to decide that this is unacceptable and we will not allow it to happen again. Controversy and anger will only cause further stife.

This stupid act has ruined the happiness and futures of eight families. There is no good news here, only sorrow. Then, along comes the HAS group threating nuisance lawsuits against the parents, who no doubt are in shock and bewilderment. There is no need to try to make this any worse for these people. If HAS wants to do something constructive, I suggest they look to the example set by the great leaders of the past like Gahandi and ML King. Compassion for all eight families is in order, and we, all of us, have to decide that this is unacceptable and we will not allow it to happen again. Controversy and anger will only cause further stife.

god bless all the families, all 8 of them.

Want PROOF that RACISM is still alive? Look no further then good ol' Long Island. Heck, you don't even have to leave your house. Look at the Newsday message boards.

IT'S NO WONDER THAT THESE KIDS GROW UP TO DO THESE HEINOUS CRIMES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIEWS OF THEIR PARENTS WHO HAPPEN TO BE THE PEOPLE POSTING HERE, YOU WILL SEE WHY LONG ISLAND IS DOOMED.

I will pray for this innocent hard working man who was slain for no reason. My condolences to his family. It's a truly heart breaking story. On a side note, I'd love 5 minutes with these guys.

This is for MIKE from above. You're an idiot. You have compassion for the families of these savages? I wonder if you'd feel the same if they did that to one of your family members. The parents are just as responsible for raising bigots. It starts at home. Remember that.

To the other guy above that is blaming the victim because of the assumption that he is "illegal", you probably blame women who get raped also by saying that they were dressed to provocatively. You're disgusting.

I am a resident of Patchogue Medford School District and mother of two children at Buffalo Avenue school. I do not feel this is a Democrat or Republican issue, it is a morality and human rights issue.

The fact here is a group of 16 & 17 year old's went out with a mission..to beat up a Latino person. They didn't care if the person was an Illegal or an American citizen...they were hell bent on hurting a person of Latino decent, period.

There is an underlying issue that is not only here in the Pat-Med district, but throughout the Country. Tax paying citizens are upset over the amount of illegal immigrants that have children in the school system and get benefits from their tax dollars. These discussions are being held within family homes, at dinner tables, AND at the same discussions are going on with the kids.

I have heard some kids saying that they think it is unfair that the illegals are getting special benefits help at school and they don't have text books, etc. to bring home.

I hear from my own kids that they are pissed about the "free ticket" others get while I work two jobs to keep a roof over their heads. BUT my kids do not get involved with this type of crap.

I feel the parents should be responsible for what they say with their children and are responsible for their actions. It is our job as parents to teach our children right from wrong. Being ignorant of their children are and who they are with is not being a parent. We must listen to them, teach them to be responsible for their actions and respectful of others.

Finger pointing is not going to resolve the issue at hand. We now have one group who is burying their loved one and eight families that are dealing with the loss of their children. All sides loose in this case, no one is a winner.

My prayers are with the family who has lost their brother and son, and those families who have now lost their children to their actions. All have lost here.

Blaming the victims is what creates the acceptance in impressionable minds that these horrible acts are some bizarre form of patriotism. Hope you don't have any monstrous children to perpetuate your ideas.

It is true that they said "what goes around, comes around". If we don't stop these hates crime, one day, we will taste a backlash of crime against us. In society, we have to obey laws that set to keep society civilize. Parents that teach their kids to hate....one day...they will be the victims. God has a way with us.

Ask the jews in Israel and the Palestines. Eyes for eyes ...everyday.

I cannot begin to image the pain and loss the families must be enduring both, the victims and the young men accused of committing this heinous crime. What is equally disturbing is the comments posted by some of these adults and than you wonder why we are raising a generation of angry, hateful and racist young people. Its always easiest to blame the parents as well as they should share some of the blame. But just take a good look at the media, our politicians, our corporations and our history and you will find enough blame to go around. Most importantly we are raising a generation that has no concept of the meaning of "accountability". This generation is weak and wants everything easy. The justice system is good at encouraging these types of heinous crimes with plea agreements and special deals for the wealthy. One of the young men accused of partaking in this crime offered a "plea agreement" for his role in another crime he was involved in back in 2007 in which a man, a father who lived in Bellport was killed during an attempted robbery.
What a wonderful justice system we have huh?.
Hold this young men accountable not for nature of the crime, but for the crime itself and the life they took.

It is incredible that some people see this murder as an issue of illegal immigration.
A murder was committed as much for fun as out of depraved hatred-that is chilling.
I still think it is presumptuos to blame the parents. Sometimes children are taught to hate but sometimes good parents have bad people for children.
Nonetheless, if it is true that Conroy, a seventeen year old, was permitted to have a tattoo of a swastika, how surprised can anyone be by what he did.

It's hard to believe that so many of us Long Islanders feel the need to condemn a dead man who was walking home by the train station, minding his own business after a hard day's work. If he was an Illegal, perhaps, some of the beasts who attacked him should learn about how their ancestors made it over to America, where the streets were/are paved with gold. Perhaps they should do some research about what laws their relatives have broken or bent to make a buck. Or perhaps a hard day's work is something they know little about. While their parents should not have to shoulder all of the blame--as there are those who try but who seemed to have lost control and the power to guide their kids' ways--the savagery, the inhumanity, the depravity does come from somewhere. At the 1st signs of such recklessness where were the authorities to reign these boys in--parents, teachers, the law? My heart aches for Lucero's family and for the parents of these lost souls who haven't been able to nurture their kids with enough love that would teach them a sense of decency and a modicum of self respect.

There was NO reason for this to happen. This was a young, hard working man that wasn't doing anything wrong, only walking to a friend's house to watch a movie. What a disgusting and shameful statement this makes to the rest of the country. I hope all of you people out there that harbor racist feelings take note. Your shameful, racist attitudes do come out and we see proof here that it's your kids that pick them up.

Be ashamed Long Island, be very ashamed.

This is a reprehensible crime and one that all members of a just and civilized society must rightfully condemn. A crime against a man of any background is a crime against us all. Allow our justice system to punish those who committed this heinous crime and show we do not tolerate such barbarism.

But when are our politicians going to take a stand against an underground economy that rewards people for coming to this country illegally and living in the shadows of society for so many years. We will never come together as a cohesive society that treats all people here as equals unless we finally confront this important issue.

Latest reporting is that these kids intended to go out hunting for latinos. Clearly, the Conroy kid had a knife, with which he apparently stabbed the victim in the chest, several times. Why the manslaughter charge? Should this be a first degree murder charge?

I can't believe some of these comments.
This MURDER, has nothing to do with illegal immigration. Totally seperate issue, and not appropriate regarding the MURDER of this man.
People stop and think about what you are saying. Especially Joe the idiot. A man DIED the other night, at the hands of a bunch of thugs. PERIOD!!
To inject your venom towards hispanics legal or not, is DISGUSTING. The man is not yet buried, yet, some of you want to know or insinuate that he was illegal. So his status somehow makes it alright to kill him.? My God. listen to yourselves
I also have concerns about immigration, but not in this instance, it has bearing here.
ps I am white male and born in america. Today I'm ashamed of those who profess to be americans yet sow seeds of hate

There is a sense of hopelessness for equality and justice within this community since the 2007 murder of the E Patchogue man that was killed in front of his 3 year old in his own home. One of the teenagers involved in this crime was Christopher Overton, yes, the same Christopher Overton that participated in the killing of a "Hispanic" man. Overton was released on bail and pending a plea bargain which is set to take place this week. How ironic, Overton seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. It has been said by a reliable source, Overton supplied the gun that was used to kill the E. Pathogue man and Overton removed the man's watch while he lied dead.

Unfortunately, now Overton is involved in the latest killing of an innocent man (again) illegal immigrant or not, he did not deserve to be killed like an animal.

Based on reading the previous blogs from Long Islanders, I'm deeply disappointed to learn that the majority believe that due to the victim's immigration status this was warranted. We do have an illegal immigration problem throughout the United States, there are many illegals from all countries, not just Hispanic origin. Many illegals from other countries can blend in society because they look white, not Hispanic; this is very true!

The bottom line is an innocent human being was killed savagely by a group of sociopaths who planned to commit a hate crime/murder because of his ethnic background.

Here is a definition of a Sociopath: Manipulative & Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are convertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humilate their victims. Lack of remorse, shame and guilt. Shallow emotions, lack of empathy, implusive nature.

Eddington Blames Hispanics Newsday11-11-08 For not trying to repair relations. when asked by reporter for a comment about Patchogue man killed by Eddingtons teenage neighbors up in Medford
Disgusting

As one blogger wrote:

"No person deserves to be stabbed to death for no reason or for that matter just for the fact that they are a Latino. "

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

NOTHING can justify such a crime. Stop making
EXCUSES FOR CRIMINAL PUNKS. Long Island
grows them like weeds. It's the abomination of WRONG ISLAND.

To all who want to call "Just another Joe" an ignorant, uneducated bigot, you should take a look in the mirror. He never said these kids were right for what they did, any idiot knows that Senor Lucello didn't deserve to die because of his ecuadorian decent. However, he is right in saying that Senor Lucello broke the laws of this country for 16 years(if he is in fact illegal, which these kids couldn't have known either way). The fact is that illegal aliens steal benefits from our government in the form of services designed to benefit Americans..hospitals, sanitation, mail,schooling for their children,etc...who most often have a social security # and contribute to the running of this country through paying taxes. Senor Lucello came here, didn't ever pay taxes, and sent his money back to Ecuador. So "long Live L.I." , you are the stupid one in calling him an american, HE WAS AN ILLEGAL ALIEN. And though I pity his family as well as the families of the seven boys charged, how can these so called Hispanic Advocacy groups even CONSIDER suing the families of these minor children? Don't they know that these kinds of things happen the other way around about 10X more often? BUT when a Hispanic kills a white person, no big deal, and the white person must deserve it right? Why are the jails INFESTED by PREDOMINANTLY hispanics? Maybe these advocacy groups should spend more of their time trying to reform the hispanic jail population into law abiding people. And for that matter, if these kids families are going to be civilly sued, then why don't we sue the families of the El-Salvadorian MS-13 gang members that are walking around killing people and pushing drugs in our neighborhoods. And while we are at it what about all the hispanics who allow their children to have babies when they are 14 years old and collect welfare(that comes from us taxpayers too)...why aren't they accountable for their kids' actions? why do we as taxpayers have to pay to support these kids? And you can't call this a 'bigot' comment, since its a fact that hispanics have the highest percentage of teenage parents who have children they can't possibly be ready(emotionally or financially) to support. Oh and by the way"Just another COCERNED" Long Islander", next time you tell"just another joe" to go back to school and educate himself, maybe you should learn that this is how you spell CONCERNED, and people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Many of the seven kids are not the oldest kids in their families and knowing a few of the families involved the older kids are not committing these acts and neither are some of the 7 kids younger siblings so maybe its not the parents to blame. Some kids are just in the wrong place wrong time, or under peer pressure. im not saying what they did was okay it certainly was not but pointing fingers at everyone isnt going to do anything.

Many of the seven kids are not the oldest kids in their families and knowing a few of the families involved the older kids are not committing these acts and neither are some of the 7 kids younger siblings so maybe its not the parents to blame. Also as a young adult i know it is sometimes the easiest thing to lie to your parents so why would some kid just say yeah were going bean jumping tonight mom see ya later when he could be like im going to Ben's house mom see ya later. Again not the parents fault that they were not aware this was happening. Some kids are just in the wrong place wrong time, or under peer pressure. im not saying what they did was okay it certainly was not but pointing fingers at anyone isnt going to do anything.

there is much prejudicness in suffolk county and these boys parents must have taught them some of it. where else did they learn it. they must be accountable for their poor behavior. it is time for racial prejudicenes to cease. i pray that this never happens again. whites, blacks, latinos and who ever we are all the same inside and out only different color of skin, get a grip racist

Why is the brother thinking of suing each parent already. He should be praying for his brother. Is this a way of making money to send home? I dont condone the killing, I think those boys were stupid. Their lives are ruined. But like someone else said what about all the murders committed by the Bloods,Crips and MS 13s. Why dont we hear about that. Why doesnt Newsday talk about the gangs hanging out in Patchogue and Farmingville. Are they affraid? Pray for the boys and the victim.

It is ironic that this week Germany and the Jewish World remembered the 70th anniversary of 'Kristallnacht', the start of the systematic persecution of the Jews. It started with hate and xenophobia. We have to stop this dangereous notion TODAY, educating our children and young adults. No matter what origin, occupation or legal status an individual has, we can and will not tolerate any physical harm to an individual. And a message to parents, religious and political leaders: Instead of teenagers 'hanging out' (regardless of ethnic background), get them engaged and involved in civic activities. Habitat for Humanity, creation of living space for the poor and underprivilged would be a much better 'outlet' for all the energy which needs to be dispensed by young people. Working hand in hand with your brothers and sisters would create a much healthier climate across our diverse fabric. No tolerance to hate and crime, no excuses!

Let me preface my comment by saying resorting to unprovoked violence is unacceptable and these youths should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I just feel that the underlying problem of illegal aliens has some fault here. The patchogue medford school district is overrun with childeren of illegal aliens who pay no taxes and live 5 and 6 families to one home. They are taught in English as a Second Language classes and given free Macbook Laptop computers while regular classes don't even have enough text books. This situation in the schools is bound to cause resentment. I think something needs to be done about the illegal alien situation in suffolk county and Patch medford school district

I hope the kids who did this go to jail and get stabbed. There was no reason for this, and I agree the parents should sued because they had no control over thier kids and it led to a innocent mans death.

I hope you drop the soap kid,

Sincerely,
Pat

I think its wrong to go around killing people just because of their ethnic background. now that we have a black president no one wants to be racist towards black people but now all of the racism is being put on the latinos. as a hispanic myself i feel even more scared to leave my house even if i'm just going to the gas station down the block.

I think its wrong to go around killing people just because of their ethnic background. now that we have a black president no one wants to be racist towards black people but now all of the racism is being put on the latinos. as a hispanic myself i feel even more scared to leave my house even if i'm just going to the gas station down the block.

Children are not born with any preconceived ideas on prejudices, they have to be taught. I agree parents need to be parenting. And thats where the problem truly lies. We are taught these prejudices from our parents, and if they do their jobs, their children would learn to respect mankind. There are bad people from all walks of life and in all races, religions or creeds. To hate someone just because they are not from the same race, religion or creed then we are is insane.

It has to start from the beginning if anything is going to change in this world. We have to start with ourselves and then filter it down to our children.

For the record why does it really matter that Barrack Hussein Obama is half black and half white or purple. The color of your skin cannot possibly dictate the brains in your head. It should only matter if he can deliver on his many promises.

I in no way whatsoever think that what these kids did was right. It was wrong on so many different levels. But I feel that you can not sue the parents for what the kids did. most kids do not get these ideas from there parents they get it from t.v, music, movies, and the media. I mean i do think the parents played a role but you cant place full blame on them. I myself am 18 years old and im completly different from my parents. I think that parents should try and understand what their children are exposed to and should try and help them to understand whats wrong and whats right.

My child who is 24 attended PM . We were talking I was told that jumping mexicans was going on when my child was there. How crazy is that. The mexicans are targeted because they carry cash
and because they are illegal they wont report the crime. Something has to be done. I cant believe this has been going on so long.

To Just Another Joe:
You mix up the issue with the comment that this man was here illegally. Whether or not he was here illegally is not the issue. The issue is having roving bands of young men out to get someone, someone they don't like, their race or ethnicity, their sexual preference, etc., etc. How have they been raised that it is their extracurricular activity to go out and hurt or murder someone? It is beyond my comprehension how a HUMAN BEING can assault another HUMAN BEING so as to cause extreme physical injury and/or death. Do they not have any conscience? Do they not have any feeling, except for some sick high they get from inflicting pain and death. They should spend the rest of their life in prison for their "depraved indifference." Sociopaths are what they are.

Just another Joe: how do you know that they wouldn't be out for you, for some warped reason?

Mr. Lucero was LEGALLY here in the US. Use this link to view the article from Newsday (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/ny-livict1111,0,6504238.story) "Marcello got a visa to come to the States, and was followed by his brother, who is four years younger. "There were so few opportunities at home," his brother said. "He wanted the American dream."

Let's move on to the real issue - this was a planned racial attack and these attacks have been going on for some time.

It always amazes me that when a latino or black person is the victim of white racist behavior whether it is an immigrant who has been vicously murdered or an African American who was brutalized by over the top cops, people always bring out that the immigrant was here illegally or that the victim had a criminal record. Please address the issue, which is "White Racist Behavior" that not only affects the minority victim, but honorable and good white people that respect diversity. The reality is that is was easier for these parents to be their childs friend and let them hang out in a park, which is a breeding groud for trouble than it was to be home learning good family values. Kids who hang out at parks are a disaster waiting to happen. As Malcolm X said, "The Chickens have come home to roost." These parents, whether the "perps" locked up were white or black, is exactly what happens when you raise a child in a house where there are no boundaries or respect for diversity. Let this be a wake up call to the parents who don't parent and supervise their child. I bet if you ask anyone of these seven students friends, not one will be surprised that they were involved with something like this.

Have fun in prison the next 25 years.

Free the Patchogue Seven!

Illegal immigration AND gang violence are BOTH crimes. Yet one gets prosecuted while the other gets coddling treatment from a fawning press so desperate for readership that it's treating illegal aliens as a viable demographic.

Newsday is overjoyed when things like this happen. It gives them the opportunity to vilify people of ANY color who reside in the US legally - especially whites. It allows them to point fingers at people who want current immigration laws enforced and the US/Mexico fence completed as "racists", "nativists" and other idiotic terms. Do the Dolans, Newsday's latest overlords, agree with this?

If it's Newsday's belief that fences that protect property are bad, then that big fence on Wellwood Avenue in Melville should be torn down immediately. You know that fence, right? It's the one surrounding the Newsday building. Practice what you preach, hypocrites.

I am so glad someone has finally mentioned about the stabbing in August because not many people ever heard about that crime. Not in the paper, not on TV, nothing. The only reason i knew is because it was on the block of a relative of mine.

Also, being that some of the suspects are of other ethnics groups, like hispanic.......i guess the hispanics don't like the hispanics.

this is happening all over our community no matter what ethnic group you are.....wake up out there!!!!!!!!

I grew up in patchogue , it has ALWAYS been a very diverse community. Do not judge the kids in the area by a few punks!!. Karma is a bitch, trust me a week from now all of them will wish they died that night. There nightmare a just begun. R.I.P marcello.
I say you drop them off in bellport or gordon heights and let them die slowly. Dont bring politics into this. I wont be suprised to see that these kids werent even born on long island. I know if i find out there names , they will be shot and killed waiting for the school bus.

Why is it that these white kids try to be black or spanish to be cool and hip yet they kill someone they truly yern to be.

Nothing can justify the brutality inflicted upon Mr. Lucero, and these boys should pay for their crime. However, if we are to understand the crime we have to look at why they targeted one specific ethnic group.

One of the boys was black, and another hispanic, so it's possible it wasn't a "hate" crime in the true sense of the word. They were going after a specific segment of the population because they were an easy target. They could rob and assault them and it would never get reported because of thier immigration status. I do not know if Mr. Lucero was legal or not, and neither did these boys. They just assumed. They were looking for an easy target. If there were chinese people walking the streets at night carrying cash and afraid to defend themselves and report a crime for fear of deportation they would have been looking for chinese people, too. Just a theory.

That being said, you can't overlook the fact that in our economy is going down the toilet. People are losing jobs. Our taxes are being raised constantly because our schools are making up for the shortfall caused by people who don't pay into the system. If this was a hate crime, I can totally see why these boys targeted someone of hispanic descent. I'm not saying it's right, but look at what you're dealing with here. Our children are spoiled. They've never had any responsibility, and it's a medical fact that their brains cannot process cause and effect at that age. They are prone to impulsive behavior. When it's all you hear at the dinner table, and on the news, who are you going to blame when your parents say they can't afford to buy you the newest iPod or a pair of $100 sneakers?

This country has to deal with the illegal immigration issue, not just for economic reasons but because we have CITIZENS of hispanic heritage who are in danger. These Immigrant Rights activists think they are doing good when in reality they are making it easy for their people to be a target. Encourage them to go home and come back legally. Help them with the process. As long as they are here illegally they call into question the status of every hispanic walking the streets, and you know the bigots aren't going to ask them to see their green card before they attack them.

Every nationality has had it rough when they first came to America. I am Irish Catholic and Austrian. In both instances my ancestors came here because someone was trying to kill them ( the English, and Hitler, respectively). They came here legally, making sure they weren't criminals or carrying disease. They paid taxes and worked hard to help build this country. Though they held onto their native countries traditions and customs, they were proud to be Americans and the only language spoken at home was English. Why is it so unfair to expect the same from one particular segment of society? Why are we so surprised when there is resentment?

Apparently, there are a number of kids at Pat-Med HS who regularly go out on weekends looking to beat up and rob Hispanics. This is not new. If an illegal is robbed, they don't tend to report it. They carry cash - they don't have bank accounts.

Would this story have gone to print if the victim was white and the attackers were people of color?

Way to fan the flames Newsday; it's your kind of journalism that will perpetuate the racism you claim to stand against. Great job.

no, it wouldn't have gone to print......that is why nobody knew about the stabbing in Medford in August.........a WHITE kid was stabbed 14 times and nobody knew about it.........no coverage at all.....where were you then news reporters!!!!!!!!

Many of the seven kids are not the oldest kids in their families and knowing a few of the families involved the older kids are not committing these acts and neither are some of the 7 kids younger siblings so maybe its not the parents to blame. Also as a young adult i know it is sometimes the easiest thing to lie to your parents so why would some kid just say yeah were going bean jumping tonight mom see ya later when he could be like im going to Ben's house mom see ya later. Again not the parents fault that they were not aware this was happening. Some kids are just in the wrong place wrong time, or under peer pressure. im not saying what they did was okay it certainly was not but pointing fingers at anyone isnt going to do anything.

To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race, legal status or color is like living in Alaska and being against snow. ~William Faulkner.

being against someone because of their race is wrong.....however, if you want to live in American you need to be an american........you should live american and speak the language. Years ago when all of our ancestor came to america they became citizens and learned the language.........things weren't written in English and then our languages..........until our goverment starts doing something about the illegals this hatred will never stop, By no means do i think what happened was the right things at all, i"m just saying the hatred will keep growing as long as the illegals keep getting but the americans have to keep giving. And believe me when i say that in the schools the immigrants walk around not liking us just as much as the americans don't like them. The door swings both ways.

Bravo to l.i.taxpayer and LT,
You finally talk the truth about how most of the people in this community feel but will never speak about out loud!!! Illegal immigration in Patchogue has grow so out of control. Just riding down Main St, you feel like your in a third world country. Our homes have lost their value due to the neighbor that sold their house to immigrants that now has four families living their, and cars parked all over the lawn. These illegals have our school system busting out the seems, yet programs that keep our kids off the street have been cut due to funding. How nice it is to say they want to live the American Dream, we all do, and do it legally!!! We as Americans, black, white, asian, hispanic etc, all are due our share of the American Dream, people whom are not legally here are braking our laws!!
Wake up people, Drive through Patchoge, down the side streets off Main Street, ask someone for directions, bet that person don't speek english and has no idea what your talking about! While your here in Patchogue, stop into one of our many deli's,oh I mean bodaggas where all they serve and sell are hispanic items, and you have to walk out the store only to be heckled by four spanish men, drunk, and only speaking spanish. This is our Patchogue!
By no means do I condone what these teenagers did. No one should have their life taken because of ethnic background. We as Americans have to look at the bigger picture here. Illegal Immigration.

ok i really dont know why everyone is so concerned wether he was ilegal or not

the bottom line IS like some of you said

"No person deserves to be stabbed to death for no reason or for that matter just for the fact that they are a Latino"

I'm hispanic and up untill 3 years ago, I was illegal, if you saw me you would never know bc i look straight up white

martha washington, you said its a crime to be ilegal as well as to murder someone. well do you know what it takes to become a legal citizen?? i think not lady, first of all its ALOT of money and TIME. it took my family and i 9 years to become legal residents & it takes another 5 years to become a citizen.

so please have some consideration you guys really have no idea what you have to go through in order to become a legal citizen. i wouldn't doubt it if Lucero was in the process of becoming a legal resident

bottom line-being ilegal is not as big as a crime as murdering someone, seriously think about it

and martha washington, i would really like to know how your great grandparents came to this country??

In response the comment from "you're stupid", first of all, being here illegally is a crime. It doesn't matter that it's not as serious as murder. In a lawful society you cannot pick and choose what laws you will or will not break. Second, you were not illegal, you were a legal resident. There's a big difference. You and your family were following the rules and I commend you for that and congratulate you for becoming a citizen. Tell me, does it bother you that your family spent all that time and money to become Americans when there are people here who are getting the same advantages who haven't bothered to go through the effort and expense?? Think about that. Your tax dollars are supporting people who couldn't be bothered to go through the proper channels to achieve their dream, when you and your have worked so hard for it. It hardly seems fair now, does it? If we are going to be equal, we must all obey the same laws and go through the same due process.

Boricua, I'm sure Wiiliam Faulkner wasn't paying what I pay in school taxes, or else he might have thought differently.

All seven of these low-lifes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law for what they did to another human being. However, I wonder why it is that Newsday and the rest of the media leaching on to this story doesn't see fit to pay as much attention to the growing epidemic of gang violence on our beloved island, much of which is performed by illegal Latino immigrants. I guess that just isn’t that important.

in response to not surprised, i WAS illegal for 9 years then i became a permanent resident & im still not a citizen, i have to wait two more years and it doesnt bother me at all, because i know how hard working hispanics are and if some havent gone through the process its only because it takes so much money to go through it and most hispanics don't have that much money especially single men who come to this country soley to support THEMSELVES.

It's not like were sitting back in our countries thinking hmmm how can i ruin these Americans' lifes? seriously people put yourselfs in our shoes, we dont come here to ruin your lifes, we come here because we need money and a better life. Wouldn't you do the same if you were in our position? I understand the whole tax situation but think about it, ilegal imigrants dont benefit from it at all because in the end they wont be able to retire. We have to live in shitty houses, we can't get a driver's lisence and most of our jobs are minimum wage ect. (i could go on & on) so trust me there ARE ways that we end up paying for all the "harm" we're causing you I just dont think Lucero should of had to pay his life for it.

While it is sad that this man was murdered,Long Islanders are
fed up with ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS running rampant !!!
Local & state authorities should be rounding these people up & deporting them!!!!!!!!!
The Hispanics cry foul when Legal tax paying citizens take action against
them!!!!
**If you are not in this Country legally, you ARE A CRIMINAL!!!!!!!!!!

Why are these politicans sharing a stage with Illegal Alien criminials ??? Did anyone check the Immigration status of the brother or is it just OK ?? How about the house he's sharing with thirty others , anybody check their status !! Instead of KISSING THEIR ILLEGAL ***'s we should be kicking them back where they belong !! Politicians like Vivian Victoria Fisher abuse their offices by supporting and campaining for these illegal criminials , yes criminials , thats ALL they are !! And all the Amnesty & pro illegal groups hiding illegals behind honest Hispanics created a hate we never had before ! It's "NEVER" about immigrants it's about ILLEGAL ALIENS and this Newspaper and those politicians who hide them behind others to forward their agenda are responsible for creating this new hate !!

I am truly sorry for this mans family and friends and mostly for him i feel that his death was unjust and a very ugly thing. but just because he was killed unjustly doesn't mean that the Hispanic community should use his death as a way to fight anti immigration legislation. i think this is ridiculous people that are illegal should not be here it is a LAW this is not some made up bullshit that someone is spewing it is a law same as Murder why should one be followed and not the other i think it is very hypocritical. i understand that murder is much more serious and in no way even close to imagration but none the less are both laws.

In response to 'you're stupid' Please let me say this first...I congratulate you and your family for becoming Citizens. I want to welcome you all to your new Country.

My family is of Irish decent. My family came from Ireland, and when they arrived were signed directly into the Military to served in the Civil War. Those that lived through the war, lived in slums, did the garbage jobs the others did not want to do, were treated like second and third class citizens and fought and clawed their ways up to where they are now. The point I am trying to say is that they did not have an easy walk and they (as well as your family) earned the right to be Americans AND live the American Dream.

Those that are not here legally are getting benefits that others are paying for ... Yes, they work long hours, some for minimum wages, some for less; but they get paid for their work. The point is not being able to retire. The fact is they are breaking the law, and are getting benefits, etc. that should be going to those that are either becoming or are legal citizens. These are the issues that are bothering may people today.

Please note: I do not expect to be able to retire. I presently work two jobs to keep my rented home for my two children, my senior mother and myself. I am not on welfare, social services, SSI, or getting any assistance.

I continue to state Lucero was a victim of a racial attack. This was an outright attack on a man just because he was Latino. These issue have happened for way to long in our Country and it is not just an inner city issue. The gangs (be they white, black, latino, what ever color they are) are ruining all the streets for those citizens that look beyond color of skin. This issue should not about being a legal or an illegal. There must be one set of laws that all people abide by.

A wonderful man told me something that bears repeating here.... "...no matter the color of his skin, if you peel a mans skin off, you will still find a body of a man..." In other words - remove the skin color, we are all the same.

A Parent of Pat-Med Students i agree with you 100 percent being a legal member of our great nation was earned by our ancestors and a lot of this deep seeded resentment for minority groups such as the Hispanic community come from the fact that there are so many people that are here illegally.

In response to "you're stupid"......you're tag says it all.......for the fact that you think being here illegally doesn't mean anything is ignorant.........if you come here but don't have the money to do what needs to be done, then stay where you are until you do. you come here to make a better life and cause the rest of us to pay more money then we have to. As far as living in sh**** homes, just cause you don't have a lot of money doesn't mean your house has to look like crap.........poor excuse. Most of them just live like pigs. You want the american dream......be an american then,,,,,,,start by speaking the language!

Just another Joe is 100% correct !!!!!!!!!
Patchogue Parent is also correct!!!!!!
Deport ALL illegals NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
DEATH to the Latin Kings & MS 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark, it is an unfortunate fact that often it takes a tragedy for people to address the serious underlying issues in our society. Yes, the murder of this man and immigration are separate issues. But the purpose of a blog is the free exchange of ideas, not to act as an eulogy. It is time for people to have an open and honest discussion about immigration rather than hoping it simply goes away.

Its funny how any people making comments on this page on immigration to try to justify murder.Some people are saying this was not racially motivated,which means the were just out to beat and kill anybody regardless of race.This could have been your father,your brother,your sister or your mother.The word immigration should not be in any of these comments.The bottom line is that there were seven young men looking to cause bodily harm to a human being illegal or not.For some of these young men it was not the first time they were in trouble with the law.The parents failed them and the system failed everybody.Some of you are saying is that it was ok to take a life because he didnt belong in this country,but if he was a legal citizen then it would be wrong.As a community we should be trying to take our streets back away from criminals.Be better parents.Get involved with your children.Teach them right from wrong.Just keep in mind that this person did not asked to be killed! Keep in mind that at least one of these kids has already been involved in a murder.Imagine your in your yard cutting your lawn and a group of teenagers come onto your property and murder you in front of your three year old child.Then walk over to you body and as cold blooded as the shooting was he removes your watch.Then he goes to school an brags about it.This person that was murdered was an AFRICAN AMERICAN and yes legal in this country.One of these young men who provided the gun and bragged he was the shooter until the police arrested him was WHITE.So since this person that was murdered was a legal citizen does that make that murder any different.Murder is Murder...It doesnt matter what race or color you are.There not coming back.......Just remember that there is only one issue here ...a human being was murdered! Immigration status is not a reason to be murdered or commit a murder......And as for the person who commented about the child who got stabbed in August I agree shame on the news for not reporting this....As a community we should know everything that happens because it keeps us aware of what is happening in our community.....The news out here should post all incidents that happen in Long Island just like the NY Post does in the city.

IN REGARDS TO JUST ME....NOBODY IS JUSTIFING THIS MURDER.......EVERYONE HAS SAID THAT THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR TAKING ANYOBODIES LIFE.......IF YOU READ BACK I STATED THAT THE HATRED IS NEVER GOING TO END UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THE ILLEGALS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WHAT THESE KIDS DID WAS OK.....I ALSO STATED THAT THIS CRAP IS BECOMING A PROBLEM IN THE PAT-MED COMMUNITY ON ALL LEVELS....NOT JUST AGAINST THE HISPANICS.....THERE WAS A STABBING IN AUGUST....A WHITE BOY STABBED 14 TIMES....GUESS WHAT THEY WERE AFTER THE WRONG KID.....DID YOU READ ABOUT IT IN THE PAPER,,,,NO YOU DIDN'T.........THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH VIOLENCE ALL WAYS AROUND.........

There is only one to judge us and that GOD. We are in an evil world where we don't know what can happen when tomorrow comes, but it's very sad to see that racism still exists and will never end. Illegal, Legals whatever... Just think of the needs of a human being and the dreams of a hard worker willing to accomplish them. Can any of you Joe's out there can imagine loosing your brother or sister, or seeing him laying in a street full of blood? Would it matter if he or she was brown black or white? Nothing matters after that. It's over no more brother. Never again.
Just feel the pain and the impotence for the rest of your life. What this 17 year old did, will come back to him big. An Ecuadorean will be waiting for him in Jail and he won't live 38 years of age like Lucero did. It's a fact.

I am the Mom of the boy who was stabbed 14 times in August. I just would like to comment on how the case was treated. Besides the stabber, None of the other boys were even questioned. The one boy who punched him in the head was a body builder who some say was on steroids. My son is a skinny white boy weighing around 135lbs His friend that was with him is even smaller than my son. My husband and son had to actually go to the precinct and give the detective pictures and names because no one was working on the case like they are on this one. Everytime i called the detective was either out or it was his day off. I never rec-d calls back. The only time i got to talk to the detective is when i was lucky enough to get him to answer the phone. It infuriates me that these boys walk around town with no one knowing what they did but heres my son in and out of doctors offices.On Oct. 1st he had surgery to repair nerve damage that may not even work. now for 8 weeks he has a cast on his right hand. This is his senior year and instead of enjoying it He gets to go to rehabilitation 2 times a week. Maybe if the police arrested all the kids It would show the other kids that if you get together to cause bodily harm to someone, than leave them to die all should be held responsible.

I'll take a different approach to this heated bulletin board-

This is a hate crime- defined as by those who actually have the final say in all of this- the legal system. If justice is truly blind, then the court's ruling should reflect the criminal act, and not who committed it- regardless of whether you're Joe the Plumber or Tito the Builder.
That said, a hate crime's definition is based on motive. The motive, of course, targeting an individual based on race, ethnicity, creed, or sexual orientation. Hence why the crime committed against Matthew Shepherd was a hate crime, or why the deaths in Howard Beach in the 1990s were hate crimes. Matter of fact, violence against women should be defined as such, in some cases.
Motive and intent- not simple acts. Whites are not the only group that commits injustices. Racial and ethnic minorities violate one another all the time. So let's keep things in perspective.
Immigrant status truly has nothing to do with the incident. It's about as useful as knowing that he was a diabetic, or was left-handed. However, because so many wish to discuss the topic- the fact that the immigration system is broken is not lost on anyone on both sides of the issue. Both want to see a humane and tolerable solution get proposed and eventually passed.
But fear-mongering isn't going to push that forward. Erroneous data buttressed by anxiety and authoritarianism only reflects what TRUE data show-
Lapinski et al. (1997)- Anti-immigrant (legal or otherwise)sentiment usually peaks around time of economic downturn.
Lee et al. (2001)- Both obedience to the law and perceived economic threat determined anti-"illegal" immigrant attitudes.
Esses et al. (2001)- Perceived threat to "national identity" was also a significant predictor of anti-immigrant attitudes in Canada.

Facts, not fables. As an Ecuadorian PhD student in Social Psych (studying prejudice regarding immigration) I was shocked to hear this news- a day after I had played "Farmingville" to a group of New Jersey high-schoolers.

"Violence is always an outgrowth of milder states of mind. Although most barking (antilocution) does not lead to biting, yet there is never a bite without previous barking."
-Gordon Allport, The Nature of Prejudice

FYI......does anyone realize that Overton isn't even at Pat-Med resident. He actually a resident of the Southcountry school district........after his burglary incident his family had him transfered to Pat-Med. These young adults today are out of control from all communities.

David, thank you for bringing up the second issue no one has addressed. We are in an economic down turn and history has shown a direct connection between economic down turns and attitudes towards minorities. These negative attitudes are not toward just illegal citizens, but legal citizens too. Germany is a wonderful example of how Hitler turned people against their own citizens because 'they were the ones who ruined their lives'.

This even in Patchougue (the murder of an innocent man) has brought this to light. These types of events have been going on for way too long (as stated above by the Mom of a 24 year old graduate from PatMed). The same issue is going on all over this Country (against other races and colors too).

The point remains the same. This man, Lucero, was murdered because he was Latino. This is a hate crime NOT an immigration issue. Period.

This is supposed to be a Country of many, working as a whole. We are and will remain a nation of bigots unless if we start at home working to foster a different attitude. Hate crimes (against any color, creed, or religion) are wrong. Period. We need to address the whole picture, not just this one event.

Message to "Kate" et al regarding younger siblings of those arrested. Try not to make uneducated guesses regarding the behavior of the younger siblings of those accused in this crime.
Do your homework and you'll find plenty of hate-related behavior among those kids - some serious trouble. While defending their accused children, the parents should consider the consequences of continued ignorance with their other children -- because, if hate was not taught in this case, it certainly was ignored.

THIS IS A TRADEGY FOR ALL OF OF OUR CHILDREN. MY SON IS HALF HISPANIC AND GOES TO PAT MED HIGH. HE IS 16. I HAVE CERTAINLY NOT TAUGHT MY CHILD TO HATE ANYONE FOR THE THEIR ETHNIC BACKGROUND. BUT OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS IT HAS BECOME OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THEIR IS A GREAT PROBLEM IN SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS WITH THESE CHILDREN. WHEN MY SON WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL THE KIDS NOT JUST MINE WOULD COME HOME AND TELL ME THAT SOME OF THE CHILDREN WERE NOT STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE. I KNOW IT IS YOUR GOD GIVEN RIGHT NOT TO STAND SHOULD YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BUT AFTER 9/11 THIS CONFUSED SOME OF THE KIDS TO SAY THE LEAST. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS IN PAT MED. I THINK THAT EVERYONE WANTS FOR US ALL TO GET ALONG. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS MAN SHOULD NOT HAVE LOST HIS LIFE. ALL SEVEN OF THESE KIDS SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. I THINK THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TOLERANCE. BUT I THINK THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH ILEGAL IMMIGRATION. WHILE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG HERE I THINK IT WILL HELP PREVENT THINGS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

1. This is a hate crime. Illegal or legal is not the issue. The "looking Hispanic" is the issue. The gang of thugs was after a Latino. They could easily have been after an African American, or Asian American, or a girl/woman to rape, or a "misfit kid" from school. Hate is hate and bullying and killing innocent people is wrong. Would you say a woman who was raped was at fault because she was a woman? Hopefully you would not! This man deserved this because he "looked" Hispanic?! How ridiculous! Just reading all the hate mail in the comments on this article makes me sick. Years ago we used to talk about neighborhoods collapsing because of "white flight." Well, I'm "white" and I wish I could move, not because I have Hispanic or African American, or Asian, or Indian, or Afgani, or Pakistani, or Turkish neighbors, but because I am ashamed to be living in a town that could produce these hate-filled WHITE kids. Then again, those of us with a conscience need to be here to support the good people of all colors and races in Patchogue Medford so the hooligans do not represent us.

2. Ironic that this happened shortly after a historic election placing the first person of color in the highest office in the land. Wonder if festering anger over that victory prompted this action? Can't get Obama, so let's kill a Latino? This is horrifying.

3. Please know that Long Island is not a hotbed of racism. There are good people living here who are thoughtful and explore issues rather than demeaning and taunting the latest immigrant group.

4. I'm not thrilled about illegal immigrants using services, schools etc but paying no taxes. Our community is economically challenged because of that. BUT our government is ineffective at halting/managing such immigration; if people can manage to get here, they will. To blame them is not the issue. The blame lies with the government not the immigrants. BTW, there are plenty of people of all races who live in illegal apartments built by homeowners who need the income to meet their mortgage payments. These people pay no local real estate taxes; yet their kids go to school, they use town services etc. But they are not targets. They have no particular racial profile, no discernible identity, so are left alone by the hate mongers. Yet, like illegal immigrants, they are not paying their fair share of taxes. But it's not easy to visually see who they are so no one stalks and kills them!

5. My 2 children went to Pat Med High School. One graduated in 2001, the other in 2007. The change in the school in just those 6 years was striking. My son was a student teacher and substitute teacher there during and after college, and he said that all the teachers commented on how quickly the standards and safety of the school were falling.

6. My daughter (2007) used to be baffled when people would talk about prejudice against African Americans from White students at the high school. She said everyone she knew who was "black" or "white" got along great and that everyone knew the problem was African American and Latino tensions/gangs. The question is why is this allowed??? Where are the standards that parents should be instilling in their children and why does the administration not crack down on this? Because parents of kids who are disciplined might sue the school?? Come on school board! Tell your principals to toughen up and take action. This atmosphere of hate is not acceptable.

7. I am unbearably saddened by this crime and the anguish t has brought to the victim's family and to our community. And I pray that our president-elect helps foster a new appreciation of diversity in our country. We as a people can no longer look the other way and tolerate hate.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS SAID THIS MAN DESERVED THIS BECAUSE HE LOOKED HISPANIC OR LATINO. NO ONE DESERVES THIS. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE CRACKING DOWN ON ALL OF THESE THINGS YOU REFERENCED. WHEN ADULTS THINK THAT THE PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY IS NOT FAIR AND CAUSES THE PEOPLE HERE LEGALLY TO DO WITHOUT CHILDREN OF COURSE WILL SOON FEEL THE SAME WAY. AGAIN, THE KIDS WHO DID THIS NEED TO BE PUNISHED. HOWEVER, PAT MED KIDS WHO ARE FEELING THEY ARE DOING WITHOUT TEXT BOOKS, PROGRAMS ETC BECAUSE SO MUCH IS BEING PUT INTO THE ESL PROGRAMS AND THE HIRING OF TEACHERS NEEDED TO TEACH THESE ESL CLASSES HAVE FEELINGS. WHY SHOULD A CHILD THAT IS HERE LEGALLY DO WITHOUT BECAUSE ONE THAT IS HERE ILEGALLY. DO THESE CHILDREN DESERVE MORE? I THINK NOT! THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND YEARS. YET IT TOOK THIS TO HAPPEN TO OPEN EYES AND HEARTS. NOW STEVE LEVY IS BEING CRITICIZED FOR DOING HIS JOB. (CRACKING DOWN ON ILEGAL IMMIGRATION). IT IS HIS JOB IT IS ILEGAL. MAYOR PONTIERI WAS ON NEWS 12 NOT SO LONG AGO ADDRESSING THE ZONING PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE HEALTH HAZARDS THIS IS CAUSING. NO ONE DESERVES WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS MAN. OUR KIDS DESERVE THE BEST EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO THEM. OUR KIDS DESERVE TO GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT BEING AFRAID!

WHY IS IT SO HORRIBLE TO ASK PEOPLE TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY THE RIGHT WAY? THE LEGAL WAY?

Katy, it is not so horrible to ask. You and I both see things the same way. I too have a son who sees the same things happening in school.

What seems horrid to ask is that our Judicial and Federal systems should start doing their jobs. The rules are out there for everyone to follow...but only a few do the right thing. Additionally, there are very strong PAC groups and lawyers that feed on these issues to make it a racist issue...and feel it is OK to break the rules for a select group.

And yes, our children should not be afraid to go to school, nor ride their bikes down the block, or go to the public library on Main Street, or just hang out with their friends and play baseball, soccer, or whatever they choose to play in a public park.

I saw fear yesterday in the eyes of man walking on Oak Street, looking over his shoulder to see who or what was coming near him. Is this what we pay these taxes for ... to walk about in fear ... What has happen here is a white group attacked a latino person. Are we now going to see rebuttal attacks? Will there be latino groups going after whites? Is this going to be the new race wars in our Country? I hope not.

We do have a great principal here in Pat-Med High School. Mr. Sanzone is a former graduate of our schools and is a good man who feels his students are equal and important - to the district and to the future of our Nation. Mr. Sanzone is not a person to let this roll aside. Additionally, if he saw it coming, he would NOT have let this happen. Do not loose faith in his ability to work with these students.

Yes, we need to reduce the illegal issues, the usage of tax dollars on illegals, the reduction and removal of multi-rental homes in single family zoned areas - there are a lot of things that need to be done.

Most of all ...everyone must abide by the same laws in order to be part of this Country. Those that step out of line and break the law, should be dealt with accordingly. One set of laws are on the books and they must be followed by every single person. If you don't like the rules, you do not belong here in this Country.

Oops, my 'name' became erased in my above message to Katy... a = A Parent of Pat-Med Students.

What's wrong with you people??? Who gave those kids the right to play God and decide who lives and who dies? How did they know the legal status of this human being? Let's talk clear this is pure racism, doesn't matter legal or ilegal, taxpayer or not He was going to be beat to death anyway.
We all know the situation with the schools, hospitals and jobs, but this is not the answer, don't give all the guilt to the inmigrants, what about our legislators and the governmet, what are they doing to help?

I lived on Long Island my whole life my parents are both immigrants from the islands. They both came here illegally but became citizens. It took them along time to become citizens. People have to realize that it takes time and money alot of money now a days to become a citizen in this country. I was a junior in h.s when my mother became legal. People who are here illegal still make up this country whether you people like it or not. Just because he wasnt legal dose not mean that he wasnt trying to become legal. There are people who are here for years who dont become legal untill they are well in age. People need to have compassion and understand that we live in a world of opportunities and that people come from all over to make a better life for themself and there family. Please remember that this country was built from immigrants

This for Katy. Its not that easy for some people to come into this country. The USA has diffrent standards for diffrent countries.

Alicia,
Please note Lucero was here on a work visa; therefore, he was legally here. He was NOT an illegal. This issue is not whether or not he was legal, the issue is that he was attacked because he was Latino.

This entire blog should focus on the REAL issue. This is a racial attack, a bias issue, not an immigration issue.

Yes, this Country was build on the immigration of many...all of which seem to have a wonderful series of horror stories for what they came through to become citizens.

Living the American dream is not easy for natural born or naturalized individuals. It takes understanding, cooperation and one other thing that seems to be missed now a days... respect and compassion for the other persons you live around.

Again, we need to focus on this issue for what it is... this man, Lucero, was murdered because of his being Latino. Immigration is whole other issue.

Excuse me i am not making uneducated guesses since I know most of the families involved. PLus if your read the articles other pat med students are surprised to hear some of the seven kids were involved. Yes a few of them had prior criminal background but not all of them. dont assume

alicia,
maybe the gov't should allow illegals to pay taxes while they are here, so they would be paying into the system, also.

I know this is not an illegal immigration issue.
This is like gang activity. Gangs have become a problem in recent years on long island.

Alicia,
Whatever the cost in time and money is not our problem. If people want American citizenship they have to follow American LAWS! This crime was just waiting to happen here. We are overloaded with illegals here in Patchogue! People who say this is a separate issue from the seven boys killing this man,can't be futher from the truth. We are sick and tired of these people taking over our town and making it look like a third world country! They live in any little place they can find. Beware... they are coming to a town near you!

Kate, I do not know the families of these boys personally. I do know that some of the students are surprised about what happened, others are not. Additionally, this game of beating up Mexicans/Latino's has been going on here in Patchogue for some time now. I live in Patchogue and have heard the conversation of some of the parents talking at events and at bus stops. This is not a brand new or single episode event.

One of the hardest item as a parent is not seeing (or wanting to see) some of the things our kids do.. it's always the other kids they hang around with. I have worked in the district and learned one thing - kids act very differently when they are not under the viewing eyes of Mom and Dad.

And it is even harder for us to as parents to control our attitudes and thoughts in front of our children... they hear our angers and formulate their own opinions by our actions and words. This does not mean the parents are preaching kill all Latinos...but all of us have sat at our dinner tables, at bar-b-ques, etc. discussing our frustrations about budgets and monies going here and there and not into the hands of our children. I too say things in front of my kids I should not say; I too am not perfect.

The fact remains that these young men made a decision to do something very wrong, to go and beat up some latino. I do not know if their goal was to kill him, but it did happen. They broke the law going out on this rampage.

I have heard through the 'high school grapevine' many stories about where they were before this happened, etc. The fact remains they let did what they did, by their own free will. They probably knew it was wrong too.

And as a single parent of two myself, I am confident that my two kids do things I do not want them to do. Our only prayer as parents is the lessons we have taught them will remain in their minds at all times.

My prayers are with all families. No one is a winner in this situation. This horrific act has ruined the lives of 8 families.

I agree that this situation is tragic and needs to be handled accordingly. But I also agree with the PM parent of the boy who was stabbed this summer. A violent action was taken against him and his friend, and yet media coverage such as this did not happen. Was he supposed to die to make the news, to be an example that hate crimes are apparent in our community? Or the better question is does the victim need to be a minority for anyone to care? Security has increased in school. Our bags are being checked. I even heard one student say to his friend "Why do we need to be searched, we're Hispanic". While no one can deny that murdering anyone regardless of race, gender or belief is wrong, we should not think that anyone is innocent of a crime. As a young woman, I cannot walk down main street without have to hurry on by as I am being snickered at by latino men. Patchouge is not safe for many people, let us realize that.

PM Student... thank you so much for speaking out about this. This is a racial issue. Just as much as the young man who got stabbed over the summer was a racial issue.

We have become so politically correct in America that the only racial issues as acts of violence, abuse, etc. against people of color, other religions (other than Christian and Jews), or other nationalities. Acts against whites are not considered worthy new coverage or police actions.

And yes, I agree with you about walking down Main Street, or walking around the block. We used to love walking from the house and going to Live at Five. No longer, after walking home this past summer and not feeling safe walking back down Oak Street.

Personally, I don't like the idea of my kids walking over to the Library anymore. I do not want my kids out hanging even to play sports, going for a bike ride, etc. without adult supervision. Why, because of the fear of reverse discrimination. I realize I cannot lock them up, but these fears are real.

You are not the only one that is aware of the changes in Patchogue. And I know I am not the only parent who sees it too.

First and foremost my prayers go to the family of Mr Lucero, may his soul rest in peace. Secondly, I hope these kids pay the highest price for their crimes. They are murderers and criminals!
I am Hispanic (boriqua) and I have children who attend PM schools. My son plays in the PM soccer team. One day I overheard one of the white parents speaking about how they resent the immigrants and how they need to learn to speak in English. But when those same children of the immigrants they resent makes a goal and puts the team at the top they love us. What a bunch of hipocrites! There was also a situation where one of the Travel Teams from PM was playing with Stony Brook Blasts and one of these (Stony Brook) racist kids started harrassing one of our players who was hispanic calling him a terrorists. Do you believe that?! What a shame. I was devasted and saddened by these racist remarks. Our coach brought this to the attention of the Soccer League and was told that this child would be reprimanded. These kids hear and imitate everything their parents say and do. Shame on all of the racist parents. You know who you are.....Pat/Med and every where else!

we live in the nation of the free but we still live in mental slavery. do not alow bad people tell us what to think or how to act, we are better than them.let's educated our kids to live free and not in fear.let's teach our kids that there is nothing wrong to be a lady or a gentleman.let's teach our kids to be good leaders and not to good followers.let's get together in this moment of sorrow ,we can do it.

just reading most of these comments above can make anybody with a sane mind sick...most of you are so freaken ignorant...when it comes down to a freaken crime it does not matter the ethnicity of the person...its a crime that has to be punished...we are seeing the youth "that are supposed to be our future" commit horrific crimes...THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO IS IN THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY, ILLEGALLY, IF THEIR HERE WITH A VISA OR NOT...Your talking about a human life that was deprived because some joyriding teenagers, who need some true parental education showing them wrong from right decided to go and hunt a innocent person regardless of the ethnic background, just so they can do harm to a person who did not know them from a hole in the wall and even worse take his life...WHAT FREAKEN RIGHT DO THESE FREAKEN KIDS HAVE TO TAKE SOMEONE ELSES LIFE....and just so you know Mr. Just Another Joe your not sending this Ecuadorian back to his country because that expense does not come from our tax dollars its money rounded up by family members and friends of this young man, you foolish ignorant person...Did you not know we all are immigrants in one way or the other. You should be ashamed when you read your own comments...In a world that we should be educating equality to our children it just comes to show that most of the readers are so far back in themselves...This man was not here illegally for your all your information HE WAS HERE LEGALLY ON A WORK VISA which give him the right to work here and as well as pay taxes like yourself and me...Yes there are some that come into this country illegally who commit crimes and/or do not want to prosper and deserve to be sent back to their native country but those who come here to whether be it illegally or legally but to prosper they should not be judged just because they want to do the same as most of us americans have a better life...There has been so much Bias Crime flowing around that it is so freaken sad and makes me sick to my stomach because this is suppose to be a country of equality...you read in the papers of bias remarks being sprayed painted on walls and private properties and those stupid flyers that has been placed on vehicle and left in private propertys...What century are we in? We should be teaching our children about peace, harmony and equality....These are times that we should be celebrating a new history in our time where all people of all races, color and ethnic background have to come together in peace and harmony not be outraged and blinded by hatred...those times should be long past stop the ignorance and look forward especially look towards your childrens upbringing and future....

I went to school with these jerks (for lack of a stronger word). What a horrible, horrible thing to do. And its so stupid because we had hate crime seminars that we had to go to and all that. I don't understand how a human could do such a pitiful thing. I just am lost for words...

the people who are bashing these 7 kids have more hate than jeff did when he stabbed that dude in the chest. for all you people to say they're scum and POS's should look in the mirror

you are the ones with hate in your heart.

our kids are only products of their enviorments.

you all are hypocrites, you murder with your tounges and with your thoughts..

cheating, lying, slandering, hateful people all of us are.

we're using these kids as a scapegoat for the real problems in our society. next week is another crime involving something different and we're all going to talk smack about the next murderer/rapist/human.

vicious cycle.

everyone is illegal here so don't start preaching get out of my country!!!!

Achak Native-American

this is to sylvia,
no one said this particular incident was right because lucero was here legally or illegally. If you read most of the blogs are saying that these kids are totally wrong at fault and should pay for what they have done. The ilegal immigration is an issue that may or may not have played a role in why these kids had some of the hate or the feelings that they have. And i hope that your children are learning peace harmony and equality and not using the word FREAKIN over and over again.

Achak Native-American Amen. My family is Native-American, my family are of the Iroquois Nation, we are Mohawk. The Europeans did come here and destroyed the way of life as we KNEW it. However, we learned the new language and way of life, AND have still maintained our culture. This should speak volumes to all those who are here today.

This discussion should be on the reality of what happened...the simple act of racism and how young men went out on a 'joy-ride' with the intent of beating up a Latino/Mexican person.

Racism was and still is alive in the United States - unless if we decide to stop it now. Lead by example, do not follow.

this is to parent of pat-med

It is nice to know that there are parents so close to me that share some of the same feelings as myself. Frankly, I am scared for my child and the other children in Pat Med. Our children are being searched everyday now when they enter school. Mr. Sanzone the principal of Patchouge Medford High School is a stand up man with a huge heart. My prayers are of course with the Lucero family but with the entire community that has been affected by this tradegy. My heart goes out to Mr. Sanzone he loves those kids and his school.

I have come to realize that some people do not realize that this has affected an entire community, a high school filled with adolescents 14-18 years old and many many others.

God Bless you and your family!

this is in respose to Katy...just you for your FYI my children have a great upbringing and they do know wrong from right what to say and not to say....you say that "no one said this particular incident was right because lucero was here legally or illegally." well I guess you haven't read all the comments...especially your comment "The ilegal immigration is an issue that may or may not have played a role in why these kids had some of the hate or the feelings that they have." ...it is all focused on the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS....and I did not say they did the harm they did to the man because he was here illegally... so read the comment better and not in between the lines...and don't get to offensive because just like you I have the right to voice my opinion....no more words needed for ignorance,...

i am sure your children have a great upbringing and noone said that you did not have the right to voice opinion. You should read between the lines. IT WAS WRONG WHAT HAPPENED! BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
I am well aware of what I write and just so you know my husband is puerto rican and my son is half puerto rican. I am sad to say that my family has experienced hate first hand. Your are the one who is being offensive. I have a right to my opinion as well.

sylvia
do you reside in the pat med area? do your kids go to the pat med school? do you really think 7 sets of parents all taught their children hate and racism. They learn in school on the net and at home.

Why doesn't Newsday do a story to find out where the hostility is coming from toward the hispanic community. My family is biracial hispanic/black and we were taught to assimilate and fit in into society. We are not seeing that Today, some buy a home divide it into 4 apartments and have many children living there. The homeowner in the community has worked all of their lives to have a nice home, it does something to the esteem and threatens that families way of life. These are not wealthy people and they cannot afford expansion of esl classes and the added costs that the illegal immigration problem is espousing. Some parking on their lawns standing around in large groups and various locations it makes a community look awful, speaking in Spanish constantly when other groups of people are around, my parents taught us it is rude to do that. Americans are being disrespected, their tax dollars and their communities and they are angry and it is only going to get worst. Newsday is not telling the complete side of the story and must be bought out by pro latino groups because this information and story is tragic, and Mr. Lucero did not deserve what happened to him, there is a deep resentment here and they can decide to cover it or not, but Americans are not going to change when on long island we are paying some of the highest taxes in the country. If the federal government does not step in ordinary people will become more angry. Thier homes are their only assets, its your biggest investment in your life and people do not want their communities and schools destroyed and overrun with a population explosion that is not paying for itself. Unfortunately this is fueling some of the anger.

Because Newsday, seems so bias in their reporting there was a young man brutally killed in Freeport by an Hispanic gang and he did not do anything. In San Francisco three white people a man and his two sons were killed by an Hispanic Felon here illegally, Two cops were shot by a man who had been deported twice, just three weeks ago in New York, newsday not much coverage. When will newsday instead of allowing the crazy allen ramirez to speak, actually do a story that long islanders want to see about how much more money are we spending in our school districts to pay for children of illegal immigrants. I had a friend in Oceanside whose son needed help in Spanish, she was told he had to wait because the spanish children were going to receive the help first because they needed more help, she went crazy and her son got the help, but what is going on in Long Island, when a man who is supposed to be the head of the Human Rights Commission is calling steve levy a murderer! Why do you print this rhetoric, it is disgusting and appalling and Newsday you do not have fair and balanced reporting why don't you open the dialogue up to the public to see why are people so upset and angry, maybe everyone will learn something from it. Please everyone contact the editors and tell them talk about the three black college students murdered in New Jersey by illegal gang members, there are more, the black man drugged recently in a car to death, the white boy who was just stabbed 14 times, the racist incidents in Mastic where people wrote Graffitti and racist comments on homeowners property. The case of Carlton Shaw was not even covered so extensively. Does Newsday have bias against stories pertaining to black and white people. Can you talk about increased MS13 gang activity or you cant., I am cancelling my subscripition today, I don't need slanted bias news but real stories about the real issues americans face and care about.

is newsday just for latinos or everyone?

Everything you have written is so true. Kudos to you and your family!

I hope these little boys enjoy jail life for the next 25 years...we should re-instate the death penalty for NY...every state should be more like texas...

Does anyone else seem to realize the seemingly endless amount of shootings, murders, home invasions, burglaries, robberies, rapes, bank heists and other crimes that have become a daily part of life hear in Suffolk County. I wonder how much longer County Executive Steve Levy's panterings of crime being down and he doing "more with less" when it comes to County's police dept. will continue to be accepted and touted by the pillow soft news reporting agencies hear on the island. The Long Island media corporate conglomerate (Newsday and News 12 both now owned by cablevision's Dolan family) need to step up to the plate and start doing some actual fact finding and investigative news reporting on this issues and stop themselves from being used as the means by which Levy continually lies and distorts the truth to the public. Our safety hear in what was once a safe suburban community is under attack from both the criminals who see us as their prey, Mr. Levy who lies to us and tells us everything is fine, and the media who fail to realize the situation, uncover the facts, and ask the tough questions which hold the aforementioned accountable.

Antonio these boys will be serving a death sentance,due to the FACT that our jails are populated with 80% hispanic! If you think that the death penalty will make any change in peoples minds about Illegal Immigration you are wrong!
I hope that the INS is at this so called ralley this weekend. We can clean out Patchogue in one big sweep. Bring your papers!!!!!!

What happens to someone that is here illegally if they get arrested . Does anyone know. When they go to court do they get in trouble for breaking the law by just being here illegally in addition to the crime they have committed? Shouldn't they be deported. I mean Anyone from italy, spain, germany, russia, el salvador, where ever. We need all the support we can get at the rally this weekend. We need to let our local government officials know what is fueling the anger. So no more incidents like this happen.

HI,i am a student that goes to Patchogue Medford High School and have walked these hallways with these 7 teenagers. 4 of which being really close friends of mine.As you walk down the hallways of our schools you hear things coming out of all kinds of peoples mouth weather you black white or hispanic.The Kids say things like "oh guys guess what i did this weekend, i beat up some mexicans walking down main street"...Im not saying this is right.But it is an issue that has gone on for years and years.ANd it just so happens that the 7 teenagers were the ones it all came down on, but they didnt have to stab the guy thats taking it too far. BUt the media is taking this completly out of hand saying things like " they come here for a better life and they cant even enjoy it" like i mean common i have respect for these people they work there asses off just to be here and i might not arguee with how they live and how they milk the cramp out of our school and federal system but i wouldnt go killing people over it. BUt what everyone doesnt seem to get is how this all started...It got really bad when i was in 8th grade i am now a junior in patmed.But when things started getting really heated between the hispanics and the whites when people started jumping people in school in locker rooms you name it, it was happening it got to the point where i was cutting out of school just to be away from it, but the hispanics refused to stand for the PLedge of Alegence. And the media is going to say they come here for a better life okay that might be true but then they send there kids to our school when there are troops fighting in iraq to make sure we can have a better life in america and those kids arent going to stand for the pledge common now thats completly retarded and there coming for a better life but whos there fighting to make sure illegal people can come her? right? but back to the storyy. We had gotten in a hole lot of trouble for wearing an american flag to school and some were even suspended. BUt today November 14th i was in the hallways walking to class and was bumbarded by a group of hispanic students getting an ecuadorian flag thrown in my face and being screamed at LET JUSTICE BE SURVED!! and where they suspended or even in trouble? NOPE!! And thats what gets people like those 7 teenagers mad. It is the little things that goon in our hallways of school that cause hate. Neither of These parents in my oppion should be charged at all. My whole life was wreched when my sports were taken away and people like MR.Conroy bring them back and do everything in his power to make sure he can bring back the sports to make sure he can do his best to keep kids out of the streets as much as he can.MR. and MRS. CONROY were the best parents they could have been. Growing up Jeff was taught right from wrong and that saturday night my good friends chose there own destiny. THey chose to act wrong. This hate is taught to us in school. AND ihave seen this first hand.My lil brother just came into highschool this year. HE now dislikes hispanics and my mother was never a person to teach us to hate anyone because of the way they live,look,or act.We were taught growing up if you dont like someone keep moving if you dont have anything nice to say keep your mouth shut and now going into the highschool my brother has become someone to hate.With everything i believe in my friends should pay for what they did.They were 100% wrong but dont make these parents suffer anymore then they already are.

Thank you for listening

- a 16 year old junior going to PatMed

I'd just like to offer my condolences to the family of Mr. Lucero. I've seen on this message board a lot of argument from both sides, both those who see this for the despicable crime that it is and those who would wish to use it as a vehicle for their opposition of illegal immigration.

As a guy whose parents both came here legally from Cuba and Ecuador and was born in Mineola, I understand the concerns of the Hispanic community about immigrant rights, whether illegal or not, yet still do agree that tougher border enforcement and programs to integrate those already here in a safe, understanding manner are necessary.

This story, however, is not about that. This crime was one of hate, pure and simple. To make this into a white vs. hispanic debate or one of illegal immigration or one of aid to immigrants damages the integrity of our society, as we must realize that.

Regardless of their status, legal or illegal, are those who would excuse this crime on the basis of a victim's alleged illegality (I have seen no evidence that this is the case anyway) willing to say that in the United States we should tolerate a vicious assault on any human being who was doing nothing more than going to visit a friend? That is NOT the country my parents sacrificed so much to live in and definitely not the one I was raised to esteem. Whether the victim was illegal or not makes no difference - he is still human and he has basic rights that must be protected. If we as a society tolerate this for even one instant then we have truly lost our way.

One final note about the parents of the 7 teenagers. I will say that if they knew their children were on the wrong path, they should be held accountable for a lack of attentiveness and being lax on discipline. On the other hand, I have seen many parents who are nothing short of spectacular and still raise bad seeds. This is regrettable, but it can often be the case. I would not blame them unconditionally, but rather hold those who have committed these acts accountable. The notion of permitting one's son to have a swastika tattoo on his body is a bit beyond me, and I would have some words for his parents, but to blame them without seeing the tough job parenting can be is in my view unfair.

I sincerely hope we can reflect on this tragedy and understand that this is not a time to talk about illegal vs. legal or question people's national identity - it is a time to learn. To learn the values we must teach to our children. I'm only 20 years old, and I can only hope that my children will never have to put up with this either in the halls of their school or in the streets of their town. I love Long Island, and know that its a better place than this. If we learn from this experience and can make our community a better place because of this, then Mr. Lucero will have not died in vain. Rather, his memory will be honored by the tolerant dialogue this crime may provoke. I know this post is a bit long-winded, but if you read long enough to finish it, thanks.

-Chris

Leave it to one sided liberal Newsday to print only what the the papers
editors want you to read. I just posted the truth about the negative aspects
that illegal immigration has on our economy, housing,healthcare& so on.
my post contained no profanity or racism,Yet Newsday pulled my post
only a few minutes after it was posted.
Like the line in that Tom Cruise movie,NEWSDAY,YOU CAN'T
HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Katy, thank you. It is nice to know that between the screams about illegals and horrid acts in these posts there are people who are trying to see this incident as it is.

I originally moved to this district because I wanted my children to grow up in a working class community with families and friends of all races and colors. It seem that in the past 10 years the district has gone down and the attitudes in the neighborhood have gone even more sour.

We need to try to remain confident that justice will be served here and that our community will work through this to a better end. And more so, to continue to teach our children tolerance of one and other.

PatMed Student, I have a 16 year old at Buffalo. We recently sat down and talked about what goes on at the school on a daily basis. He did tell me all and more of what goes on there. Those that don't stand up to say the Pledge, the hall issues, the taunting that goes on, and more.

I also know that the school has said there is a way to report these incidents BUT that would mean you are ratting out someone and makes you a target.

If you students do not like what is going on, then you must join in mass and say something. You may be minors; however, freedom of speech is also there for you. I also know there is a fear of retaliation. I may be a parent, but still remember being 16 - ratting out someone is not cool, but the retaliation can be worse. I do hope you kids who are concerned and upset DO speak out and do it the right way.

Chris, you post was not long-winded, it was full of wonderful insight that is needed to be addressed. Thanks.

Still in all a man is dead.

7 young men made a horrid decision that evening and committed a horrid crime, a bias crime, and will now have to deal with consequences of their actions.

Harder still, there are 8 families that will now have to deal with the consequences of these actions.. There are no winners here, only losers.

My prayers are with all the families and my entire community. We need to work through what has happened, fix the issues that are causing the problems and unrest and move on as a community.

okay i just wanted to make this clear..Jeffs parents had no idea about the tattoo on this body..He did it himself with a group of friends.Jeffs parents are some of the most involved parents i know and are always involved in jeffs school workk.What he close to do where his own actions and as a close friend of his i have no sympathy for what he did and he is now paying the consquences along with 6 others.But he chose the path he did not his parents and me being only 16 i cant say its easy to raise kids but i know the parents of those 7 teens raised those kids with everything they have and for the people up there to tell another parent how to raise a child is retarded WHO ARE YOU TO TELL MR AND MRS CONROY HOW TO RAISE THIER CHILDERN it could have been anyone.

Re: "Why are the jails INFESTED by PREDOMINANTLY hispanics? Maybe these advocacy groups should spend more of their time trying to reform the hispanic jail population into law abiding people."

June 6, 2008—
The Justice Department has released a new report showing the nation's prison and jail population reached a record 2.3 million people last year.
The report notes that in the 10 largest states, prison populations increased "during 2006 at more than three times (3.2 percent) the average annual rate of growth (0.9 percent) from 2000 through 2005."
The new report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that in the first half of 2007 the growth rate slowed, but prison admissions growth outpaced the number of prison releases. The report provides a breakdown, noting "of the 2.3 million inmates in custody, 2.1 million were men and 208,300 were women. Black males represented the largest percentage (35.4 percent) of inmates held in custody, followed by white males (32.9 percent) and Hispanic males (17.9 percent)."

Some of the key factors for the record imprisonment rate include:

Immigration: Is it an emerging crime trend or is this the result of more local police and federal targeting of illegal immigrants? Non-U.S. citizens accounted for nearly 8 percent of the jail population at midyear 2007, the new Justice Department report noted. "From mid-year 2000 through midyear 2007, Hispanic men (120,000) represented the largest increase to the custody population," it said.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5009270

to 16yr old pat-med student,

You sound very hurt that kids in your school will not stand for the pledge. Write a letter to
your Congressman, and other politicians. That is the best way to approach something your not happy with. Maybe the officials can come up with a solution to that problem. Ask for an explanation why they don't have to stand for the pledge. It maybe that they don't have to becasue of american rights or something...I don't know the answer to that question. In some countries citizens get killed for not doing
what the gov't wants and we know america is not like that at all.
You are right, the 7 boys were 100% wrong for what they did.

As i read what was written up above in all 133 comments im heart broken.4 of this teens i knew very closely and to read some of the comments that came out of people up there that know nothing about them kills me.Yes they made a really bigg mistake and they were 100% wrong but what everyone seems to leave out media included is ALOT of other people do it.Maybe not to the extent of killing someone but it happens every weekend.Whites;Blacks;and even Hispanics go around doing it.Im not saying its right but it could have been your children!! you could have let them go to a party and under the influence of there friends your children could have been the ones to get out of a car and beat up a "mexican" does that make you bad parents? everyone swares up and down that this is the fault of those 7 teens parents but did they really know? Did Jeff wake up saturday morning and when his parents asked him what his plans were for the night did he say im gonna go to a party and then kill a hispanic? SO to read the very first comment up there HITLER YOUTH..hahahah you gotta be full of jokes...And to some of the adults up there when you say tell someone this stuff happens(beating up mexicans" --> after telling the school that what could they possiblely do to have prevented what happened? This happened on a weekend at night what could our school or principle have done? I dont think they could have prevented it at all.If it wasnt these teens it would have been someone else.ANd sadly thats just how things would have worked out.And there are a lot more problems than what meets the eye in our society.

-- a 16 year old junior going to PatMed

My heart goes out to the victim, his family and his friends...and to all of the Patchogue Medford district as well. No one deserves to be stabbed to death, I don't care if you're here legally or not. I keep reading in these posts "Oh he was here illegally"..it's almost like that line has been peoples' excuse for justifying the actions these boys took, or in some way negating the severity of it. We are all mourning this tragedy.
I live in Patchogue, literally down the street from where this took place. I have family and friends who know these kids personally. My friend's nephew is on the football team that one of the kids' father coaches. This hits very close to home not just for us but for everyone. There is no excuse for hate, no matter what the reasoning should be. Yes people make mistakes, but these kids should pay for theirs.

to river ave:

I think people can hate(or dislike); but there is a right and wrong way to handle their feelings.
Especially kids...you can tell them not to hate, but they will. Teach them how to handle their feelings properly. Sounds like your school district needs to really do some intervention in all the grades. Just saying "you can't hate" will get you nowhere. I am reading the posts because I have teenage kids. It is very sad for all involved.

I am so sick of this one sided USA. MY condolences to the family of Mr. Luceroco but enough is enough. He was here ILLEGALY bottom line. Yes he had a work visa but he over stayed, his mother said she hasn’t seen him in 15 years. I understand they want a better life but SO DO I. My husband and I would love more children but we can’t afford them but that doesn’t matter to the ILLEGAL immigrants who plop out kids and run to the nearest welfare or any other agency that gives freebees. I am tried of supporting the ILLEGAL immigrants. They want our help but slap us in the face by not standing for the pledge of allegiants who says you have to say it just show support since were supporting you. I understand that we are all immigrants but there is a HUGE difference from the beginning to today. They took pride of there new country didn’t look for hand outs and learned the ENGLISH language. They had a back bone not like todays lazy ILLEGAL immigrants. And don’t give me the crap of we stole your land because if you ask half of these ILLEGAL immigrants about the history they would know where to begin. All they want is give me…give me..give me…Well I don’t want to give ANYMORE. Why don’t you go back to your country and say that to YOUR government but you are all cowards. What no back bone or is that can’t hide behind all the pro immigrant groups to do your dirty work. The Luceroco family wants to sue the parents who murdered thier son. How about Americans start suing ILLEGAL immigrants from taking from us the citizen of the USA. I am tried of supporting them. I am sick watching towns go down the toilet because of these ILLEGAL immigrants. THEY GET NO RIGHTS THEY ARE HERE ILEGALLY. So why don’t these yellow belly coward ILLEGAL immigrants start doing the right thing by going back to there country became a man/women demand from their government and show your children the right way to because a citizen of the USA because how can you teach your children right from wrong when your breaking the law in the first place. Its that what you are saying about the parents of the 7 boys that they were brought up wrong. ILLEGAL immigrants in glass houses should not throw stones.

Deb-

No I totally agree with you. I meant to say that the ways we go about expressing the hate/dislike for others...that part of it is wrong. Personally I think that hate will always be a part of our lives, because we are all able to form our own opinions and ideas. I grew up in Medford and was a student in Pat-Med up until I graduated in 1998. Things were not like this when I was growing up, and it wasn't much different when my younger brothers attended as well. Something has gone wrong nowadays, and you are right, there needs to be a bigger intervention than just one on a prejudicial level that tells kids not to hate. Because they will, whether we want them to or not. It needs to go down deeper than that.
I also have 2 children, but they are very young. My oldest hasn't even started school yet. I am very concerned for the children already part of the school district, as well as the ones, like mine, who have yet to begin.

Now the Ecuadorian govenment wants justice for their living-out of country citizen. Lets get real. If they really cared their would have been no need for the murdered victim to be here.

Hey Ecuador, why don't you give your citizens a decent society to live and support their families?

Don't blame us, you can find the blame in the nearest mirrior.
Mind your own business and butt out of our affairs!

I have been reading responses for a little while, and even though I am considered "white", I am also an educated person who would like to believe am not prejudice, I'm a woman...what do you think?
It surprises me how quickly we all forget our ancestry.If you're not 100% NATIVE AMERICAN, your family at one time or another was an ALIEN, illegal or not.....Oh, and please, let's not forget what the ALIENS did to the original owners of America. Our (the United States of America) entire history is built on hate and murder. Be it for a different religion, eg; original settlers for those of you not into American history, or race.
When I went to high school there were racial riots in the schools between black and white, I'll skip the name calling, as we all should, but for some reason can't. Self control problems? I did develop a sense of self preservation, as I'm sure did my peers. I was also raised in a Christian home where "do unto others" was a core belief. I figured, if I don't do wrong, then wrong won't happen to me. That has not always been the case, but we all have "life lessons" that hurt as we mature.
On 9/11/2001 we were a united front. These boys were alive on that date, and maybe knew loved ones who perished on that day and/or since then. It is our responsibility as adults and parents to teach our children that consciously killing another human being is wrong.... unless in self defense. Our own bodies release chemicals to do just that...fight or flight.
I go on because a few months ago I was driving at night in Patchogue with a friend on our way home from dinner. While stopped at a light, out of nowhere comes a man screaming "they are going to kill me" and proceeded to jump in the back seat of my car. I had thought the door locked, but was wrong...his state of distress was drastic. He was crying and screaming, already with facial bleeding (sorry to say, but blubbering snot and tears)..."please help me, they are going to kill me". It was then I saw several young men coming toward my car and..guess what, I took off. My instinct was to go to police on Waverly Ave, however, my friend insisted I pull over immediately so as to avoid "a car jacking". Fortunately turned up another street far enough away and the man was safe before he was... sorry to say tossed out of my car.
The point of my telling of this event is... it stuck out in my mind and I haven't it forgotten it happened since.I had the inclination to rescue...which could just as easily have been to my detriment, while my companion immediately reacted as if being attacked. He, by the way did the "tossing".
I respect and appreciate him for taking an aggressive attitude toward what he perceived as an attack and my safety at risk. Again, our chemical surges, and his need to protect me. I believe this sticks because I had to forego my need to rescue. I thought "flight" and he thought "fight".
I have no idea if I played a role in rescuing the man (of South American decent) who jumped in my car that night.I would like to think I did.
Thought I might mention I am also a veteran.

DO UNTO OTHERS.......
bit long winded but, thanks for letting me say my peace

People this is just the tip of the iceberg, I am a Latino US citizen who grew up on Long Island. In my opinion the problem is that the majority of Long Islanders use their ethnic background when is "convenient for them" I used to hear people say "Im Irish, German, Italian etc. etc..." but the question is are you really, what do you know about your ethnicity and your roots. If you knew anything about it well you would soon find out that you are probably a product of immigration. You would probably argue that your ancestor came here legally. Well when they came here all you needed was a dream and they were welcomed. I assure you that if given the opportunity those who you label as "illegal" would much prefer to be in this country under different circumtanses. Those who argue they don't pay taxes, lets keep in mind that there are other ways to tax individual and I am sure immigrants are not sending all of their money abroad, they are consumers like you and I. I like in NYC now and I love the fact that people take interest in me, my culture and roots. They don't ask me for a menu when I'm at a restaurant, assuming that I work there. Let's face reality people Long Island is one of the most segregated areas in the US and in my opinion a volcano ready to explode... I wish you all who live there the best.

To Kay: I am a Hispanic immigrant who does not know what it means to 'plop out' kids, has never relied on welfare, does not believe in free lunch. I have lived and worked in the US for a number of years and have paid dutifully my taxes. And as of today, I am glad to report that I have never received a nickel or, for that matter, any benefits from the US government directly or indirectly. There are thousands of Hispanic immigrants like me out there, struggling to make a living on our own. However, I am glad that some of that tax money is being channeled to help other fellow immigrants in need. Because believe it or not, illegal immigrants do have rights.

i would like to know how many of this so call americans have served their country? i came to this country "illigaly" in 85 and i finally became "legal"in april 88. In may of the same year i enlisted to the marines. i am a veteran of two wars and i retired as a sargent.it took me 5 weeks to come to the united state i have put my live in danger for people that i do not know. I love this country more than any of this so call americans,so please stop for a moment before you said we live here for free.9/11 was a horrible thing,but some how illigal imigrants are paying for this.not everething bad that happend here is their faul.i have never live from the goverment, but there are white,black asian,hispanic living from my contributions.this is not a color thing,is a criminal matter where the bad guy is not mr. lucero.

To the two ignorant idiots, Li taxpayer and not another joe, this crime has nothing to do with immigration you scumbags. I'd love to send you two bigot morons along with the other 8 who committed this heidious crime to terrorist Iraq and let you duke it out with them. That's what you all deserve for having no empathy for the death of this innocent man (legal or not). IDIOTS. ps: btw, were any of your ancestors, whom Im sure if you trace way back immigrated to America illegally at some point. oh, they probably were Nazi Germans too......GET A LIFE and GET A HEART....and by the way, so called Americans like you don't belong in this beautiful country......do the rest of good hearted americans a favor and get the f. out!

To Kaye, from your comment I can tell you have a lot of hate in your heart lady. As per your comment "lazy illegals"....NEWSFLASH! those illegals are busting their asses to perform the menial jobs that "LAZY SO-CALLED HEALTHY WHITE TRASH AMERICANS" refuse to perform...american who dont want to get their lazy, boozed, drugged up asses out of bed every single day, while these illegals are bein exploited by the same hippocrit americans like you who want them out but are saving their pockets by paying them peanuts for their hard labor, while these white trash american are sitting their asses eating chips, smoking and drinking their booze watching reruns of Jerry Springer. You are racist beotch. And also for the record, white legal Americans abuse our american social service programs too honey. You need to stop talking out of your butt and find some compassion and give credit where credit is needed and get over your "i pay taxes" mentality already...that's getting old...IMMIGRATION BUILT THIS NATION that you now live in....

a PS to Ms. "I have no heart" Kaye. I'd love to send you and your entire family to say oppressed communist Cuba and see what kind of back bone you and your filthy racist opinions will win you over there--shot in the head, no trial, no jury. want to know the heart of the problem with people like you, you are absolutely oblivious to the real struggles of other people who live in oppressed countries who don't have the same opportunities they have in a democratic way of life. walk in their shoes for one moment and you too would be running as fast as you could to "get out" to reach a better way of life. trust me, no one wants to leave their country and their roots, but face it, everyone is entitled to a piece of the american pie. so why don't you stop complaining about what you don't have or could have, and acknowledge you are so much better off than any of these illegals. you are welcome to "get the f. out" to one of their countries and see off hand why they are here. LIVE AND LET LIVE.

To the misguided, Kool-aid drinkers and people who called me insensible names, you want facts and the truth well here it is:

One – Senor Lucero came into the U.S.A. in 1991 on a work visa but what Newsday does not tell you, when in the U.S.A. he skirted the law since day one. The business that sponsored Senor Lucero, he never went to and applied his status on his work visa when first entering the U.S.A.

Two – As of today Senor Lucero has never filed with the I.R.S. for any tax returns in the 16 years that he has been in the U.S.A. Illegally.

Three – Senor Lucero’s brother Joselo has been in the U.S.A. Illegally for 12 years and he gets not only front page coverage but also once again skirts the laws of this country because now he is an “untouchable”. Heaven forbid that Joselo is deported now!!!!

Four – There are no records of visas of any kind that have Joselo Lucero’s name on it. Need I say more on his ILLEGAL status in the U.S.A.?

Five – The Department of Homeland Security now has all files that were in the possession of the I.R.S. that have pertained to Senor Lucero’s “Work Visa” and tax history, (Which is only one page of tax history) since November 10, 2008. Interesting makes you think what would the D.H.S. have to do with Senor Lucero’s Illegal Status in the U.S.A. after 16 years? Where were they before November 8, 2008? If they did their job Senor Lucero would be alive today.

I work for the government agency, (I.R.S.) in the department that administers work visas; of any nature; and verify that the applicants have held up to their end of the agreement with the people of the United States of America. Senor Lucero’s work visa is common practice of people that apply and receive work visas and just slide pass the laws for probably the rest of their lives, ILLEGALLY in the U.S.A. as in Senor Lucero case. Just a side note once the “Work Visa” has expired and no contact has been established with the visa applicant the visa is considered null and voided, no charges or investigation. Unless there are extenuating circumstances like maybe unusual media blitz.

So as people now see, people, (Criminals) in this country ILLEGALLY for years have a crime committed against them get more sympathy and front page coverage then for a Legal Taxpaying Citizen who has a crime committed against them from a person, (Criminal) that is in this country Illegally.

This Far Left-Liberal rag of a newspaper, Newsday, the First Amendment is being abused again and again just for ideology and an Illegal cause against the Legal Taxpaying Citizens of this nation. It just sickens me to no end that people that are ILLEGALLY in the U.S.A. are given better treatment because of their ILLEGAL status then for someone who has served their country and worked LEGALLY hard all their life. The Legal Taxpaying Citizens and Legal Immigrants we are SPAT upon everyday that the Low Life Elected Civil Servants will do nothing and look the other way when it comes to up to 20 million people ILLEGALLY in the U.S.A. Who loses out the most not the poor Illegal Aliens, but the Legal Taxpayers of the United States of America.

No person deserves to be stabbed to death for no reason or for that matter just for the fact that they are a Latino.

I said it before and I will say it again; if Senor Lucero had not been in the United States of America ILLEGALLY he would still be alive today with his family in Ecuador.

New immigrants legal or not,
what you don't realize is we know how the system works. To get money from washington
to fund your schools people need to complain.
Don't take it so personally. The federal gov't
cut aid to us on long island, while giving more
to other area's of the country. Why don't you all
in patchogue unite and have the advocay groups for illegal's and the old local's fight together and prove to washington that this town is really made up of blue collar workers, people who just can't afford to pay more in property taxes. The cost of esl classes, is just an added frustration. Additionally, the gov't has allowed work to be outsourced oversea's leaving all of us with less opportunity. The reason why the gov't has rules in place for people from all over the world to enter the country legally is so that one field of labor does not get over saturated. Noone benefits if the skill is over saturated in one area. Sometimes it is best to trust why the rules are in place or at least question it so you understand why the rules were put in place. Please remember that kids were on this blog, watch what your all saying to them.

just another joe,
following your logic on your last paragraph then

Since one of the teenagers involved in the 2007 murder of the E Patchogue man that was killed in front of his 3 year old in his own home was Christopher Overton - he actualy robbed the man, removed his watch, when he was dead-- this now is the same Christopher Overton that participated in the killing of a "Hispanic" man. Mr. Lucero, if mr overton where properly incarcirated would be alive.

also, think very hard and long about this, if your country was in the condition that mr lucero's is, and you had the ability to make a better life for yourself and your family wouldnt you? i am not advocating illegal immegration-i just want you to understand it from the other side.

what the young men did was wrong. i dont care where you are from, what color you are, what your religion is, what you wear, you are human and for a group of other human to go out, bascially hunting, for you is wrong wrong wrong.

and nobody can tell me otherwise that this behavior was not either reflected in the home or not addressed in the home-- prejudice as acceptance begins in the home.

STOP RIGHT THERE Ms. Martinez…Again another excuse the “The ILLEGAL immigrants are hiding behind performing menial job the USA LEGAL Citizens would not do That’s getting old to. What you want to give an ILLEGAL immigrant who is breaking the law a Vice President job in a corporation right away because he/she deserves a better life. I have a question for you WHY DON”T they stand up to their COUNTRY and demand what they are demanding here? Why is it ok for them to break the law and not citizens? They drive with out a licenses and insurance and ARE proud of that. They get free medical, schooling. And why are our jails filled 80% with more illegal immigrants for murder, rape and prettifies. WE THE AMEICAN CITIZENS are the ones being EXPLOITED by HIPPOCRIT people like YOU. Don’t call me a Beotch or I have a lot a hate in my heart for my opinion I still have that right as a USA citizen. And yes I understand they want a better life but so do I but do it LEGALLY. Again another excuse it cost to much and takes so much time (so instead they hide behind organizations who want to give free citizenship) so don’t’ send so much money back to your country stop hanging out in the streets or in front store drinking beer learn to became a citizen. But again that takes work not menial work hard work. Don’t you see that these people are bringing down communities with there 3rd world thinking and actions because they don’t care. I understand immigration built this nation but they took PRIDE in their new country that gave them an OPPORTUNITY for a better life didn’t look for hand outs and stood on their on feet and obeyed the LAW they didn’t CHOOSE which laws they were going to follow. Why doesn’t any pro immigrant or Illegal immigrant answer the question most people want answered. Why not demand what your demanding here in your country that you love so much. Also Ms. Martinez you probably don’t own a home and don’t pay taxes because every home owner is upset that their taxes are going up to support overcrowded schools with children of ILLEGAL immigrant who don’t speak English and need special attention and our child are put on the back burner. Enjoy your Sunday.

STOP RIGHT THERE Ms. Martinez…Again another excuse the “The ILLEGAL immigrants are hiding behind performing menial job the USA LEGAL Citizens would not do That’s getting old to. What you want to give an ILLEGAL immigrant who is breaking the law a Vice President job in a corporation right away because he/she deserves a better life. I have a question for you WHY DON”T they stand up to their COUNTRY and demand what they are demanding here? Why is it ok for them to break the law and not citizens? They drive with out a licenses and insurance and ARE proud of that. They get free medical, schooling. And why are our jails filled 80% with more illegal immigrants for murder, rape and prettifies. WE THE AMEICAN CITIZENS are the ones being EXPLOITED by HIPPOCRIT people like YOU. Don’t call me a Beotch or I have a lot a hate in my heart for my opinion I still have that right as a USA citizen. And yes I understand they want a better life but so do I but do it LEGALLY. Again another excuse it cost to much and takes so much time (so instead they hide behind organizations who want to give free citizenship) so don’t’ send so much money back to your country stop hanging out in the streets or in front store drinking beer learn to became a citizen. But again that takes work not menial work hard work. Don’t you see that these people are bringing down communities with there 3rd world thinking and actions because they don’t care. I understand immigration built this nation but they took PRIDE in their new country that gave them an OPPORTUNITY for a better life didn’t look for hand outs and stood on their on feet and obeyed the LAW they didn’t CHOOSE which laws they were going to follow. Why doesn’t any pro immigrant or Illegal immigrant answer the question most people want answered. Why not demand what your demanding here in your country that you love so much. Also Ms. Martinez you probably don’t own a home and don’t pay taxes because every home owner is upset that their taxes are going up to support overcrowded schools with children of ILLEGAL immigrant who don’t speak English and need special attention and our child are put on the back burner. Enjoy your Sunday.

I truely believe the parents of the teenagers that killed or assisted in the murder of this hard working man should have to financially support his family until the children have completed college. Why should the tax payers have to pay now to pay to keep a roof over the heads of his wife and children, feed them pay thier bills and support any other thing that there hard working husband and father was doing.

MAKE THE PARENTS PAY KEEP THAT FAMILY OFF OF WELFARE. THEY WERE NOT THERE BEFORE HIS MURDER AND HIS FAMILY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE ON NOW

WOW...

I have one question for everyone who decided to bring immigration and resident status into this discussion.

Would Marcelo Lucero's life have been more valuable if he was a legal Ecuadorian United States Citizen killed by those teens? It would have still gotten the same publicity if he was a legal Latin resident.

If you said yes, then surprise you are a racist. His immigration status has nothing to do with this crime. Neither does any other topic brought up in this discussion besides the people involved and the actions they took.

There seems to be a lot of assumptions and misinformation about illegal residents on LI. Most of it comes from racism, and it’s the kind of racism that is unknown to the racist. People who don’t even know they are racist. This is just as dangerous as self proclaimed racism. Unknown racism breads hate and hate produces what happened to Marcelo Lucero. Racism is learned. Yes, it is learned. If all people are born into a society without racism, it does not exist. The teenagers were well aware of what they wanted to do that night. They are responsible for their actions. But there is more blame to go around. Where did these teenagers learn to hate? This is the problem that needs to be addressed. Until it does, there will be more incidents just like this one. Some that involves murder and others with different outcomes.

In regards to the topic of illegal aliens on Long Island. There is a simple solution to this issue. It is not a secret; it is not something that is unknown to all politicians. It is a solution that will cause a drastic reduction and almost completely stop the amount of illegal aliens who enter the US every year and it will cause many of them to leave the US. Here it is:

Penalize those who employ undocumented workers. Because they too are breaking the law. Enforce penalties that would make it very difficult for the business employing the illegal residents to recover. This approach had been test a long time ago in a state other then NY, but it had to be stopped because many business went belly up. Undocumented workers are here to work. If they can’t work they won’t come here. If they are here and cant work they will leave.

This can not be done because the US needs cheap labor! But the only way to obtain cheap labor is to have illegal aliens living within our community. Your politicians know this. Why do you think there has not been a solution to this problem in the past?

I have a question for the IRS worker. Are there any other tax violations by those who are legally able to work in the United States? If so, (and we know it is), do you know if these leagal workers who avoid taxes result in more lost tax revenue than lost tax revenue by undocumented workers?

Those of you who are so quick to judge undocumented workers and blame them for so many problems please make sure you are not a hypocrites. Make sure you never make use of the benefits they provide you with. Make sure the next time go out to eat, shop at any store, get your lawn cut, get your car washed, or use any of the benefits provide by any service industry job, that all the employees are legal documents workers. If they are not, make sure you don’t by the product or use the service. If you do you are a hypocrite and statements and arguments you made here have no value. If you are able to live and spend money here on LI with out benefiting from undocumented workers, don’t forget to judge and blame the person employing the undocumented workers. THEY ARE THE SOURCE AND ARE CREATING the problem you hate so much. They too are escaping from paying taxes on the wages of these undocumented workers at your expense. So why not blame the source? If there are businesses here that will employ undocumented workers, there will ALWAYS be undocumented workers. But if there are no businesses here that will employ undocumented workers, there will be no undocumented workers.

Please support your assumptions with facts. Combined legal and undocumented immigrants pay about 2,300 more in taxes then they use in schools, hospitals, and prisons. They add about80,000 jobs to LI every year, and in spending add about 10.6 billion dollars a year to our economy on LI. These are not my assumptions. Read for yourself. http://events.adelphi.edu/news/strengtheninglongisland/strengthening_LI.pdf

We are all people. God bless Marcelo Lucero. Stop the hate.

Ms. Kaye, I'm pretty happy with the sacrificies and opportunities my family so hard workingly made for me as a child--choosing to leave an oppressed country to give their children a better way of life, legally too. BTW, there is no such thing as standing up to a socialist way of government. WRONG AGAIN because you would NEVER ever understand such way of life because you never experienced the day to day struggles of listening to your babies crying for hours out of hunger and not being able to feed them because your selfish goverment rationed your meals/clothing/housing/actions/beliefs, etc....I am just as hard working, homeowner, taxpaying legal AMERICAN CITIZEN as you, and I thank my lucky stars and my parents to have removed me from an oppressed country and bring us to the land of opportunity and work their tails off to provide for all our needs--NO HANDOUTS here. Nevertheless, we will never forget our struggles to get where we are and because of that, we are open minded individuals who seek compassion for the nice individuals who want the same things we all want for ourselves. We open up our hearts to these "nice" individuals, legal or not, because we are humans first and foremost, and we acknowledge, UNLIKE YOU, not everyone has the same opportunities that others do for a better way of life. These people are trying to do just that. Sorry but they do work extremely hard to perform the crappy jobs that other "legal" Americans don't--someone has to huh! Promoting them to the top of the ladder? That statement doesn't even make sense, but since we're on the topic, God know's our corporate America CEO's and CFO's creep their way up the ladder of success stealing and cheating from their own organizations. NEED I SAY MORE? It's all about the money--the root of all evil. At any rate, you missed the whole point of this crime with your anti immigrant mentality. As for me, thank you, and having a wonderful Sunday with my family and thinking up ways to reach out to the less fortunate or legal or illegal status. I should ask the same of you...

Listeve,
I do not think this crime is about illegal immigration. I don't live in the town, but people who do seem to feel it was the fuel for the fire.
I don't know I don't live there. I can tell you being a parent, kids learn to hate from how they are treated. If someone bullies them, beats them, treats them badly in anyway their reaction will be to hate/dislike. The best thing is to forgive. hard to do. Do you hate or love the people who caused 9/11? Kids need guidance for their feelings. This still may have been gang activity, retaliation or whatever...we don't know all the facts yet. The judge did charge gang assault.

Ms Marinez oppressed countries not my problem..My problem is that ILLEGAL immigrants are bringing their oppressed 3rd world behavior into my country and think their ENTITLED for the red carpet treatment. They should be GRATEFUL!!! But their not. Their should rally together in their own country like they do in the USA if some die well they did it for their country that they love so much.Its what our American soliders are doing to protect OUR COUNTRY to make it better. I wonder how many ILLEGAL immigrants would sign up and join to protect the USA I guarantee none because of the attitude its not my country I just want to reap the benefits. And why don’t the children of ILLEGAL immigrants say or stand for the pledge of allegiants because they are told by their parents Its not their country but their living here using our schools and hospital and all the other benefits that the USA has to offer. When any descent person goes to any country they follow and respect the rules and views of that country. And as far as a “piece of the pie” the arrogant ILLEGAL immigrants wants the WHOLE pie. So I should suffer to make their life easier. Now the Ecuadorian government wants justice what kind of crap it that. Believe me when I tell you what happened to Mr. Luceroco is horrible and I do feel for his family because know one should be treated like that and those boys should get the book thrown at them. But a crime is a crime and breaking the law is breaking the law. But enough is enough 3 days of headlines..Police officers and soliders who die in the line of duty don’t get this much attention or when an illegal immigrant kills someone it never makes head lines. What so different about this. I hear this a lot when I make x amount of money so I can build me a house I am going back to MY country That’s not the American Dream that is taking advantage. And I have a heart but it does hardens at times that our government and liberals respect and let Illegal immigrant get away with thing that are against the law. Speeding tickets no insurance stolen Social Security card fake ID they never show up for court to pay fines. It also hardens when you are in the supermarket and the family with 4 kids and 2 adults are in front of you speaking Spanish buying all name brands and paying with welfare credit card and then going into their brand new SUV.

To Sylvia and Achak Native American. Thank you both sooooo much. You both nailed it for me with your comments....I am sooo sick of listening to these proud so called Americans who think this is their country and no one else's. It's pathetic already. Learn Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese.,etc, etc. GET IT EVERYONE ELSE THAT OPPOSES any other language in America? Press 2 for Spanish.....we're here to stay. stay....

Ms Martinez you are a true HIPPOCRIT. Yes this is MY COUNTRY I AM A LEGAL CITIZEN. I was born here not in one of those 3rd world toilet bowls that ILLEGAL call home. I can’t go to Mexico and say am a MEXICAN Citizen first of all I wouldn’t want to say that and their LAWS would prevent from saying that. Why should I learn another language. English is the language press 2 for Spanish always 2nd. Why don’t the ILLEGAL immigrants learn ENGLISH. Oh that’s right they only performing menial job and learning a different language is hard work and can’t be handed to them. And as stated in my other post any descent person who goes to another country they follow and respect the rules and views of that country. AMERICA is for LEGAL CITIZENS. Some might stay but allot are leaving YEAH!!!!….due to menial jobs are fading away due to our economy. Just look at Texas they are swamping the Mexican consulate to be sent home.

Ms. Kaye, I've made my peace with you, and I stand firm on my beliefs. My husband recently served our country in the Iraq war for a year. You are 100% correct, he and our soldiers put their lives in harms way for the future of our kids, etc, but one has nothing to do with the other...Not all illegals are "bad"...There's bad people in all countries, including "your country"...you keep believing that. You truly offend anyone who has ever lived in a non democratic way of life by not sympathizing with their pain....I am done with you...LET"S SOW LOVE AND NOT HATE IN OUR HEARTS.

Kaye, I am just curious: Are you a member of a minority group? Your comments say quite a bit about your background and schooling. You appear to be a hard-headed individual who is obsessed with the "illegal immigration" issue; a person who lacks empathy and receptiveness to other people's opinions, emotions and dreams.

Trying to understand your moral message has become a frustrating and futile exercise, for the simple reason that it is nearly impossible to have a normal, intelligent and sensible exchange of ideas and experiences with you in this context.

Mi plegaria por tu descanso eterno, sufrido y abnegado compatriota Marcelo.

Kaye,

You are the epitome of racism.

My children are 5th generation Americans, we have a totally different viewpoint. Wether you like it or not, Native Americans have the most rights. The difference is we think of our country, homeland, as America.
I do believe I would ask my children to stand for the pledege in school, if I moved to another country, wether we were planning on becoming citizens or not, It is just a respect thing.
Where I live, we are lucky to have a large population of Asians. I don't even know if they are legal or not, but they are very nice respectful people. I hope the government intervenes in this town, something has to change or the problems will continue.

Mary what does my comments say about my background or schooling MY comments are MY opinion do you know what opinion means? they are my views my freedom of speech I still have that right. I have a 4 year degree which I had to pay for because my parents made to much money because my father worked two jobs to support my brother and me. NO free ride for me. And why is horrible to ask ILLEGAL immigrants to do the right thing come to this country the right way LEGALLY. Why is it ok for them to make a better life for themselves and us the US citizens have to pay for it. Why is it ok for them to break the law. Why is ok for them to take over towns and making them look like the third world country they are running from. Why did this horrible crime get so much attention when our police officers and soliders who die in the line of duty protecting US the citizens of America don’t get this much attention or when an illegal immigrant kills someone it never makes headlines. Why are the jail filled with ILLEGAL immigrants. And you want the parents of those boys to financially support his family and children until they finish college WHY? How do these ILLEGAL immigrant teach their child right from wrong when their breaking the law. A crime is a crime and the law is the law NO CHOOSING.

LISteve if thats how you feel fine that your opinion I respect that. I am just tried of the Illegal immigrants wants and demands. They want a better life fine so do I. But I respect and follow the laws and rules. What give them the right not to? Enjoy your evening.

Some people out there need to get there facts straight. The United States had completely open borders until 1892. The overwhelming majority of us who had German, Scotch, Irish, Swedish or Bohemian ancestors would with a little genealogy research discover that their ancestors arrived in this country or Canda uninvited and not documented by anyone except the ship Captain's manifests. The Italians are a different story since Italian immigration is clustered between 1890 until the start of WW I. Since the federal government had assumned control of immigration from the Sates in 1892 they had to go through Ellis Island.
So what made undocumented immigration before 1892 so successful? The Naturalization Process did. The masses from Europe were thrown out of their own countries by European Monarchs along with the complicity of the Catholic Church. They were marched down to ships and forcibly sent to North America. However as soon as they got here they could report to any U.S. Common Pleas Court and apply for Naturalization and Citizenship. There was no fear! You found a citizen to take you to the Commons Pleas Court filled out a card and BINGO 5 years later you TOOK THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE" and YOU, your wife and children were U.S. citizens. It was that simple.

Now my brothers and sisters and I spent 3 years researching our ancestry on line, at the New York City Archives, the National Archives and by mailing away for Church records. I AM SO GLAD WE DID.

My family's ancestors were from Ireland and Germany. They were typical CASTOFFS from their Country of Origin in the 1840's 1850's AND 1870'S . Illiterate Scotch/Irish peasents that the King of Great Britain did not want to feed during the Great Famine. So he shipped trhem to Rhode Island and Philadelphia. A GGG German Grandfather sent here at the age of 15 because all his older brothers (3) had been killed in Germany senseless 100 years war with France and his father wanted at least one son to survive. A GGG German Grandmother who was a Black Forest peasent girl exiled to the U.S. by the German government and the Catholic Church at the age of 16 because she had the "Audacity" to get pregnant after being raped by a noblemen. Her "Bastard Baby" as per German Catholic church records "accidently drowned" in a stream and she foundf herself RIPPED FROM HER FAMILY all alone on a ship bound for New York. Two Scothch Irish brothers "given" 200 acres in the wilds of Ontario, Canada. The King of England "gave them 200 acres! Only problem whenm they got there was the 200 acres were rock and couldn't be used for farming. So all their children left and went to Michigan or Manitoba to find work.

So let's get one thing straight about our ancestors and today's "illegals." They were all cut from the same vine. People not wanted in their own countries who's governments forced them to come here. THEY WERE THE "HUDDLED MASSES."

That is our common ground. We are here today because some government did not want to spend the money to care for our ancestors.

Sound familiar? The corrupt governments of Mexico and other Latin American countries are doing the very same thing today that the corrupt governments of Great Britian, Germany and Italy did in the mid 19th century and early 20th century. Dumping their "problem" populations into the United States. As usual the Catholic Church is up to their eyeballs in complicity with current immigration hoping to fill their churches, schools and most of all their coffers with the "blood, sweat and tears" of today's immigrants.

As to our DO NOTHING 9% APPROVAL RATING CONGRESS! How many thousands of pages was their last Comprehensive Immigration Legislation? Why? Simply bring back the old system of Naturalization that had worked so well in the past. Tell "Jose" or "Maria" to report to a court, fill out a request for naturalization and let's get back to what worked in the past.

Final note to the so called "illegal immigrants." Time for you all to wake up and realize you were not wanted by "My Country." Your family may have wanted you, your friends back home may have wanted you BUT YOUR GOVERNMENTS DIDN'T. Once you come to terms with that "My Country" becomes MY COUNTRY U.S.A. Trust me you owe Vincente Fox and Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa NOTHING! Those bastards are keeping your family back home as hostages so you will send money back to them SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM!

As for me I could care less what happens to England, Germany, Irealand, Scotland, Italy or Sicily. They didn't want my ancestors, they refused to care for them as their citizens,they forced them to leave, they made their lives miserable, so why should I care what happens to them.

lEARN THAT MY HISPANIC, ASIAN AND AFRICAN FRIENDS and it becomes WELCOME to "OUR" COUNTRY. The United States of America.

http://www.libertystatepark.com/emma.htm

http://www.ancestry.com/

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp

P.S. Our schools need to wake up. The Church needs to wake up. Most of us need to wake up. We are here because somebody didn't want our ancestors elsewhere. We need to start recognizing and teaching that again. THEN THANK GOD FOR THAT!

What these 7 kids did is disgraceful! They should be punished to the full extent of the law, and their parents should also be required to pay the victim's mother for the professional help she will need to deal with such a tragedy! Then, we find out today they attacked an innocent family who owns a restuarant in Patchogue! This is so absurd!! These restaurant owners and workers are decent people trying to earn a living a pursue happiness, after all that's what ALL of our ancestors came to America for! It does not matter if the victims were legal or not. You just don't do such savage crimes to humans!! I pray for the families of those who were attacked, that through Christ they can find peace. It is a very sad thing.

Dear Patchoke Parent, these "illegal" people you so loathe in your town also live in my town, and needless to say, they walk with their heads bowed, they are humble, hardworking, generous, compassion and loving people, and as taxpayer myself do not feel compelled to force them out because of their immigration status. not all of them are the POS low lives you make them out to be....ruining "your town"....you should listen to yourself, "your town", everyone on this post, "my country, my town, my this, my that. All you anti immigrants want all the glory to yourselves and to hell with anybody else. It's selfish and ignorant. If you don't like the immigrants in "your town" then why don't you move the f. out to your type of white supremacist town that you seriously belong in. Everyone here makes me sick to my stomach blaming this savage act of violence/murder as a result to immigration status. Go, get out and might as well go burn some crosses while you are it, with the rest of your racist ignorants.

i would just like to thanks newdays and channel 12 news for fueling this already bad sittuation and making it even worse. this hasn't stopped for over a week now and the more you are printing this everyday the more you are not letting anyone heel. it is making things worse in the schools and the community, on both sides!!!!!! so, newsday and channel 12 don't you have anything else to talk about. where were both of you in aug when this happened to another teenager. you don't you print how teenagers are just out of control with thinking they can stab and shot other teens, instead of always making it to be racial. this time it was a hispanic, in aug it was a white kid. newsday and channel 12 MOVE ON ALREADY AND LET THIS COMMUNITY HEEL, YOU ARE MAKING MATTER WORSE!!!!!!!!!

Anybody remember the young couple KILLED by a drunkin Illegal this year ?? Newsday wouldn't even want to mention he was Illegal let alone arrested a number of times and NOT DEPORTED ! Enough with the BOO HOO lets talk about the crimes this Illegal creep commited while in the U.S. Illegally ! Tax evasion fraud theift !!! ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS need to be DEPORTED and the POLITICIANS who support them too !! The best thing that happened to this Newspaper and these sleazy pro-Illegal pro - Welfare groups , was this murder , they revel in it. It's a huge gift for them ! The problem is ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION and these are the benefits of it !!! And why aren't we deporting the broyher ? Why are these politicians sharing a stage with known criminials ?????

Only a person with the last name Martinez, would write such BULL. Believe me if I could move out of this town today I WOULD! You say your legal thats great, so why so unhappy with what's being said? Does it hit home with you, or are some of your family, friends here illegaly? I'm sick of listening to your filth!!!! If these illegals are so happy to be in our country or town then why don't they have some respect for it! Most of them here in Patchoge don't work. They sit in front of stores getting wasted all day. I won't contiue anymore with you, I have made my case. You should go back to your country and take all the ILLEGALS with you. Your hate of AMERICANS truly shines through in your posts! I have no disrespect for anyone whom is here legaly, and paying the same taxes I am. THAT's NOT HAPPENING HERE IN PATCHOGUE!!!

With this type of crime & the gangs that seem to be behind similar crimes, who knows the next time it could be a RED HEAD, or BLONDE, blue eyes or brown or somebody that they just like the way they are dressed. PLease PEOPLE read between the lines, these kids were just looking for a fight. And in a similar incident they go out of their neighborhoods (E.Patchogue/Medford) and use the GREATER PATCHOGUE area. I am sick with all that's happened. My family came to Patchogue in 1913, settled around the area of the crime when it was a safe neighborhood. Some of us still reside there. PATCHOGUE is MY HOMETOWN ! Waht have these kids done to it ? I praise Paul Pontieri for trying to desperately to turn PATCHOGUE around, just to have these CHILDREN knock it down. There are GOOD peoplein PATCHOGUE who are also sick with grief for the victim and out community. We all need to get behind Paul with our support to bring the HOMETOWN feeling back. We need to teach our children that we are all equal, whether we are here for 7 days or 97 years. May GOD help us to rebuild OUR PATCHOGUE

Ms. Patchogue Parent--Need I say more about the type of individual you truly are--close-minded, racist, incompassionate. The fact that you question my last name (yes, of Spanish dissent) proofed that this is not only an issue of "illegals",--I bet you hate and condemn the entire hispanic community in general. Well, don't let the name fool you. My family and I consider myself blessed to have had the resources to enter "legally" into the U.S. I am grateful to the U.S. for all my accomplishments and thankful for my American citizenship. What you seem to be missing here is the fact the not everyone gets the same opportunities I and many others did. And would you like to know why? Because you can't relate lady, you can never relate to the struggles of living in an oppressed country, to listen to your babies crying out of hunger because your country rationed all meals, to try to feed a decent meal to yourself and your family. I am very thankful for the person I am today and I am even thankful for those struggles I endured because had I not had them, I perhaps would not be able to reach into my heart today and reach out to the less fortunate in the world today. Unlike you I'm sure who is clueless, who could care less, like the Kaye lady up here as well. That's called selfishness in your hearts. As for the bad "illegals" hanging out in the corners of your hometown, that's sad that they have not found their way perhaps for lack of resources, but I can assure you that I know a few pretty healthy looking yet sleezy, boozed up druggie "legal" white trash in my own hometown who hang out in their front porch smoking their tobacco every 10 minutes, and who are mooching off our own social service system. AM I NOT PAYING TAXES TO SUPPORT THEM ALSO. Do you see where Im going with this? Bad people in all walks of life, including your own kind huh! But I suppose you would justify its ok to pay for their kids on welfare, their booze and their tobacco because they are "legal"...Pleaseee.....get over yourself. I'd like to send you and the Kaye lady to Castro Cuba and when you return perhaps you may see the world in a different light and count your blessings instead of condemming people for wanting the same things you want for yourself and your family. As for me going back to my country of origin, thanks for the invitation, perhaps someday when it becomes a free and democratic system, I will. In fact, I know a lot of white American friends who visit there now, who love it, but of course, for the tourism, but ask them to live there, not for a second.....HIPPOCRITTS, all of you! Learn to love in your heart, not condemn

I think if a mom from your school is saying this dialog is making it worse in your schools, then if your from patchogue...... then stop making it worse. You know, these kids may have depression or other psychologic issues that we don't know about.
I think most would say if we could help everyone in the world we would, but we can't. If it makes you feel better send money to people in very poor countries.
I wish I had native american Indian blood, that is so good..
Free college, free medical treatment....but they deserve that because that was the deal that was made years and years ago. legal binding contract.

You brought me back in..Ms Martinez. you can never relate to the struggles of living in an oppressed country, to listen to your babies crying out of hunger because your country rationed all meals. Your words, common sense if you know you can’t support yourself why would you want to bring a baby into that situation? talk about selfish and ignorant Your words not mine. Again, POS low lives you make them out to be....ruining "your town"....you should listen to yourself, "your town", everyone on this post, "my country, my town, my this, my that. All you anti immigrants want all the glory to yourselves and to hell with anybody else. It's selfish and ignorant. Why is it selfish and ignorant to say that when Illegal immigrant say it about their county WHY CANT WE? Its what the child of these ILLEGAL immigrant have to say about American because they were born here and not the 3rd world sh@t hole their parents came from. And yes we want all the glory BECAUSE WE THE LEGAL CITIZENS OF THE USA MADE IT GLORY NOT THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OF TODAY. Why can’t we be proud of OUR country, OUR towns. Its OUR towns were we live and respect and are proud of that these 3rd world ILLEGAL immigrants go to and ruin with their mentality and THEIR way of life. Like I said in my other posts what happen to Mr. Luceroco is horrible and I do feel for his family. But I have question.. it cost him about $8,000 to help him cross the border. He never went back home, even though he promised his mother - who survived a bout with cancer three years ago - this was the year he finally would his mothers words. Where did he get the 8,000 dollars at the age of 22 and with that much money why didn’t he try to became a citizen? I have the answer he used America…He abused his work visa he didn’t respect America he just wanted the benefits the WE Citizen of the USA made for OURSELFS. He didn’t care, which is the mentality of most ILLEGAL immigrants who don’t want to become a citizen.

actually, martinez, I do think it is okay for legal citizens to be on welfare. Very hard times right now. (any color) How can we possibly put the whole world on welare??? For that matter, why not come here sign up for welfare with a fowarding address for your checks to be sent to whatever country you live in. just not possible. As cruel as it may sound, there is only so many jobs and that is why there is immigration laws.

as I said in my earlier post, if it makes you feel
better send money to people in poor countries.

Ms. Kaye and now Deb,
Trying to talk to both of you is LIKE BEATING A DEAD HORSE. What a waste of time really. And Deb, thanks, as a matter of fact I do send my hardworking, taxpaying U.S. dollars to 3rd world countries because I can relate to how desperately they need it, and yes, at the end of the day, if makes me feel darn goood, thanks. As for you Ms. Kaye, how could sit there and talk about your high level of education, when gathering from your posts you can't seem to speak/write your own language properly yourself. Maybe you and the illegals you demand to learn your language should both learn it correctly. Good day...IGNORAMUS.

is it not alarming to the hispanic community that 2 of the boys involved have a hispanic background??????? has anyone been listening to the news about the teenager who was shot in front of a church.......i believe he was an italian american......not hispanic. is anyone sending donations to his family for funeral arrangements????? can't anyone see that this is happening all over LI and not to just hispanics.

MS. MARTINEZ,
I AM MARRIED TO A PUERTO RICAN MAN WHO WORKS 2 JOBS ONE OF WHICH HE HAS BEEN WITH FOR 25 YEARS. I AM NOT HISPANIC WE HAVE A SON WHO IS OBVIOUSLY HALF HISPANIC. HE ATTENDS PAT MED HS. MY HUSBAND BREAKS HIS ASS EVERYDAY TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY I WORK TOO! WE STILL STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DUE WITH RACISM. IF I WAS RACIST I WOULD HATE MY OWN FAMILY. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT SOME, I SAY SOME, (ALOT) OF THESE PEOPLE DO NOT PAY TAXES AND ARE OFTEN TIME UNGRATEFUL OF WHAT THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY IS ABLE TO OFFER THEM. HELLO LIKE NOT STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND RESPECTING THE AMERICAN FLAG BUT THIS BEHAVIOR IS BEGINNING TO MAKE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND (THE FULL BLOODED PUERTO RICAN) EXTREMELY PISSED OFF. WHY CANT THESE PEOPLE ADAPT TO THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE. WE DO NOT LIVE 4-5 FAMILIES PER HOUSEHOLD. WE DO NOT PARK ON OUR LAWNS AND MAKE OUR PROPERTY LOOK LIKE SLUMS. THEY ARE NOT PROUD TO BE HERE. THEY ARE HERE FOR HANDOUTS. THE LAW IS THE LAW! ALL THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW SHOULD BE PUNISHED. NOW LETS TALK SCHOOL BUDGETS LETS PUT ALL THE ESL CLASSES IN PAT MED IN THE AUDOTORIUMS HIRE ONE TEACHER AND CUT LOTS OF COSTS THIS WAY ALL THE KIDS HISPANIC AND NON HISPANIC WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE TEXT BOOKS THEY NEED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE THE ECONOMY IS FALLING APART MAYBE THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAN PUT TOGETHER A BAILOUT PACKAGE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.

This is not about illegal immigration, the person that was killed was never asked about his legal status or asked to show a visa or green card.. this was about LOOKING HISPANIC... So, it means I or my husband who are Hispanic American Citizens cannot go to a broadway show and comeback late at night because we LOOK HISPANICS and can be killed in a LIRR station.. it means my daughter who was an AMERICAN BORN hispanic could be a target as well.. because she looks HISPANIC.. this is very sad.. and it's more sad to read all these posts full of hate... it answers the question that yes, Long Island is full of hate.. I DO THINK ILLEGAL IMMGRATION SHOULD BE ATTACKED FROM THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IS DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL WORKERS!!! Let's get to court every single company that employes illegal workers.. uff that means a lot o them!!! and I think for the people that hate Illegal immigrants so much if you want to find the root of the problem ask Walmarts, Targets, supermarkets, meat producers, produce companies, most cleaning companies andrestaurant and every company in the US that employs illegal immigrants directly and through contractors because they are cheap, look for the faces of the people who clean your desks who serve your food, who take your coats.. most if not all the cleaning contractors employ illegal workers.. if you want to stop illegal immigrants coming to Suffolk then pay your Legal landscaping contrators $100 per hour, the sad thing is that they too, employ illegal immigrants.. think about how much companies save in payroll by employing illegal immigrants or how much homeowners save by paying them for cleaning their yards, that is A LOT MORE than the money these people really make..so stop being a bunch of hypocrits, you hate them so much but you profit from their misery more than they profit from you

once again..........hispanics keep saying its racial......so then why would 2 boys who have hispanic backgrounds be involved???????? when whites kill whites is it racial????? this is what is happening in our society, whatever the race.

ms. martinez does it bother you that 2 of those boys have hispanic backgrounds.......or you're just ignoring that???????

Dear HispanicMom, Wow! Finally, someone who is on the same page here. You speak nothing but the truth I have been trying to point out here all along. I too am an American citizen of Hispanic origin and my children are native born Americans, and am also worried how her peers view her because of her parents ethnic background. Matter of fact, she recently experienced discrimination from one of her blonde hair, blue eyed peers to the extent of telling my daughter she was not considered white because her parents where Hispanic. My daughter was totally blown away, and so was I. Now she walks around very self conscious about this statement made by one child and now asks me "why do I have to be Spanish""..Unfortunately, for this girl, as the saying goes "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"--her mother approached me when my family and I moved into the neighborhood and blatantly told me with great disappointment in her voice by saying when I told her I was Hispanic "oh I thought you were Italian", I have lived here for a year now and she has never bothered to come over the fence again. So we now can acknowledge once again where racist attitudes begins--in the home. Nevertheless, in my book, regardless of the color of our skins the color of our blood is "red", and that should account for more. At any rate, you were absolutely correct in saying how the corporations that are hiring the "illegals" (the same ones they loathe), these companies are saving their pockets hugely by not paying them peanuts for their hard labor, no benefits, and do not report it to the IRS--are they not too breaking our U.S. laws right along with the illegals? Of course so. This is why it makes me sick that our white Americans constantly complain about giving up their rights for these people. It's all hippocrissy. What's good for the goose is also good for the gander! Unfortunately, these close minded individuals will never acknowledge the facts and do not have the capacity to open up their hearts to the situation because they simply CANNOT relate. Thank you for your thoughts. They have been the only ones I have fully appreciated throughout this post....

Mr. Just wondering, the fact that one of the attackers in the crime was Hispanic has no bearance on the crime itself. I fully acknowledge bad people exist in all ethnic backgrounds, including my own sir. I am not oblivious to that. Murder equals hate no matter where you come from. If all the attackers were Hispanics and attacked a white person, I'd feel the same way also. I have no control on which stories the good old media covers or not, maybe you should join the ranks of journalism if it upsets you that certain incidents of your liking are not being reported..

actually, martinez, you don't know me very well. I have been complaining that illegals are being exploited. The gov't wants the cheap labor here. If they did not, they would be legal already. Actually, I meant in addition to your tax dollars, send money to poor countries, women in poor countries. the rich would rather pay cheap labor and have the people on social services, which kills the small guy....but they don't care about that. That is what we know is the truth of this country. I believe things will change with democrates in. In the meantime, namecalling only makes you look bad.
What was being discussed is that, is this hatred causing major
fights and gangs. If so, maybe both can stop their actions and pray god does help your community.

Trying to talk to both of you is LIKE BEATING A DEAD HORSEthat what you are used to eating. The iILLEGAL immigrants are not capable of more, Its allot better than they had in the 3rd world country they are running from and so PROUD off. How do these wonderful selfish arrogant parents teach them right from wrong..How do they help with their homework? Us Americans did the right thing through hard work and why should we bow down to illegal immigrant who want a piece of the pie. No one help us we the Americans made it . We made it OUR Country with hard work and devotion like I said before how many illegal immigrants would join the arm forces? Why should we have to scarify for illegal immigrants.

DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS NOW!!!!
Send the problem back where it came from,central & south-america!
It's time the USA cleaned house & send the SOUTH OF THE BORDER
SWARM back to their countries of origin!!!!!

AMERICA FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kaye, I've yet to meet an arrogant, selfish illegal immigrant who demand we, the Americans bow our heads to them. In fact, I see the opposite everywhere I go, they walk around with their heads bowed because a lot of them are ashamed that they are here illegally, but they want to survive, just like you lady. The only arrogant and selfish person I hear on this post is you. You have no compassion for anybody else's struggles. I am sorry, but you are as one person put it here "the epitome of racism"....I bet you could also care less for the genocide of Jews in Germany. Who cares, not my country huh?

When a white commits an offense against someone from another race, Newsday will have it on the front page for days on end, but when a minority perpetrates an act of violence against a white, it is just CRIME. We're (silent majority) sick and tired of putting up with it and unfortunately, our frustration will continue until there is fairness in media coverage and in community outrage. How many illegal aliens have killed Long Islanders this year and made the front page? These people come here, have no intention on assimilating (speaking English, adhering to American customs and laws, etc...) i.e. "Marcelo was just here (Patchogue) to work and send money home" as per his mother. Sad that Marcelo was killed by a group of thugs, but the media's bias coverage of the incident has left white Long Islanders more frustrated/angered and more apathetic to this and future "hate crimes."

ps to Kaye: how many of your family members have served in our armed forces...my husband, of hispanic origin has been serving since he was 18 years old, put his life in harms way to protect my family and yours from the terrorists "moslems" who hate Americans by serving in Iraq for an entire year. has been in the service for over 25 years and still proud of what he's doing. i ask, why don't we, all proud americans serve our country and join the armed forces and fight the terrorists together?--, because its easier to let someone else do the dirty work and die for our freedom.

AS FOR THE DIKDOM...WHY DONT WE SEND ALL THE RACISTS DUMB DICKS LIKE YOU BACK TO WHERE YOUR ANCESTORS CAME FROM....YOU'D BE SURPRISE WHERE YOU REALLY CAME FROM....

Ms. Martinez,

You seen to like your opinions but don't like anyone else having one. You are taking how people feel about the illegals extremely personal. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Did you say you have a child in this district or any children at all? Because there is a lot of talk about how kids are being raised and according to some of your comments to peoples opinions and your fowl mouth, maybe you are the hipocrit. if your not an illegal, why take this so personal, just because you have a hispanic background. this wasn't a direct hit on you, just like the stabbing in Aug wasn't a direct hit on the rest of the whites. get over yourself, move on already.

Kaye,, please read this article and please know your facts before you speak...(35,000 non - citizens serving our U.S. armed forces....) - THESE PEOPLE ARE DYING FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES WHILE YOU SIT THERE BASHING THEM AND THEIR SACRIFICES. SHAME ON YOU...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hispanic Soldiers Die in Greater Numbers in Iraq
by Miriam Kagan

WASHINGTON - One of the first U.S. soldiers to die in Iraq, Jose Gutierrez, was an orphaned Guatemalan who at the time of his death was not even an American citizen.

What can we say of the young Latino men who sacrificed their lives in Iraq? That they fought without knowing their enemy, played their role as pawns in a geopolitical chess game devised by arrogant bureaucrats, and died simply trying to get an education; trying to have a fair shot at the American Dream that has eluded the vast majority of Latinos for over a century and a half.

Jorge Mariscal, a professor at the University of California, San Diego
As U.S. casualties in Iraq continue to mount, so does the worry in the country's Latino community that its children are dying in unusually high numbers and are being lured into dangerous service with targeted recruiting by the Armed Forces.

Many in the community worry that Hispanic men and women are being disproportionately exposed to risk and sent to the front lines.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, while Latinos make up 9.5 percent of the actively enlisted forces, they are over-represented in the categories that get the most dangerous assignments -- infantry, gun crews and seamanship -- and make up over 17.5 percent of the front lines.

The casualty rate for Hispanics during the Iraqi engagement has been ''unfortunate and tragic'', says Teresa Gutierrez, of Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER).

''The people who are fighting the war are youths who cannot find jobs or afford university fees because there is an economic draft in the army that is particularly relevant to Latinos,'' she told IPS.

Recent census numbers reveal why the U.S. government might be interested in specifically targeting Latinos.

According to the 2000 Census, Latinos have surpassed African Americans as the largest minority group in the country. Hispanics now comprise 12.5 percent of the U.S. population, and are the fastest growing minority.

While DOD officials denied knowledge of any program specifically targeted at Latinos, past actions by the U.S. government paint a different story.

Another tactic suspected of targeting Hispanics is an executive order signed by U.S. President George W. Bush in July 2002, expediting naturalization for aliens and non-citizen nationals who serve in active-duty status during the administration's ''war on terrorism''.

The order, effective for all military personnel who enlisted after the terrorist attacks of Sep. 11, 2001, allows non-citizens to apply for citizenship immediately upon arrival at their first military base, rather than having to wait the usual three to four years.

According to Bush, persons ''serving honorably in active-duty status in the Armed Forces'', do a service to their new country so they should be granted citizenship more quickly than via regular channels.

DOD numbers reveal 35,000 non-citizens currently in the active Armed Forces, 15,000 of whom became eligible for expedited naturalization under the executive order.

While two army recruiters in the Washington area denied using the expedited citizenship order as a selling point during recruitment pitches, both told IPS that they mention the ''benefit'' as one part of the recruitment package.

But both recruiters insisted that no potential recruits had asked for expedited citizenship and that Latinos who express interest in joining the military do so for ''patriotic reasons''.

While only 12 percent of Latinos in the United States ever qualify for a university education, she lamented, many are recruited into the Armed Forces with promises of financial help and job security.

''What can we say of the young Latino men who sacrificed their lives in Iraq?” asked Jorge Mariscal, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, in the Apr. 18, 2003 issue of 'Counterpunch'.

”That they fought without knowing their enemy, played their role as pawns in a geopolitical chess game devised by arrogant bureaucrats, and died simply trying to get an education; trying to have a fair shot at the American Dream that has eluded the vast majority of Latinos for over a century and a half.''

Just wondering, he fact that I am not here illegally has nothing to do with my opinions expressed herein. I agree illegal immigration is a problem in our country, however, i also believe in giving others (legal or illegal) people a fair chance to prove themselves in today's society and work just as hard to do so. I have been a victim of racism all my life because of my heritage, so yes, darn right I take it very personal. When I was younger I didn't know any better, didn't know how to stand up to racists people, today, i can gladly do so however I want . And I value anybody else's opinions if they are worthy of being valued...that is not the case with some of the individuals on this post.

The simple fact that this type of hatred runs deep in our children is evident in the angers and attitudes in the above posts. We do have an illegal immigrant issue on Long Island AND throughout the US. We also have parents who (as noted above) are bantering, calling names and cursing (in nice mistypes) making their own points heard. Guess what there are kids that do listen. They hear us say be nice then turn around and call the person next to us a few other terms...double standards.

Yes, Newsday and News 12, as well as the major network TV stations are quick to show a racial issue (white on anything) before noting that a white has been attacked. I personally feel all the news networks (print and TV) are reporting what they feel is important and pushing their own agendas, not the facts and news.

We all are upset at what is going on with respect to illegal immigrants, but MUST focus on the real issue here. A human being was targeted and murdered. I do not care if he was black, white, yellow or red, he was a human...period.

This man's murder cannot change the rage against another ... we can; however, work to change this issue. Watch and listen to your kids, hear their angers and frustrations. Remember they listen to you when you are out of the room, talking with your friends, watching the news, etc. Talk with them and explain your frustrations and put them into focus ... Yes, I too am frustrated with the illegal issues here and do not feel its fair that they are not paying taxes and I am... That is a valid issue and I explain WHY to my kids. In other words, we as parents need to be aware of our angers and frustrations and those of our children too.

The Statue of Liberty has quote on it..."Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door." We open our doors to those that are in need, but they must become part of the whole. We are a nation of immigrants, who came to a land of another...WHO did not wish to let go their ways, but had to change to become part of the whole. And yet, they have maintained their cultural roots. I am allowed to say this, as my family is Native American and I know what this part of my family has been through. My point is simple...if you want to live here in America, you must respect and live by the laws of the Country.

To those still upset with the illegal issues, go and DEMAND your local legislature representatives to listen. Remember you voted for them ... they are SUPPOSED to work for you, not for themselves. Be verbal, be heard. But remember this, at one point in time our family came here to America for a better life. So speak out to these representatives and demand what you want to be done (again within the proper legal parameters).

Again, my prayers are with all those family and friends of Mr. Lucero. I believe no one should suffer by the hand of another.

Mrs. Martinez, Kaye, I've yet to meet an arrogant, selfish illegal immigrant who demand we, I quess you must of missed all the rallies that took palace where these so called wonderful I want a better life ILLEGAL immigrant demanded citizenship and rights waving THEIR country flag NOT THE AMERICAN flag. I am not against people who want a better life but come on do it the right way. Mr. Lucero may he rest in peace, was here for 15 years he paid someone $8,000 dollars to smuggle him into MY and yes MY country. He had no intension of becoming a citizen he didn’t respect America he used US for his own selfish needs. Do you honestly think what he did was right and on top of that get 4 days of headlines. Mr. Levy had to apologize for his statement WHY because it was the truth and the pro ILLEGAL nuckleheads don’t like the truth.
In Gualaceo, the Ecuador neighborhood where Lucero grew up, neighbors reacted to Levy's comments with skepticism. Where do they get off saying anything I wonder if they more upset that there meal ticket stop then the death itself. Another statement "He should be more focused on us as human beings," who are breaking the law and spitting in our face. "We are the cheap labor force" for people on Long Island, Blandin said. I am sick of that saying..they are not qualified for anything else and for that matter its a lot more they would be making in their country. Look at this mentality its sickening. The truth is I am tired of helping the illegal immigrants. I am sick to my stomach what they do to OUR towns with their 3rd world mentality and arrogant not my country attitude. I am sick that we the American people can’t speak our mind without being called racist. I only wish I could choose which laws I want to follow.

I think the problem here is not the color of your skin or where you come from; it is that when you come to the U.S., like the many ,many people who came through Ellis Island, you should prepare to become an American citizen and practice the American ways. Pay your fair share of taxes, fly the AMERICAN flag, pay car insurance, get a drivers license, live 1 family to a 1 family house, follow the laws that govern our country..... NOT to take advantage (and actually study it before you get here) of the system (i.e., welfare, food stamps, etc.). If you want to live in America, than Americanize. Most Americans do not have children until they are married and able to afford them. They have valid drivers licenses and car ins. so that if they hit someone, everyone is covered - they do not hit and run. They do not live 50 to a house and multiply like rabbits. They do not get free lunch and many free services at school and they pay school taxes. Most Americans are NOT in gangs, and are willing to work. And many Americans do work menial jobs.
It is worth repeating - If you want to live in America, than Americanize. And I'm sure you will see a world of difference with everyone getting along.

If many Americans work menial jobs, than why are is there so much white trash in my neighborhood popping out babies like rabbits as well, (illegals are not the only ones who get knocked up for the benefits, btw) to cash in on their welfare and food stamps so they can run to the local liquor store to buy their beer and tobacco...while their kids are running around in their diapers all day...i guess you can't get more AMERICANIZED than that huh!. THE ONLY WAY OUR WORLD WILL CHANGE IS WHEN AMERICANS ACCEPT OTHERS AND ACCEPT CHANGE ITSELF...

Janette,

The welfare mentality is like a fungus...anyone can get it and when they do they can't get rid of it. That being said there are some people who get on the system and work their butts off to get off to do the right thing...use the help when they need it to better themselves and their families.

I still stress that all parties that come to this country.. no matter who they are..must follow the same rules. One nation, one law. anyone who breaks the law, should be dealt with accordingly.

As for change, it will only work when ALL parties are willing to drop their bad attitudes they carry (those chips on their shoulders) and work as one nation.

No one should be targeted because of their ethnicity or color of their skin. That is wrong, and those boys and their parents will have to bear the consequences of those actions. With regard to down2earth's comments, here's my 2 cents: My grandparents and great-parents immigrated here with hopes of a better life for themselves, just as immigrants do today. They came to this country legally to become American citizens and to respect the land that held so much promise and opportunity for them. Part of their assimilation was that they learned to speak America's language, which is English. Our heritage continues in the customs and traditions that we follow, but we have also been taught to respect what it means to be an American - to learn its language, follows its laws and practice its ways.

The Patchogue killing has clearly hit a nerve with the community, as evidenced by the intense discussion generated on this blog. We encourage readers to look at our community forum on the Patchogue case. We have invited activists and experts to speak about the roots of hate crime and how to foster community dialogue and healing in the wake of the tragedy. Readers can submit questions, and we will soon be creating a dedicated discussion board on the Newsday site to continue the conversation.

The forum is here.

I must say I am very VERY proud to live in Corona Queens, where Ecuadorians dominate the streets along with Dominicans, Mexicans, and Colombians. I am very happy to live in a neighborhood where accidents occur but not homicides nor murders such as the one in patchogue.

For ANY of you xenophobes who live in the clouds and still THINK that caucasians and whites are gonna continue to be the majority... can't we learn from our history?
once upon a time there were dark skinnned people whom were ignorantly called Indians (cuz this guy saw them and thought he was in India) who lived all through out North and South America and these people from Europe came over "illegally" and "uninvited". They wiped out the millions of Natives that lived in the U.S. These Europeans rapidly reproduced and invaded lands out to the west and took over lands that once belonged to the Aztecs, Tainos, Mayans, and Incas, which had also been invaded by the Spaniards

Europeans and their descendents have been the majority for just about 2 centuries now... and if you just open up your eyes and please accept that demographics change constantly... and accept that HEY Latinos are spreading out through out the lands just as Europeans did... if we're gonna discuss borders and "illegal" lets go bak to when Chris Columbus set foot on "the new world" and Europeans savagely wiped out a huge Native American population...

continuing with History up until the mid 20th century Latin America was not doing all that bad...... until the U.S. initiated the "World Bank" and lent billions of dollars to many Latin American countries with absurd interests!!! so many Latin American countries are practically in an eternal debt with the U.S. which is why the economy in so many latin american countries sucks and is the reason why millions of Latinos have come to the U.S. (the country that put their homeland in horrible economic situations)

Its not like Ecuadorians, Mexicans, Dominicans, Colombians really want to leave their beautiful homelands where the air is clean, where they have a rich heritage and culture, they are practically FORCED out due to the economic situations...
they leave behind homes, friends, parents, and even their own children......
and the ingrates of the U.S. want to say "hey! you are not welcomed here! go back to the country that we skrewed and have messed up their economy and government for generations!"

Why do you think Bush hates Evo Morales and Chavez? Cuz they are the only president's that want to make their countries totally independent from the U.S. but Bush doesnt want that. The U.S. wants all the poor little Latin American countries to keep on depending on the U.S.

please you so called citizens learn some history and get some facts correct. Im an immigrant and I probably know more U.S. history than any of those 7 losers (citizens).

and last off on history.... ummmm who was behind Columbine? Who was behind the Oklahoma City Bombing? Who is the Unibomber? wow i dont think any of those was an undocumented person nor a Latino!!!!

I see a lot of you CLAIM that undocumented immigrants have taken part of crimes, and if you personally know of such things PLEASE bring forth those specific examples for which you people seem to be generalizing!!!!
and please be specific of where those undocumented people are coming from.
But lets not forget that even though you label them ILLEGALS they are still HUMAN BEINGS.
yes i know of a specific case where one man killed his ex-gf because she was being a skank and going out with some other guy, but what drove him to kill her was not "racism or hate" it was just human emtions of jealousy that we have seen through out all races...

Now onto ethics and humanity....
It is mind-boggling that these 7 punks/losers/terrorists could have taken the life of another HUMAN BEING!
because that is what is so disgusting not the irrevalent fact that he was an immigrant (because he could have been a Latino born here) but that this man was in his late 30's!!! the age of any of your family members. Who lived for his mother working here. Who had not had the opportunity to even begin a family. and in a way its a good thing or else today a son or a daughter would have been father-less. But i am glad that his brother is trying to fight this case all he can because this incident cannot go forgotten.
The media nor the police have stated that Marcelo Lucero had some sort of criminal record or anything.

Many things happened that granted the U.S Civil Rights and equality but it took many unfortunate deaths and situations where the black community said "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" and I think the Latino community has to stand up and say the same. Because you have no idea where I am coming from nor do you know anything about me. you only see my dark hair and my olive skin. But I am currently double-majoring in one of the better schools in NYC about to graduate wit my bachelor's in June 2009.....
MANY MANY MANY people cannot say that because they were out getting pregnant, they were out getting high, they were out stealing, or like these 7 terrorists they were out terrorizing innocent people and breaking a Mother's Heart in ecuador as well as shattering the lives of their own families.

I thought that New York was a great state because of the diversity, understaning, knowledge, and open-mindedness of people but I guess its only New York City I'm sorry for ya'll out there in Long Island

p.s. if Conroy's dad was so devoted to the community and helping his son WTF was he instillin in the school and in the community that led Jeffrey to have this attitude?!!?!!?!!?!?!?!?!?
parents do hold resposibility.....
as the News at night always says "It's 10 o'clock, do you know where your children are?"

Corona Queens, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT HOME FELLOW PATRIOT....LET'S END THE WAR AGAINST THE HATRED OF LATINS AND STAND UP FOR WHAT WE SO RIGHTFULLY BELIEVE IN AND HAVE WORKED HARD TO ACCOMPLISH....KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK....AND KEEP REACHING FOR THE STARS.

This illegal immigrant shouldn't have been here. If he wasn't hear then this would not have happened.

To Mr. Ed, may your words come back to haunt you one day very soon and teach you how to value someone else's life. your words of racism are unforgiveable. may you burn in hell with the low lives who murdered this innocent man....and MR. LUCERO WAS HERE LEGALLY...get off this blog with your ignorant remarks, YOU ARE A MORON.

Corona Queens

I respect and appreciate your point regarding the 'indian' view, as my family is Native American. Yes, the Europeans that came here to this Country, Central and South America were NOT invited to come. However, since the 'European Invasion of OUR Country', we have put into place many different rules and laws for all to live by.

I think the biggest point is not who the majority or minority is, I think the biggest problem that is seen out on Long Island is the lack of immigration laws being inforced. That does not mean what these boys did was right. They broke the laws as well and must be held accountable for their actions

You remarked about Mr. Conroy being devoted to the community and his family. I am mother of 2 children, both teenagers. I have taught them the right lessons and rules to live by, rules like respect all people, do not lie, do not steal, etc. This does not mean they always listen to all that I say. I also believe it is my job to do as I say or lead by example to my kids. I know there are other parents that are like me, and they too are frustrated when their kids do not listen or do things you do not want them to do. Sometimes the best lessons fall on deaf ears. I personally do not know Mr. Conroy, nor do I know these boys how did what they did. My kids have told me about the halls at the school, the words, the terms, people spitting on others because they are different. All the issues we hate to believe are going on in this world, but are.

As for crimes being committed by undocumented people...that is racist attitude. The color of a person's skin, their nationality, religious beliefs, etc. are not the determining factor for crime. Crimes are committed by people who do not follow the laws OR care about their fellow people. Anyone that blames a single group of people are racists and live either with a set of blinders or just live in a box.

Long Island is (as many other parts of this Country) filled with good and bad people... those who do care about their fellow neighbors and those that are racists jerks who live off hatred.

I am white and red ... and ever so damn proud of my heritage and my future. I have taught my children where they came from and they know they are responsible for where they are going to go in the future. I feel it is very important that we ALL continue to teach our children our past and heritage, so they can make a better future for themselves and others around them.

Lead by example, not by racism or hatred of others ... and yes, keep reaching for the stars.

Thank you Janette, and thank you Pat-Med Parent, I think you seem to understand what I was referring to. And yes obviously since the "discovery of the new world" there have been laws and regulations set forth by the government. But since I loved history it was no coincidence that certain laws and regulations came into place just because. They came about due to the decrease in European immigration and increase in Latino and Asian Immigration. When the U.S. saw that more people of "color" began to enter the United States towards mid 20th century, thats when they closed off borders and set up this whole INS thing.

And regarding Jeff's dad, SOMEONE posted a comment about how Mr. Conroy was extremely involved in his son's school and community. But that leads me too think whether this man was too involved in the community and not his son, or whether he was possibly instilling the same ideas in the community and school that jeff has. I am not stating it as a fact or opinion, I'm just saying it makes me wonder which was it?

To refer to mr. "Ed"'s comment, it is very ignorant and STUPID to have such a mindframe like that. I feel very sorry for you. At least TRY to show some knowledge by spelling H-E-R-E correctly.... tisk tisk. Poor you being corrected by an immigrant.... shame shame...
L.O.L.
=)

In addition, those 7 punks/terrorists were looking for any "Beaner" so what if they would have come across a legal Latino or for that matter a citizen Latino?
regardless of the status they are still human beings!!!!!!!! and those 7 punks only killed him because he was LATINO!

And finally, Im very tired of the term "illegal aliens" and that label being geared only to Latinos. First of all the appropriate term is UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. (again the word alien is used due to the xenophobia that grew in the mid 1900's)
Second, Latinos are not the only ones crossing borders. You have your Polish, Russians, Chinese, Czechs, Indonesians, Filipinos, Haitians, and from several countries in Africa and the west indies.

My friend (non-latina) once told me that children from her country coming into this country had it worst, their families would make arrangements and have them enter from the Canadian border tied under trucks.....
its insane to think the extremes that people around the world are willing to do and the risks they are willing to take just to try to have a "better" life here in the U.S.
but it is so sad that nasty racism and xenophobia still exists.

Please if any of you can, watch the video of the little boy Jairo. That made me and my mother cry because we dont see his status or his father's status, we just see two human beings, a son and father 3,000 miles apart just because of the economy.

I hope I really really really hope that Current and Future administrations and presidents through out Latin America thrive and prosper so that their people will no longer have to emigrate to the U.S. and tolerate the bigotry and hostility. I only hope and pray that those countries stand up, industrialize and use their national resources to their gain and economic prosperity.

queens,
thanks for an interesting and educational post.
I hope the undocumented learn from this, that they too can report being a victim. Justice does get served in this country, i think alot of people were shocked about this beaner stuff.
i wouldn't doubt for one minute that the US is
charging high interest. really, I can't wait for whites to be the minority, in this country you have to be a minority.

I LOVE THE WAY PEOPLE TRY TO REVERSE IT..GET OVER IT!!THE SPOILED MOTHER FUCKERS THOUGHT THEY WOULD GET AWAY WITH IT & I HOPE EACH AND EVERYONE OF THOSE BOYS SUFFER..WHETHER IT BE IN JAIL OR NOT!I HATE FUCKING RACES BOYS LIKE THAT!I Hope They all get fucking demolished in jail!!teach those fuckers a lesson that their parents obviously couldnt..!!!STUPID IGNORANT BITCHES!!Its kids like them who make this world so ugly!!& People like u who think its okay!!DUMB FUCKS!!FUCK THOSE BOYS!!I Have ZZEERROOO Sympathy!!ROT IN HELL!!!

.... it seem that you are the sad person who has to use such 'colorful language' to prove your ignorance.

Anyone who said these kids are right or justified by their actions, belongs in a cage. You can be angry at their actions, outraged by their actions, want to scream out loud, but showing your low level language to make a point, well sorry but that is as bad as condoning what they did to release their frustrations.

One nation, one set of laws for everyone...not just a select few.

Pat-Med parent I think you are wrong. Jeff Conroy was filled with so much hate. He had to see racism come from somwhere and I believe he saw it at home even if it was in the slightest remarks made by his parents. I don't care about all the things his father did to help the sports program in Pat Med HS he probably shouldn't have been taking up so much of his time with those things and maybe he should have been paying more attention to what went on at home with his son. I'm a parent of a recent Pat-Med graduate and I remember my daughter telling me that in her junior year their was 5 months of lock down at the school for racial tension and incidences and rumor had it that some of these boys arrested today for the brutal murder of Marcello Lucero were involved in a lot of the racial tension back then. Today these boys were indicted and the court room was filled with supporters both parents and teens of Jeff Conroy......why??????? He's a murderer!!! This tells me how racist some people in my own community can be and it proves that these children grew up in racist homes. So pat-med parent dont tell me all the things Jeff Conroys father did for our school because its meaningless now. A parent has to take some responsibility of their minor children and their actions. My daughter was brought up in a home were racism does not exsist and she never hung around people who were racist. Parents are their childs first role model and children look up to us and learn to immitate what we believe in and the things we do.

hahahha kaye...
its so sad that you have that mentality. Its sad that unless you have red blood, your ancestors usurped this land and killed millions...
and now that others are coming in through legal and illegal means NOW your all up in arms about it when ya'll did the same....

laws are laws but HUMAN RIGHTS are above all laws regardless of your status in this country!!! can you get that through your head?

if certain people are on public assistance or seeking medical assistance its for their health, not robbing the U.S. money to buy booze, weed, crack, and other miscellanious things that i've seen many "citizens" do with public assistance.

Sean capaces siempre de sentir
en lo mas hondo, cualquier injusticia realizada contra cualquiera en cualquier parte del mundo.
Esta es la cualidad mas linda del revolucionario! -El Che

Being able to feel deep down any injustice done against anyone in any part of the world, is the greatest/nicest characteristic of a revolutionary.-My homeboy Che Guevara

[regardless of who we are or where we're from, as human beings we should be able to feel & understand wen an injustice is committed!]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
No mother under any circumstance shud hav to see her son after 15-17 long years inside a wooden casket.
I dont even know Marcelo nor any1 out in Patchogue, but I ask that he be looked at as for what he was a HUMAN BEING.

He was 37/38 years old.... possibly in the age of any of your siblings/uncles/aunts/spouses or even parents. No one NO ONE should die under such circumstances and its absurd that he died in the hands of 7 little terrorists! who didnt even know their geography.

Corona, again, very valid point being made. Laws are laws for all & help is there for those that need it, not just the leaches who know how to work the system.

There is only one thing I can add and/or change.. everyone's blood is red and no one has redder or bluer blood. I repeat what I said back on one of my 11/12 posts: A wonderful man told me something that bears repeating
"...no matter the color of his skin, if you peel a mans skin off, you will still find a body of a man..."

In other words - remove the skin color, we are all the same.

"...no matter the color of his skin, if you peel a mans skin off, you will still find a body of a man..."
i totally agree!!!!
that is why i feel that this case shouldnt revolve around marcelo's immigration status.

and by red blood i was referring to Native American blood....
but to go further with my point with that is: that every race, every religion, every culture, every single person of every shade and belief at one point in history has done things that they perhaps regret. I beleive we should embrace a thorough understanding of history and really try to learn and avoid making the same mistakes over and over again by prejudice, segragating people, hating people, and witch hunts

Corona, oops misread that.. sorry I do take responsibility for my mistakes!!!!! Now let's see if we can teach the next generation to ignore skin color and take responsibility for their actions. " )

THIS MURDER WAS A DIRECT ACT OF RACISM AGAINST ALL HISPANICS...HAS ANYONE READ THE HEADLINES STATING HOW THESE ANIMALS ATTACKED 3 HISPANIC PERSONS THAT SAME NIGHT AND ADMITTED TO ATTACKING OTHERS IN THE PAST....SO TO KAYE AND ANYONE ELSE WHO ARE EXHAUSTING THEIR ENERGIES ON " UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS" IN YOUR TOWN, INSTEAD TRY TO FOCUS ALL THAT ENERGY ON GETTING FILTHY MURDERERS LIKE THESE INTO A STATE PENITENTIARY, LOCK EM UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY....I THINK YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES HAVE MORE TO FEAR OF THESE SAVAGES THAN "UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS". STOP THE "im sick of my taxes going to support the illegals" NON SENSE AND GET YOURSELVES AND YOUR COMMUNITY OUT THERE AND PUT YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO WORK TO GET THE REAL GARBAGE OUT OF YOUR TOWN.

THANK YOU JANETTE!
And yes i see the testimonies they themselves have submitted, the victimes, and the evidence piling up against them.
Latino immigrants come to the U.S. To work their asses off WHILE PAYING TAXES (with Tax ID #'s).... they don't come here to terrorize nor to be terrorized.

Those 7 terrorists BELONG IN JAIL their all accomplices.... they were out at 5 AM SHOOTING A MAN WITH A BB GUN!!!!!! Geeez what losers!

I am Hispanic(Puerto Rican)dark skin, college educated, own my home, pay taxes and in many of your opinions, I have been classified as a ILLEGAL by most of you people because i speak spanish and the color of my skin. It is amazing that my family and i have to put up with that BS.... and "I AM AN AMERICAN" very proud of it.
Yes, Puerto Ricans are american citizens and they do speak spanish.
GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY! The United States Of America, god bless our troops

Supporters of the alleged criminals in court to support their friends ?
Any kids with any sense would have separated themselves from these evil individuals.
Its been reported that dozens of friends attended.
To attend court in a show of support is in my opinion a bad decision and shows bad taste. Had the parents of those who attended given permission for their child to miss school to attend? If so what were they thinking?
I t has been disclosed that some students of the school knew that similar hunts of immigrants have taken place in the past. To still align themselves with the criminal’s shows these kids have no insight, understanding or compassion, they sound like a bunch of self centered brats.
Patchogue Medford school administration should tell the families of student who attend their school to keep away from the press, and that they don’t represent the population of Patchogue. Some people have made some bad comments in my opinion ie The Tanzey family quoted in newsday "We're threatened with no football team next year," he said. "But it's OK that they can have 20 or 30 ESL classes." These people must be kidding .
Worried about whether or not there will be a football team??? Over education? That’s a priority in my book, NOT
I would like to know if the Tanzey family is helping raise funds for the victim’s family or are they out selling raffle tickets to raise funds for the jocks. Seems the jocks are the killers to me.
Parents of Patchogue Medford students should shut up, You don’t represent the community.

Lamentablemente el Senor Lucero was at the 'wrong place and at the wrong time'. Y para los deliquentes que me da hazco, they were also at the 'wrong pace and at the wrong time'. Porque yo digo eso? Porque ahora tendran que pagar una consequencia grave al estado, al la fiscalia y esa consequencia es Jail Time en un lugar con adultos que buscan carne fresca.. Unfortunately for the parents of these commoners, they will have to spend hard cold cash on defense attorneys and attorneys are not inexpensive. Hopefully there will be seven less pieces of trash on the streets of your town. As for the parents: take out your Bibles and pray on your knees that the Lord will give yourselves strenght and knowledge on what your own blood has caused. Parents, you have blood on your hands, you can only blame but yourselves.

Albert Edwards,
Miami Beach-Florida

Once again....NO ONE HAS SAID THAT THIS MAN DESERVED TO DIE!!!!!!! But the bigger picture here is ILLEGAL IMMAGRATION. We whom have lived here in Patchogue, are very proud of our community, we have also seen the over population of ILLEGAL IMMAGRANTS, which has caused alot of issues to arrise! Property values have gone down, school and property taxes have been raised to proportions that LEGAL citizens can no longer afford, the village of Patchogue looks like a Third world country, and the village mayor loves to make you feel that the town has been revitalized! What a joke!!!!! The only new stores that have opened here are 3 new Mexican Restaurants! We just want the laws to work for us, is that too much to ask? Illegal Immagrants need to be DEPORTED. Why doesnt the government uphold the laws that they have made? As citizens if we break the laws we go to jail. Illegal Immagration is a problem here in Patchogue and people here need to get together and bring this issue to our government officals. Tell them to enforce the laws and deport Illegals then we might have a chance to put our community back together. Untill then.... their will be the same old things going on here in Patchogue!
THE BIG PICTURE HERE IS ILLEGAL IMMAGRATION!

Patchogue parent .. thanks for saying what you did. One law for all people in this Country. And yes the Mayor should really look at Main Street with stronger pair of glasses. Main Street Patchogue is not as 'revitalized' as he wants us to think.

We do need to fight this issue on two fronts.

-Illegal Immigration, of any nationality, is AGAINST the Law of this Country these people have come to. I equate the immigration issue to sneaking a few cookies from the cookie jar... well I only took one or two cookies for my family, so what is the damage. The problem is we have too many people taking the cookies and we are running out of cookies. If we do not have the funds to bake more, no one will be able to have any.

There are many ways we can resolve this issue, without blanket immunity, and these ways could help relieve the financial burden, we, the legal tax paying citizens, are faced with and frustrated with.

-Racism (which was here long before Pat-Med had its problems) needs to also be addressed.

It would be helpful if we could stop this political correctness that plagues our Country. My family is American Indian, being politically correct I am called a Native American, others are called this and that.. Give me a break, we are either all Americans or we are not Americans. Please let's all stop the crap and become a One Nation and work together. If you do come here to work, be part of the whole and get all the rights and benefits of the whole. Either way, you break the law, you pay the consequences.

Again, one set of laws for all the people.

MARTINEZ NEEDS TO GET OVER HERSELF!! YOU SEEM VERY ANGRY. EVERYONES OPINION IS WORTHWHILE NOT JUST YOURS!! YOU SEEM TO ALWAYS BE A VICTIM. OH WOE IS ME. POOR ME. THAT HURT MY FEELINGS! SUCK IT UP!

MARTINEZ,
IF YOU HAD A HALF A BRAIN IN YOUR HEAD YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ IN THE HEADLINES. GROW UP!!! YOU SHOULD MOVE TO PAT MED AND PAY TAXES HERE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET GO DOWN THE TOILET. MAYBE THEN YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW THE MAJORITY FEELS HERE. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND YOU IGNARAMOUS!

i don't think your name (love 4 all) suits you at all...AND YOU ARE RIGHT,,,THIS IS A NO BRAINER...SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU COME FROM A COMMUNITY WITH A MAJORITY OF ignorant racists like yourselves--SOOOO glad not to live amongst you despicable inhuman beings. the heart of the problem in your town is not the immigrants, you DUMB MORON. Pat Med residents want to live in their own little segregated world so you can only stick up for your own kind .."white"...that's no secret, and let me tell you one thing more, "high taxes" are a fact of life in EVERY community you IDIOT...you pay them, I pay them, bottom line..taxes will not go away whether the undocumented immigrants were all shipped back to their countries...stop making excuses for yourself and the rest of the bigots in your community already...or..MOVE OUT IF IT MAKES YOU SO DISGUSTED TO SHARE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH PEOPLE WHOM YOU THINK DON'T MEASURE UP TO YOUR STANDARDS....THE ONLY IGNORAMUS HERE IS YOU and your community with the same mentality as you. I WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND....THANKS..

Janette, I AM a resident of Pat Med and came here back over 15 years ago, from Wantagh (Nassau County) to raise my children in a mixed community of working class FAMILIES. There are bigots and racists all over the place and here too.

What these boys did has brought to light something that has been going on this town, and others on Long Island - most recently the KKK Flyers in Islip Terrace. The point I am trying to make is there are more people who want to fix this problem than those that want to complain.

All in all, any one who breaks any laws should be held accountable for their actions.. One law for the entire nation AND all inhabitants.

As for those that want to scream racism and only blame one group, please note that even if all the illegals left - went home, were deported, or became legal residents - we would STILL have high taxes. There are many OTHER reasons for high school taxes, such as contracts, building issues / cost of oil, power, etc. For my history friends, does anyone remember how Hitler came into power.. He said he was going to change Germany back to the great nation it was - and he started pointing fingers to the reasons for their downfall..started with the Jews..then moved onward and upward blaming anyone in his way. Be careful when pointing fingers as someone may just start pointing towards you and yours.

We are all in this together, like it or not. We are a human race, not a white race, a black race, a red race, etc. one race, one law, one nation.

YES, MS. MARTINEZ MY WHOLE COMMUNITY IS FULL OF RACISTS LAUGH OUT LOUD. (I SPELLED IT OUT FOR YOU). THAT IS WHY PEOPLE FEEL SO FREE TO CONTNUALLY FLEE TO THE RACIST TOWN OF PATCHOGUE. LIKE I SAID YOU SHOULD GROW UP SHUT UP AND BUT OUT GET MORE INVOLVED IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY MAYBE YOU CAN MAKE IT SO APPEALING WITH YOUR RETARDED ATTITUDE AND OUTLOOK THAT ALL THE ILLEGALS WILL RELOCATE TO YOU. I AM SURE YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER

PATCHOGUE RESIDENT FOR LIFE. i have lived in patchogue for my whole life 41 years. i am married to a hispanic man for 18 years. I know the Tanzey Family. I live very close to them I think you are wrong to say that the Tanzeys do not respect their community. I know David since he has been 5 years old. Would it be better for him to walk the streets instead of being involved in sports. (By the way he does take his education very seriously). Why should football be taken from David? Did he do something wrong ? NO HE DID NOT. So his mom and dad should continue to pay their increasing tax bill each year so David can do with out football, textbooks in school and lots and lots of other things that are directly involving his education and his academic career so that others can be taught their entire ciriculum in spanish. They can bring home a computer to help them with their english skills. Not Only should Mr. and Mrs. Tanzey keep paying these increases but they should do this while the value of their home keeps depreciating because fewer and fewer people want to invest in real estate in a school district that is failing because they can't keep up the the SPANGLISH. What's fair is fair. Mrs. Tanzey and David are GOOD PEOPLE. Do not judge them. They are hard working, TAX PAYING Proud AMERICAN Citizens that deserve to be heard. YOU GO DAVID TANZEY!!!!

I have been involved in combating youth crime for 30 years, both on the east coast and now in Arizona where I am retired.
One frequent common thread to youth crime is underage alcohol consumption. Teens when under the influence of alcohol frequently act more irrationally and with less mature judgment than normal even for teens, resulting in less serious criminal acts becoming more serious criminal acts. This appears that it may well be the case in this hate crime. It has been reported that the 16 and 17 year olds involved in this hate crime had been drinking in a public park. The drinking age in New York is 21. Yet no press articles have commented on this apparently illegal underage consumptipn of alcohol. Has teen public drinking become so common in Suffolk County that it is just accepted as "one of those things" and few if any enforcement efforts are made to prevent such teen drinking? A strong program to minimize teen drinking could help decrease the incidence of such hate crimes.

Any comments or thoughts on this?

F. WIlson Bingo another person who is doing their homework. Teen drinking is talked about as a no-no and we have a DARE program in place. DARE is taught in the elementary schools where the kids graduate the DARE program in the 5th Grade. Being a mom of two children in district, this program is not in either the middle or high schools. Yes we are currently having assemblies about racism right now... as per my two kids, that is not the common happening.

I know parents that say "... it's ok if their kids drink at home and then go out"; or "...I can't control them, they go out and drink somewhere else...what am I supposed to do..." Others still just say it's ok, just as long as they don't get caught OR do something wrong". In other words, the mentality seems to be "boys will be boys" or its just "one of those things" .

Yes, these boys hung out at the SAME park, got trashed, then went out on their venture. This is a common event, the kids get drunk in either a friends home, backyard, garage, and park and then off to beat up Mexicans.

If I can tell you where they hang out, tell me why the police can't control the issue.

As for Newsday, they want this blog to go away..Check this out.
Newsday Opinion | November 19, 2008 17:50
The Patchogue killing has clearly hit a nerve with the community, as evidenced by the intense discussion generated on this blog. We encourage readers to look at our community forum on the Patchogue case. We have invited activists and experts to speak about the roots of hate crime and how to foster community dialogue and healing in the wake of the tragedy. Readers can submit questions, and we will soon be creating a dedicated discussion board on the Newsday site to continue the conversation. The forum is here. http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-oppatchogue-forum,0,975340.storygallery

If you go there you see you can ASK your question of a Board of EXPERTS on this situation and they will respond. Please read further: Use this form to submit a question for our panelists in the Patchogue community forum. Please include your full name and email address. Questions and comments will be MODERATED and EDITED.

Again, the media (Newsday, News12, etc.) will focus us to see and read what they want us to see or learn about. I am not a conspiracy person, nor do I like my thoughts being moderated or edited for others to see. I though Freedom of Speech was a right we have as Americans. I believe not in reporting my side of the events, but all sides --

We are having problems here in Patchogue that are in many other cities throughout Long Island and this Country. Racism, underage drinking, not to mention the influx of heroin.. .these are real issues that require real action.

Hi All,

I graduated from Pat-Med High School in 1996. Reading about this awful story made me incredibly sad. Although there were a few serious fights each year in the hallways, some between Latino students and others, I never thought that of my school as a breeding ground for hate. I had friends who were Latino/Hispanic, Asian, and White (didn't have any african-americans in my classes) and the issue of illegal immigration rarely came up. I was sincerely puzzled as to how this could happen in that quiet, working-class, corner of Long Island where I grew up.

After reflecting on my own experiences and impressions of the two adjacent towns (I am non-white myself), I am reminded of something I've often felt while I was there and especially when I went back to visit. The communities that belong to the school district seem, in some ways, to be stuck in a time machine. It's almost as if there's an invisible bubble that envelops you when you step into town and transports you back in time to the 1950's. It's a visceral experience. Downtown Patchogue was a place where the store fronts (that were still open), haven't changed in decades, from the Swezey's department store, the Post Office that anchors Main St., to the old lace mill (which made parachutes during WWII) that graced it's outer edge. Meanwhile, the school music department put on plays such as South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, and other stalwarts of the 1950's each year, sure to please but not exactly cutting edge. As I remember, the people are hard working, proud of their traditions, and unabashedly Christian. They aren't people who are accustomed to coming across traditions, cultures, or languages different from their own in their own community. There weren't a lot of places where kids could go and hang out to pass the time. There was the California diner, or you could go to a friend's house; and some chose to cause mischief in various ways (I knew of kids who enjoyed setting people's mailboxes on fire with a styrofoam cup filled with gasoline). It's a place that could have continued to drift on in the same trajectory for another hundred years, as long as it was undisturbed. The words "lives of quiet desperation" comes to mind.

During the time since I graduated, the Swezey's department store has closed and the lace mill has collapsed into a pile of dusty bricks. At the same time, many new Hispanic immigrants seemed to have found downtown a suitable place to set their bags down and get their bearings, perhaps due to the inexpensive rent and proximity to the train station. In these and many other ways, I believe the bubble that palpably surrounds the district has been pierced and its contents are beginning to be disturbed.

This was a year of "Change," but change had passed over Patchogue-Medford for so long that when it is finally happening, there are bound to be growing pains. Although its a good sign that the town officials are trying to revitalize the downtown and help Patchogue turn the corner, I think its ultimate success depends on whether the residents find some way to resolve their differences with their new neighbors or try stubbornly to preserve their town as an insular relic of the past.

HATE 4 ALL: L.O.L.....AND FYI I LIVING AMONGST THE SAME ILLEGALS YOU SO WRONGFULLY BASH, BUT UNLIKE YOU, I'VE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS WITH NEEDS, JUST LIKE YOU AND I, AND WE ALL DESERVE A CHANCE IN LIFE TO BETTER OURSELVES....YOUR STUBBORNESS AND CLOSE-MINDNESS DOESN'T CEASE TO AMAZE ME IN THE LEAST. AND YES, IN FACT I DO HAVE A LOT TO OFFER MY COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, VERY INVOLVED IN MY DAUGHTERS' EDUCATIONS, EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL CLUBS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEIR WHEREABOUTS....I FEEL A REAL SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OPEN HEART AND REACHING OUT TO THE LESS FORTUNATE, BECAUSE "I'VE BEEN THERE", AND I WILL NO LONGER ALLOW MYSELF OR MY DAUGHTERS TO NOT BE HEARD, TO NOT STAND UP FOR OURSELVES, AND TO CONTINUE BEING A VICTIM OF TODAY'S RACIST SOCIETY....WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO GET A LIFE ALREADY....

To Parent of Pat-Med students. I can't answer your question as to what the police enforcement level is against teen drinking. This because I am no longer in the area but retired out of state.

However it is a question I would suggest be asked at county meetings and PTA meetings. It has been my experience that when parents as questions and speak out about their concerns on specific issues at meetings, in a polite and serious manner, especially when these concerns are about something the "powers that be" are supposed to be enforceing any way, there is generally action taken.

I hope this helps.

Patchogue Resident how dare you put our names on this blog! Newsday had called our home and spoke to my son and I for 30-45 min. They called to ask us what kind of kid Jeff Conroy was. Newsday decided to take that entire conversation down to two lines in a newspaper article, and had taken it out of context to suit their desire to turn this community up-side down. We are not racist people. My son and I have done alot in this community with all races. You don't know us, or maybe you do, but you need to shut your mouth and don't belive everything you read in a newspaper!!!
Buy the way.. the reporter had asked us how we felt about what happen here in Patchogue and was told that this was a horrible crime, and our prayers went out to the family of this man. FUNNY....THEY DON"T PRINT THAT NOW DO THEY??? Also my son did play football and wrestled with Jeff and said that he never would of guessed that he would someday do this crime. Also you idiot... we don't have to worry about football or any other sport next year, our son will be graduating in June!!!

To , You ara a idiot.
First of all, I don’t remember calling you any names.
I don’t know you.
You put your name in newsday , not I.
I’m sorry if your statements were taken and reported out of context and or are vague & misleading.
If this is the case then your problem is with newsday not me.
My point was that people not assigned to be public relations personal for the Patchogue Medford School district should not be making statements to the press in regard to this matter.

To Idiot Patchogue Resident,
Our names were NOT given to Newsday, they were taken from a
football roster from two years ago!!!!
Yes... my problem is with newsday, but you on the other hand, should not be making Comments about people you don't even know. Give it a rest already!

corona queens....I read in your post about health, it's their health. here is the problem. Americans are truley being effected by the enormous amount of uninsured being treated in hospitals. Insurance premiums are so high.
(I am talking about all races here undocumented) The money is just being spread to thin. Americans go bankrupt due to health problems, but others don't, people who worked hard their whole life. Again not a reason for anyone to kill. Yes, their are Americans who are not working etc, but alot of times those are people with learning disabilites or mental health issues. We have a responsibility to those individuals who can't do it on their own. Maybe you can be a little compasionate for those individuals.

Maybe I can be a little compassionate?????
Are you kidding me??
I *AM* asking that all people be looked as human beings!!!!!! Some of the posters are too narrow minded and insist that there be a division making immigrants especially undocumented immigrants as inferiors and lesser beings "who don't belong here"

And of course im aware of the "economic crisis".....
But if you were to come by Corona and see the huge number of immigrants you wouldn't think such a thing because we are all working, shopping and doing whatever possible to get ahead.....here our property values have increased, people everywhere are paying taxes even if they are undocumented, people are going to school and attaining a higher education.....
And like I said accidents have occurred in here in this town but not murders caused by hate....
Because our schools are open-minded and teach peace and tolerance. Our schools are so beautiful because we there you truly see the eseence of the melting pot for which the U.S. And NY are known for

People need to accept that through out history the east coast has constantly been changing demographics and right now there is a huge increase of latino immigrants...
Are we gonna go back 150 years? Where irish and italians were treated harshly and inferior?
No!!!! Lets learn from those mistakes and TRY to live in harmony.

My parish was founded by Irish 140 years ago. But today due to the huge number of latinos it offers 5 sunday masses at: 6:30am, 7:30am, 10am, 11am, and 1:30pm
And ALL SERVICES are PACKED!!!

Who knows maybe in 50 or 100 maybe we'll have a totally different influx of immigrants but we just have to be open-minded and peaceful!

Corona, sounds like things are going well in queens. Yes, I am sure we will be dealing with a new influx of immigrants in years to come.
Maybe it is what goes on in the school buildings that cause problems with kids. I know there is no major problems with the white, asian,
pakistan, and hispanic children in our schools. nothing that I have heard of anyway.

Sorry about Mr. Lucero,but what makes this murder different than others? Most of the murders here in LA are committed by gangbangers most of whom are people of color most of whom are illegal immigrants grabbing for their "American Dream" (please change to "American Nightmare."). Immigration wouldn't be so bad if there were some committment on other countries to clean up their act so people can make a living there rather than putting the burden on American taxpayers. Why our politicians want to pursue a policy which only adds to our problems is past understanding. As for Newsday's apparently hysterical coverage, just check the mugshot gallery. A disproportionate amount of photos seem to be of foreign-born. LA is a third world city, so will be LI if it isn't turned around.

This is the act of a bunch of BORED and DRUNK teenagers, and while I'm sure that they may harbor a certain level of anti-hispanic opinions, had the parents and other "role models" showed these young people something a little more worthwhile to do on a typical Saturday night, this may have been averted...I'm tired of hearing all this talk of spending time and resources and perhaps, tax payer dollars, to teach these young people that "hate's not cool", end racism, tolerance, etc., which we have drummed in their heads 'til we're blue in the face, how about sharing alternatives as to how to entertain themselves, instead of sitting in a park drinking beer...whooopeeee....

To Pat-Med parent: Regarding the comment, "the media (Newsday, News12, etc.) will focus us to see and read what they want us to see or learn about." We created the roundtable precisely to address some of the issues that this incident has raised, which have been parsed repeatedly in this blog comment thread. If needed, we will moderate questions because we must be selective in choosing questions that are relevant to the discussion, due to the space limitations and limitations of the panelists' time. This blog is lightly moderated to keep the conversation respectful to all members of the community. We have continued, indeed encouraged, this blog thread because we feel that the discussion is vital to the community. In fact, we link to this blog thread in the Patchogue forum site, as well as on the main Newsday.com news site devoted to covering this incident, and we hope to create a more extensive reader discussion board in the near future. The 240 published comments here attest to the level of reader interest, and to our interest in keeping this conversation going.

Why is this terrible incident giving the illegal immigrant movement more momentum??? I want to know why it is, in the illegals minds and their advocates, wrong of our elected officials to enforce the laws on the books regarding illegal immigration??? The individuals we elected are there to enforce the laws and not to be bullied and called ugly names for enforcing immigration laws. The ones that cry against the laws of this country regarding immigration are the Hispanics who enter this country illegally at blindingly high numbers each year. We have laws which must be obeyed by every ethnic group, and the Hispanics are not exempt as they seem to think. They scream the loudest and disrespect this country from the minute they break out laws by entering illegally, yet we are supposed to look the other way and condone their illegal immigration status because they scream the loudest and gather in large numbers simply because there are so many of them here illegally. Well hello people, what does that tell you. Our government must start enforcing our immigration laws and not worrying about the voting block they represent and stop being a sell-out to their own country.

Paula: again some people are so closed minded and think that ONLY Hispanics break the law by entering here illegally.
Please get some historical background of the U.S. and understand HOW and WHY people emigrate to the U.S. ....
and its people from Africa, Asia, the West Indies, and even parts of Europe that come here illegally through different means.

Open up your eyes and understand that there needs to be a reform on immigration legislation...
Bush SAID he was gonna do it, but when I began college in 2003 I remember doing a research paper on illegal immigration and all statistics gave me a rough number of 12 million undocumented people in the U.S......
and this year I have heard numbers such as 18 million... so wtf has the Bush administration done to control and/or restrict undocumented immigration!!!!?????
Build a wall??? Its not keeping them out!!!
People are sooooooooo skrewed in other countries that they are DESPERATE to come to the U.S. through any means possible not to terrorize but to work and work hard doing jobs that no "citizens" are honestly willing to do...

And I'll tell you straight sweetie "certain" closedminded people are looking at this incident as just another un-wanted immigrant here in the U.S. getting killed, rather than looking at it for what it was RACISTS KILLING AN INNOCENT HUMAN BEING BECAUSE HE WAS LATINO!!!!!
and it took such a sad and unfortunate event for Latinos to say enough is enough and racism will no longer be tolerated by small-minded people....

Do you not remembered the civil rights movement?? Or are you gonna say that too was just another big loud blow up??!!!
Where people who were being treated unfairly began to scream loudly and gather in large numbers???

If the U.S. Is gonna preach about peace and tolerance around the world its' citizens should be practicing it for once and understand Human Rights that all people have regardless of status.

TO Corona Queens:
It seems to me that you are side stepping the issue of the allowance and condoning of illegal immigration. No one is saying only Hispanics break the law and enter illegally but no other ethnic group does it with the audacity and entitlement the Hispanics do. They form unions, God, where but in the US can an person who entered this country illegally then demand rights? Ridiculous. They come here and make all of their tax free money for themselves and their family to whom they send huge sums of money out of the country. They have changed even the simple way in which we dial a phone and have to press l for English. They are here in massive in numbers illegally and we are catering to them rather than the other way around. It has been said many times how a child states their parent has been here twenty years and cannot speak English, still speaks Spanish. Why is that-we are supposed to cater to them. Learn the language. Others have made them national heroes because they mow a few lawns and wash some dishes and pocket all of their cash. I have to ask Why? I work every day, our own citizens work difficult labor jobs, pay their taxes, and what has been said of them. Basically shut up and pay up. They use all of our social services, medical, emergency rooms and enroll their children in our schools in which they pay not a penny in school taxes. They break housing laws by packing more than the allowed persons in a dwelling. They gather on street corners, no other ethnic group in the world makes public nuisances of themselves as do the Hispanics, and you wonder why the resentment and the Enough is Enough cry from law abiding citizens. Keep your liberal nonsense to yourself, and yes it was a terrible thing that was done to that individual, but why do we not have the same coverage when the roles are reversed and we are the victims of one of their many crimes???

Corona Queens, sad thing is we can talk to these one track minded individuals until we are blue in the face and they will never get it b/c they don't want to GET IT...They are living in a time warp. Hypothetically speaking, let's say our government were to offer to legalize all "undocumented immigrants" (OF HISPANIC ORIGIN ONLY), they can then legally work, pay taxes, etc....Would this community accept them then because they are "legal"? Is this the real beef? Something tells me they would continue to ostracize them because they don't do not physically blend in their society. They would probably feel more comfortable replacing all HISPANICS with Italians and Irish, why? Because for some ODD reason they are looked upon in a more favorable way...Stop making excuses and blaming immigration, and admit that sharing a town with a mayority of Latinos makes you sick to your stomachs...that is how my family and I were so unfairly looked upon by whites since we've lived in the U.S., even 35 years ago--and it didn't matter that I entered legally. My Latin family name was enough to piss them off. To live 35 years with people who ridicule you because of where you come from was a high price for our family to pay. I don't want the same for my two young girls. What person wants what happened to Mr. Lucero for it to happen to one of their family members? No one deserves to be robbed of their life and die in vain. People please STOP for one moment and reflect on your words--a human being died here in your own community. Does that NOT account for anything?

ps: Corona....so glad there are still people like you and I who put people before their own hidden materialistic agendas....Kudos to you for your words of wisdom.....

li la, we do have a politician that is trying to do the right thing in suffolk county, but he is constantly being ripped apart. He does have a 96% approval rating. I for one do think it would be better if the gov't made all here legal citizens.
Tax dollars is what makes America work. Who works? The undoumented for cheap labor where the economy ends up being only the wealthy and poor? We do know about Union labor, if the undocumented were smart they would wait and come in legally. They would end up being union employees, making a lot of money with health insurance and pension. I don't know why advocates do not want that for them....it is beyond me.

by the way paula is making some good points,
maybe you can be a little open minded. think about what others are saying. anyway this crime had nothing to do with a person being an
undocumented. Maybe our new President will come up with a solution.

Hahahaha
Paula you are so funny!
Thank you for making me laugh at your silly points!
Tee hee
Taxes & Language.....
My bosses parents have been in the U.S. for DECADES! Sine the 1960's but guess what they still don't speak English and they are ITALIANS....
But that's okay right Paula? Cuz they're italian and not Hispanic!!

There are many many groups of immigrants such as Chinese, Koreans, Russians, Greek, Italians, and others who emigrate to the U.S. And Because they are out busy working and taking care of a their families taking an English course never really fits into their schedule...
and plus if you've had any education you would know about the Language Acquisition Theory which states that your brain is at its peak to learn a new language at at the age of 11-13 years... after that its downhill and with age it becomes harder and harder to learn a language...
Many immigrants come well in their 20's, 30's and even 40's when its very difficult to learn a new language its not just cuz they are lazy.....

AND if you had any decent understanding of undocumented immigrants you would know that MANY of them acquire TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS which replace SS# when they work so they PAY taxes and contribute to society BUT they CANNOT receive any tax returns using those TAX ID #'s....

And as for housing..... it is sick and sad that some people do live cramped up in certain homes... but landlords ought to keep their homes in check and not be there only to collect rent!!!
Landlords allow it to happen sometimes because rather than rent an apartment sometimes they rent rooms and they will rent out 6 by 6 space and charge the individual $125 per week!!!!
So come on when its to housing its a 2 way street!!! Not individuaks just deciding to cram themselves!

As for sending back money to other countries.... HELLO THE U..S. AND FOREIGN ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE DONE TERRIBLE THINGS IN COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD TO KEEP THOSE COUNTRIES IN POVERTY SO PPL COME HERE TO WORK AND SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES!!!!!

And Paula its disgusting how you wouldn't see to it that an individual be treated as a human being regardless of their status.

Janette- thanks and hey im so glad a have attained an education and opened up my eyes to not only help myself but help others. I would hate to be a self-centered closedminded person who is in denial of the changing demographics and the things going on around the world.

Deb- thank you for seeing that this incident wasn't about undocumented status... it was about racism against Latinos!
And yes hopefully with Obama he will see to it that such things take on changes for the better whatever they may be.

We the citizens of the USA should hold a vigil for ourselves for the destruction of our once beauty country. We should come together to oppose the ILLEGAL INGREATS who don't want to follow the laws of our country. Why is it that you never read from these OPEN HEARTS pro immigration believers that 2 of the 7 boys were LATINO. (Maybe it these self arrogant Illegal immigrants start showing some RESPECT we will show respect in return. Because when the money tree has no more money to pick they will run back to their own country. Mrs. Martinez your quote.. SO GLAD THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I WHO PUT PEOPLE BEFORE THEIR OWN HIDDEN MATERIALISTIC AGENDAS. What nonsense …Mr. Lucero….was sending his money home so she could get a new kitchen it not like his mom didn't have a kitchen she just wanted it upgraded with.new formica countertops new appliances why??? so it can look good and impress her neighbors and brag that her son did this for her illegally…He had no intentions of staying here and helping THE USA….this was the year he was coming HOME he used the USA for his needs.. screw the laws and its citizens. I quess he didn't have his own hidden materialistic agenda. And now the family of Mr. Lucero are demanding justice from our legal system the same legal system that all 3 of them were breaking. Those are the types of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS were against. But I'm called Racist and close minded. …. And DO NOT TELL me your children and your buddy Corona Queens don't have any name brand clothing in your closet or a IPOD, cellular phones you know the materialistic things in life. By I guess it ONLY the RACIST AMERICANS who have hidden materialistic agendas. I wonder how many pair of shoes you own??? Why should we have to change the law for them?? Because they want it changed. WELL I DON"T you are welcome to come to the USA BUT you need to become a citizen and NOT A LETCH. And I don't want the song and dance it takes to much money and time. If you want something bad enough you always find the way. It what you pro illegal people say about the Illegal immigrants that are so DESPERATE to come to the U.S. through any means possible. Well use that same amount of desperation to become a citizen follow the law and be proud to be an American with a Latino, German, Italian etc..heritage. Not with the attitude I am ILLEGAL and PROUD and demand change.

corona, Yes, it was a disgrace what the landlords were doing in suffok county. Actually it seemed to be a mix of not only long standing americans but also hispanics being the land lords. Most of the housing issues were down right dangerous.
Drinking &, drugs can really alter people's minds. Usually someone regrets what they do the next day. Who knows what theses kids were on. Yes, from what we read in the news so far, this was some kind of game they played. I feel sorry for all involved in that tradedy.
Anyway, since your pretty educated. What else, besides US charging high interest to other countries was our gov't doing? Sorry I am educated, but really busy in work/kids and can't keep up with up with everything.

ps. I hope our state gov't insits that school administrators lower their salaries. Patterson does believe that is the problem.

Martinez, you have to stop taking everything so personal. I moved to a neighborhood, where a neighbor basically told me she moved there for her daughter to be friends with jewish kids..we are not. oh well -- see ya. my daughter made other friends. I don't think most are like that here, just the way this parent is. Funny my daughter has not only gone to bar mitz and that 15yrs old party..i know i am going to spell it wrong quencerra or something like that. I think the kids are fine, it's just the adults.

Ms.Kaye, Wow! seems like you must have insider info to know all the specifics as to what Mr. Lucero was working so hard to attain--A kitchen make-over for his mom. Now that's pretty touching if you ask me. Latins have the reputation of having a strong sense of family values and who go the extra mile to provide for them. I praise Mr. Lucero for what he was so worthwhile doing for the person who gave him life. What kind of family values did his killers hold for their parents--ABSOLUTELY NONE! You, along with their parents and your community will now put your tax monies to work and pay for their filthy cells, their filthy meals and their filthy hobbies while they're locked...and if the bastards behave real well while there,,,they may be lucky enough to get paroled in several years and walk your filthy streets again.....at least the undocumented take pride in working hard to provide shelter and food for their families back home...ill take a million illegals against the 7 cold blooded murderers any day. Now getting to your other stupid point. I do own brand clothing, I do own an IPOD, i own three cars, a boat, quads, a house, jewelry, etc, etc, but at least I DIDNT KILL OR STEAL FROM ANYONE FOR SUCH..nevertheless, I manage to appreciate all that is good in life as much as the next person, and yet somehow reach into my pocket at the end of each pay period to provide for the less fortunate...and I don't submit them for a tax write off at the end of the year...WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU "FED THE CHILDREN", right here in your country, Oklahoma? did you help the Katrina victims in New Orleans? what about 9/11? any of your monies go toward any of those organizations? well mine do, and damn proud of it, glad I can help, however, small. all you see in your community is "these low life spics are stealing my hard earned taxpaying *$**@($(@))@ monies to send back home" the @($($($ nerve of them? WHY DONT YOU JUST STOP COMPLAINING, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND THANK GOD FOR YOUR OWN LIFE AND LET HIM TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF THE WORLD....THANK YOU MAMMMM.,.

Deb, But I agree, I take it extremely personal. How can one not, when even at this day in age I am still a victim of my racism because of my heritage. As I mentioned in my earlier posts, I live next door to an Irish-Italian-American family, whom were very disappointed to find out my family and I were Hispanics. Their blue eyed, blonde hair daughter blatantly told my daughter (who are in the same school), that my daughter is not considered "white" because her parents are Hispanic...Now do you see where my anger stems? It's pretty disgusting. I'm not here sitting losing sleep over it, but it is very disturbing to know that racism still exists in today's world. Nevertheless, my daughter has made plenty of other friends, mostly white who come over on playdates, etc., but my whole point here is to be HEARD and to not allow my family to become further victims of racism. It's just soooo unfair in today's world. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE MELTING POT?

Dear Ms. Kaye first of all it's spelled I-N-G-R-A-T-E-S and second it is L-E-E-C-H.....
And second FEW immigrants return to their country of origin because of trhe fact that they know that the by comparison, the economic situation is soooo much better than their country's homeland.

Well what does materialistic have to do with his murder?
If we and immigrants weren't materialistic we wouldn't shop at the American shops such as Target, Wal-mart, Sears. Best Buy or ANY department store..... the population of millions regardless of status are helping commerce.....
I don't think those departments would be happy to lose millions of customers....

so what if Mrs. Lucero updated her kitchen? So she went from using a bonfire to cook her meals to an actual stove....

I WISH PEOPLE LIKE YOU WOULD THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK/WRITE.....
I wish you would have a full understanding of where these people are coming from....
You talk about how you guys aren't racist or anything so what do you say to the continued existence of
the KKK and Nazism?

As for being proud of being Undocumented???
Wtf are you smoking??
Who would be proud of such a thing???
HOWEVER Latinos ARE DARN RIGHT PROUD OF BEING LATINOS.....
But it seems that you can't differentiate the two Latino & undocumented immigrant

And I promise you if it were "so easy" as you so ignorantly think it is to emigrate legally I promise you that these immigrants would come legally.

And Deb in College I took the time to get a little well rounded in world events- Latin American Government and Politics....
Our professor was American with several generations in this country, however he was one of the few people who invested his time and education in learning about what is beyond our borders and spent several years in Brazil...
At the moment I do not recall the specifics of the loans that the U.S. made to Latin American countries,
But I do know that it had to do with the establishment of the World Bank and Capitalism/Imperialism... during the 60's.

By the way Kaye, I wanted to show my 2 citizen younger sisters your comment but it was too funny with all grammatical errors and nonsense/...
So thank you for making us laugh today...
=)

martinez, don't loose sleep over it. We are
Irish-German-scottish family and I never heard of anyone complain of a hispanic family. (except unless you are the house with
30 men drinking beer on the front lawn with cars all over the place?) Concentrate on the families that your daughter is friends with. I even know back when my daughter was nursery school one of the group of moms/kids were hispanic. That was not even a thought in our minds to not include her. (15 years ago)
My future is real uncertain today with day laborers, as my husband is in construciton. If i can be nice and open minded so can you. I do realize what is driving the people here from other countries. I also understand the economic crises and the impact it is having here.
I am not sure how long ago this was,
that this happened to your daughter, but I do know in recent years the whole large housing of men put a damper on the whole latin american immigration. I hope the next gov't administration does something.
I certainly did not prevent my daughter from being freinds with other jewish kids, just becasue of one parent. So, ignore the remark and get involved with your daughter's life.

corona queens - Let's start with respect. My grandparents and great-grandparents emigrated to this country from Germany and Ireland, and does anyone think it was easy for them? Absolutely not. When they came over on the boat, they had to have a documented sponsor. How about that? But they came to America for the promise and opportunity that it held for them. By virute of that, they learned to speak America's language - which by the way is English - and did not disrespect her laws and ways. Freedom doesn't mean that you get to come and live here, take advantage of the opportunities and disrespect what our country stands for. Come legally, learn our language, pay your way and then everyone stands to reap the benefits.

corona, I do not know much about the World Bank. I worked in the legal field for many years,
in recent years things just did not seem right to me, how things were going in the US. I started reallly reading current invents, politics and government. I really think right wing conservative republicans killed this country. I could be wrong, but I do believe Democrates are more for the people as a whole......I hope I am right.

Deb- See one would assume that whatever is "international" IS international and overlooked by international entities...
But the World Bank had U.S. Founders and supporters and the Latin American countries were stupidingly naive.....
Yes I am hispanic and I will say that during the 60's and 70's Latin America was in so much crap trying to industrialize itself that it got itself into so much debt and as a result took on ridiculous loans...
And since those loans and debts were really immense time came too fast and interests piled up which is why nations went corrupt/bankrupt/poor....

"Just my 2 cents" I never said prior immigrants had it any easier!!!!!
I did say that since we have dealt with millions of immigrants over the last 231 years we shouldn't repeat the same mistakes over and over again. I am familiar with the documents that people had to obtain centuries ago. But they weren't required to have $25,000 in the bank and have college educations which are just 2 of the requirements for people to legally emigrate. People who have $25 grand in other countries don't NEED to come to the U.S., but people who make $25 a week do have a NEED to come here!!!

I don't know about how people learned English centuries ago, but I know that there are MANY schools and institutes offering English classes, and PEOPLE do make the time to learn English, but there are some who just can't!
It's not an excuse, but at least be conscious that people DO MAKE THE EFFORT!!!
And I hate it when "Americans" say "Gracias" to me...
What just cuz I'm Hispanic you think I don't know English!
Geez such jerks!
I'm majoring in English and know the history of English that many people don't even know about!
When I graduate with my double major I'm gonna glue it to my forehead so people can see that despite my origin I do have a brain and can use it!!!!

And please don't talk about people disrespecting this country...
Its disgusting when little punks like the ones who murdered Marcelo have it all within their reach and instead throw it all out because they do stupid shit like underage drinking, racial crimes, and even smoking since they weren't even 18 yet!
And there are thousands of cases of many citizens who just throw away opportunities of becoming hardworking contributing citizens and do otherwise, that is sad and disgusting!

To Just my 2 cents:

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!! People like you see the whole picture and wonder at the audacity of people such as Ms. Martinez who clearly is biased in this situation due to her Hispanic heritage. But you see ,people like her and Corona don't ever want you or anyone else to address the issue of the breaking of laws and assimilation and having respect for this country by entering it legally and obeying all its laws. Oh no that's not the way they play this game. We do the bleeding heart liberal because they are Hispanic. If the illegals we were talking about were anything other than Hispanic such as Chinese, Italian, Polish, etc. make no mistake about it, they wouldn't care one bit in their quest to justify all of the law breaking.

corona, To think we are funding a war? Unbelievable.
back to the topic.....
I guess we all have to keep a close eye on our teenagers. This group was mixed, and they were boozing it up prior.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

paula, you have some very good points.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I really did not expect my comments to elicit this type of response, but to corona queens! response "I don't know about how people learned English centuries ago, but I know that there are MANY schools and institutes offering English classes, and PEOPLE do make the time to learn English, but there are some who just can't!" I will say - there were no schools and institutes offering English classes back in the day - they learned ENGLISH because is was the language of the land and they had to do so to survive (with regard to whether they had time to or not.)

And to Paula - I absolutely disagree with everything you said in absence of assimiliation. If you want to be a citizen of this country, you should learn to speak our language. That was my point.

Paula how dare you!
IN ONE OF MY PREVIOUS comments i did acknowledge the fact that THERE ARE -UNDOCUMENTED- non-Latinos in the United States!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but closed minded people like yourself refuse to see that and only link undocumented immigration with Latinos!!!!

Please if you are going to comment on any of my points read all my comments, because *I AM A VERY OPEN MINDED PERSON* who is aware of the diverse situations going on in the homes of citizens, legal immigrants, and undocumented immigrants....
i don't pretend to live in a happy go lucky world where Latinos ruined it!

and as for breaking the laws....
AGAIN those 7 underage terrorists killed an innocent man JUST BECAUSE HE WAS LATINO...
a poster before raised the point that he COULD have been a legal immigrant or a citizen..... but that was irrelevant, it was the fact that for the simple reason that it was a Latino that they killed him!
they were racists!!!!! open up your eyes and accept it!
7 "citizens" of this U.S. killed & murdered an innocent man based on his ethnicitiy!

and again NOT all Latinos are undocumented! my sisters were born here but are proud of their heritage in high school and in college as well!
My uncle too came here at the age of 19 23 years ago and today is a U.S. citizen.... he is medium built Hispanic with dark skin and dark hair.... who knows if he had been standing there, he could of been killed....

but some ignorants refuse to accept the fact that those punks were racists...... some of you would be apalled to see a swastika graffittied somewhere, but that punk conroy had it tattooed on his leg!!!!!?!!??!!?!
whats up with that!?!!?!?
geez

You cannot bring up Barack Obama on this one. The fact is, more blacks or African-Americans, if you like are more assimilated to the American idea than the Hispanic culture. Hate crimes would be a lower percentage if the Hispanic community wanted to be more American than what they have at home. Learn to speak English, leave your home language at home. My ancestors from Germany and Italy had no problem assimilating. I'm tired of seeing and having read through 35 different languages to find the checkouts at the grocery store or retail store. Either assimilate and legalize or get it out. It's plain simple. No speeky spansy, only English!

editor's note: Do Not Blame me for xenophobia, I've heard it all before.

Hey Coronas,

Don't blame Paula for your problems, 56% of all crimes committed in Nassau are by Hispanic (including Puerto Ricans) in Nassau and 60% in Suffolk. If you feel so much for the Legal Immigrants cause, perhaps you'd voice your opine in public.

Hey Robby!
=)
Did I say I had any problems?
I was only trying to correct on the comments made by Paula... (she should of just read more carefully)
Latinos along with all other ethnicities DO have flaws, I never said we are the perfect culture. But it is ignorant to assume that Latinos are the only imperfect race.

Well this IS a public forum isn't? So I have no problem of voicing my opinions here. At the moment I am working full-time and preparing to graduate in June, spending time with my family and planning to get married next year. So at the moment I am not very available to be making public appearances as a politician or an advocate. But it is possible that in the future I will work more with my community and become and advocate, meanwhile people like Fernando Mateo ARE out there trying to make a difference and making his voice be heard. But thank you for the suggestion.

p.s. It is in not CoronaS* it is simply Corona, Queens
=)

May I comment on this? I have never read in any newspaper where Marcelo was an illegal immigrant. How do any of you know that he was here illegally? And regardless, it certainly did not make it right or give someone a right to beat him and stab him to death.

I hope that the individuals involved in this are sent to prison for a very long time and that they get the maximum punishment that the law allows. No one had a right to do this to Marcelo. He did not deserve to die.

Also, let me point out something. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. We are all from somewhere else. Marcelo had as much right to be here as anyone else.

To Kaye and Patchogue Parent: I am not from New York. I live in Indiana. I would like to point out something to the both of you.

This is NOT your country. The U.S. is not YOUR country. You claim this is "MY" country. It is not, YOUR country. Your ancestors stole it from Native Americans. Where did your great grandparent or great great grandparents come from?

Immigrants are not doing anything to you. I am so sick of hearing you people whine. What are they doing to you? How they live is none of YOUR business. You are wanting them to change their culture and their ways in order to live here. I got a news flash for you. They do not have to adapt to your ways or your culture to live here and they have a right to live here and speak Spanish.

I am for making Spanish a second language of the U.S. and my Senator, Evan Bayh wants to make Spanish a second language and Spanish should be a second language of this country.

As far as the jobs go, they do jobs that you and I would not or do not want to do. Also, put the shoe on the other foot. Have you ever been to a third world country? I have. The people there are either wealthy or poor. Most people would love to come to the U.S. They do not come to the U.S. to disrupt or ruin your lives. They come here to better themselves and help their families out and yes, they have a right to send money home to help their families. You do not think they should do this. Then how, may I ask, how should they support their families?

Also, most people do not honestly want to leave their native country. But they do because there are no opportunities there and have to go somewhere where there are opportunities. That is why they come here to the U.S. Sometimes they have no other choice but to come here illegally.

They are not doing anything to you so you need to be quiet and go to bed and quit worrying about it. They are here to stay and they should be allowed to stay here.

Kaye, this is not YOUR country. It is not MY country. Our ancestors stole it from Native Americans. I am so sick of hearing you say this is MY country and MY town. The immigrants are not doing anything to you. They are not bothering you and they are not doing anything to your town. They have as much right, even more rights, to be there than you do. They have as much right to be in this country as you do.

Hey Robby, the Puerto Ricans are American citizens. I am so tired of people blaming the Hispanics for all the crimes committed. I have heard this before. I live in Indiana and we have people here from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Cuba and elsewhere. We do not have a crime problem from our Hispanic or Caribbean citizens. They are hard working individuals.

Note, I did not say that you were xenophobic. I just wanted to explain to you that Puerto Ricans are American citizens. They get social security, welfare, vote in elections, pay taxes, use American currency and are free to travel between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth and a U.S. territory. It is a very beautiful island. You should visit there someday. I love the food and culture.

TO: PAULA, ROB, KAYE, 2 CENTS:

"BE GONE, BEFORE SOMEONE DROPS A HOUSE ON YOU TOO"...I'LL GET YOU MY PRETTY AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TOO" HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA......

CORONA AND BRANDON: "SI SE PUEDE"......

ps: to Deb, no offense, but I consider myself to be highly involved in my daughters' lives. When I delivered my first I made the choice of leaving the workforce ($75,000/year salary) to be a stay at home home. Why? to give my daughter a sense of balance in the dual income, materialistic world. My husband is Brazilian, he entered the U.S. when he was 7 years old (documented). When he turned 18 years he joined our U.S. armed forces to not only pursue an education, but to proudly serve America. We met through work, got married and he continued full time work while pursuing his Bachelor's at night. While he was making these sacrifices I have been providing my daughters/family a sense of family values that have been so lost in this world...Tell me who these days gives up a $75,000/year salary to give their children that "family security". We lived in a one bedroom apartment, my husband graduated, we bought our first home, and here we are. I am active in my daughters' every aspect of their lives, and have no regrets b/c I know they are receiving something far more important in life. Of course, I feel very blessed that through both my husband and my sacrifices we are able to fulfill this desire...not many are able, but because it's like Corona says, Americans have all the opportunities given to them, and what do some do with that, they waste that chance to better themselves while others come here and strive so hard to grab that opportunity they don't so easily have. As to the point of who my daughter chooses as friends, she is a very social human being who has been taught to accept everyone of every nationality, color or religious backgroud, UNTIL PROVEN WRONG. My neighbors bratty, future racist child has done just that one too many times to her and her parents to me. So darn right I will not allow her or myself to lose the little bit of diginity left and expose myself to such persons of racists ideas. We have moved on and are better for it. Unfortunately, this is the way of the world, we just have to keep hoping for the best and pray hard for our children and that they meet people with the same standards as they....

I must say thank you Brandon for being an open-minded individual who has knowledge of the world and has been able to open up your eyes and peacefully tolerate the U.S.'s changing demographics....

Excellent point about Puerto Rico....
Somebody earlier mentioned as to how would all these racists feel if all undocumented immigrants became legal tomorrow??
Would they accept them and embrace them tomorrow?
I THINK not!!!
I see that this is not a legal vs. Illegal issue, rather this continues to be a racism issue!!!

It is funny that these closed minded people don't take into account how Latinos have revolutionized the media industry and how Spanish is stronger than ever here.
MTV has Mun2, People has People en Espanol, independent films are more and more portraying Latinos in different roles and not only housekeepers and drug dealers, a huge amount of marketing is geared to Latinos, AND these people don't seem to understand the dominance of Spanish and minorities in the larger cities like Miami, L.A., Chicago, New York, Houston, and many other cities across the country.

martinez,
Modest you are not! You think you are so perfect. Your the perfect mommy, perfect wife and perfect citizen. You are a joke. You are the racist You get so angry at people that are non hispanic. We all have made sacrifices for our children. But all of us do not go around bragging about everything right and wonderful we do for them. GET OVER YOURSELF. I am not a racist I have a wonderful hardworking taxpaying handsome puerto rican husband. But You think Everyone that is non hispanic is a against the hispanic community. You are even mean to the children. (YOUR BRATTY NEIGHBOR) You are simply a witch with a capital "B".

Brandon Harris.
Some of the illegal immigrants are "doing things to us". This is OUR wonderful country.

You know, Corona, that years ago here in Indiana that you could not find places that play Salsa music on Friday and Saturday nights and now there are places that play Salsa music on Friday nights here in Evansville and Newburgh, IN. The Latin culture has done a lot of good. You can go into any city like Indianapolis or Louisville and find a Cuban or Peruvian restaurant and years ago this would not have been possible. You had to go to Chicago, Miami or New York to get good Cuban or Puerto Rican food.

I love Salsa music and Puerto Rican food.

I love what the Latin culture has done for this country and it has done a lot of good.

Si Se Puede!

Hey MR. Harris,
It's obvious that you know nothing about PATCHOGUE! This community has rich ties to all countries and are excepted. Let me ask you do you live next to a house that has 4-5 familys of hispanic, white, black. asain etc in one two bedroom house? I think not. No one on this blog has made light about what had happened HERE, and yes I am horrified about this killing. The BIG picture here is ILLEGAL IMMAGRATION! This man was here on a work visa that had expired six years ago, so yes he was here Illegaly! White, Black Asain or Hispanic are all welcome to this country, just like my family was years ago. The difference is....they had medical check-ups, learned the language and were proud to be here. Here in Patchogue it is no longer like that! People cram 4-5 families in one home, the outside of these homes are disgusting, cars parked all over the lawns, and no one speakes ENGLISH, and thats only a few things. We are sick of being the drop-off community for ILLEGAL IMMAGRANTS! Our school system is at the breaking point due to over crowding of children of ILLEGALS. ILLEGALS do not pay property taxes, so yes we are supporting those children with OUR TAXES. This community is fed up with it all. So MR. Harris unless you live in Patchogue, YOU have no idea what we are living through!

to Patchogue Parent. I agree with you! I live in patchogue! I have all of my life. Some of these people think that because you do not agree with people that live 4-5 families per home and for taking part in the crumbling of our school district this makes you a racist. This is so untrue. As I said earlier, my husband is puerto rican. And I can confidently say that he does not agree with this way of life. He deeply dislikes the way these people live. He does NOT however dislike all hispanics. He is hispanic himself. We both get so discouraged when we try to keep our home neat. We take great pride in our home. We did not like when our son came home 4 years ago in middle school and told us that children were not standing for the pledge. we taught our son to respect his flag. Just because you come to the US does not mean you have to forget your culture. But there is no reason to live like the way some of these individuals live. Yesterday, I stopped in a local laundromat. I counted the "Room for Rent" advertisements written in Spanish. 14 of them. I don't read spanish so I guess a non speaking spanish person need not inquire. I honestly felt like taking the phone numbers and sending them to the Brookhaven Town Hall. These are families that are renting a home and renting out bedrooms for extra money. That feel so comfortable about this that they can advertise it all over the place. I'm sick of it too! Why doesn't the town step in and enforce the zoning laws? This would fix some of the problems. I read in newsday that 50% of some of the elementary schools are spanish speaking students. where is the district going to keep getting the money to pay these teachers? The way the schools seperate these children into Spanish speaking classrooms and english speaking classrooms is to blame for the tensions the kids are having in school. these children should be "mainstreamed" just as the mentally challenged the italian speaking kids the french speaking kids the german speaking kids etc. The school I know follows New York State but I think by separated the kids this causes more problems. when I went to school I had spanish speaking children in my classroom i had italian speaking children in my classroom. They all grew up and did fine. We need to start calling the town on these homes that have more people than they should in one house. If the Brookhaven Town gets flooded with call after call may be they will do something.

LOVE FOR ALL: "mentally challenged"

Just because students do not know a language you infer that they should be treated like "mentally challenged" children....

Not knowing a 2nd language simply means that you don't know a 2nd language, but doesn't mean you cannot do math or science.
If you don't know greek or italian or french, that doesn't mean you are "mentally challenged" it simply means you don't know that language!

The point of ESL classes and Bi-Lingual classes are to link newcomers with the subjects they already know and English.

I came to this country and was thrown into an English only kindergarten class without prior knowledge of English.
I feel I was lucky I was able to grasp the language quickly, but you, an "adult" like yourself should be able to differentiate between children who are born with learning disabilities and a child who simply lacks a 2nd language. Just because they don't know English doesn't make them learning impaired!!!!

* * * * * * * * *

It is really sad that you insist that Patchogue ought to remain the same!
It *IS* changing and it will continue to change...
And again I am tired of your dumbasses crying that YOUR taxes are supporting immigrants!
IMMIGRANTS PAY TAXES TOO!!!!!!!!
Please get that through your THICK heads!!!!!

As for the housing, please don't don't be ridiculous dique 4-5 families in a one bedroom... if that is such a problem in little old Patchogue maybe it should get with the 21st century and build some apartment buildings to sustain the residents in your community
=)
Look at Brooklyn & Manhattan!
Queens is not bitching and moaning about the changes it is just acting upon them and there are many new housing projects in development.

To Patchogue Parent: I would like to comment on something here and what I say, you are not going to like it.

No, I do not live next door to a home that has four or five families living in it. However, what business is it of yours if someone lives next to you with four or five families in one home? They have to live somewhere. They are not bothering you, so why moan and groan about it.

In Jackson Heights, Queens, they have a lot of Hispanics there. They have a lot of Hispanics in Corona, Queens and they have a lot of Hispanics in Spencer County, Indiana and in Newburgh, Indiana and they do pretty well. I am sure there are some that have four or five families in one home. However, that does not bother me and that is none of my business.

What needs to be done is for you to quit whining and build new housing developments for these people.

If these people are working and trying to do right, then I say let them stay here.

LOVE FOR SELF: Flattery will get you NOWHERE honey! I don't recall stating I was PERFECT or MODEST you stupid MORON. And AGAIN, Damn right I am friggin ANGRY at people like yourself who seem to think I don't have a right to feel that way. And if I want to brag as LOUD as I want about my sacrifices I will, however way I damn well please. At least I acknowledge making them, unlike those filthy 7 killers in your community. And YES, my stuck up, ill-mannered "Irish-Italian" neighbors are not only RACIST assholes, but are also pathelogical fucking liars. They disgust me, just like you BEOTCH with a Capital B. As for their BRAT racist liar daughter, she's not worthy of my daughter's friendship--night and day those two...They attacked me and my family first with their racist comments, WHAT IS ONE TO DO, but just say "fuck u" losers and the horse you rode on...and that goes to you and your Puerto Rican traitor of a husband........

Let the illegal immigrants stay and give them amnesty. They are not bothering anyone and they have a right to have four or five families in one house. They are not bothering you and yes, they pay taxes just like everyone else.

Yea, Janette: That is right. I applaud you for what you just said. Screw all these racist bigots and the horse they came in on. That neighbor of yours what I would do is tell the little girl that if she keeps lying and making racist comments that Santa Claus is not going to bring her any Christmas presents.

Brandon, thanks, and that's a brilliant idea but I have an even better one to tell the racist brat "THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS SANTA IN THIS HOUSEHOLD, WE CELEBRATE LOS TRES REYES MAGOS"....haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

ILLEGAL IMMAGANTS DO NOT PAY TAXES!!!!
If they don't own property ( witch ILLEGAL IMMAGRANTS DO NOT ) they do NOT pay taxes!!!!
They only suck this community dry. MR. HARRIS I will keep whining and calling in ILLEGAL IMMAGRANTS so they get picked up and sent back to their countries. Four, five families living in one house is also my problem, when it's supposed to be a single family dwelling...
The target is not hispanics, it is ILLEGAL IMMAGRATION!!! So... why don't you move on!
YOU DON"T LIVE HERE SO>>>> YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT"S GOING ON HERE as far as ILLEGAL IMMAGRATION. I can say that myself and many many many other people ( hispanic, white, black asain, law abiding, tax paying Patchogue residents) WE ARE SICK OF IT!

brandon, yes actually these people are breaking housing laws. Towns and villages do have ordinances on the books, in suffolk county
More so if the landlord is renting the house and dangerous conditions exsist, which is what normally happens. The problem is it is so expensive to live on Long Island, that people do this because they are to poor to live the way they would want to live. The local gov't knows this, so illegal apartments are kind of ignored sort of speak becasue of the housing problem, unless it gets out of hand. There also have been some very sad deaths related to housing, very recently on long island.

Martinez, I am not taking offense, we are really just have a discussion. I just can't figure out why you are getting so mad. I dont' think you would want to live next door to what some would have to put up with. you sound like a nice american family that someone would want to live next door to. I really just meant, enjoy life with your daughter so that your neighbor does not think she is getting to you. Anyway, try to be open minded. I think you just have to accept the fact that some people will think undocumented are breaking the laws and some
will think they are not. There are some benefits to these influx of immigrants and also some hardships. It is the responsibility of the government to fix the problem.

There is an option to preview your post before you send it. Quite honestly, some of these posts are filled with anger and hatred, in addition to some extremely questionable language. If you really want people to listen and hear what you have to say, perhaps you might want to take that into consideration. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but the measure of a person is not only what they say but how they choose to say it.

Why is there so much hate in the world? Will it ever stop?

just 2 cents, You are so right. Some of this language is so horrible that it is really hard to figure out what someone's point really is. I think we may be better off reading current events from NY Times. Perhaps write letters/phone calls to our politician's. We did vote them in.

Mr Brandon Harris, I thank you for your excellent posts, your tolerant and understanding language, and most of all, for your superb spelling. I live in Patchogue and have read most of this
exchange for the past few weeks, but have been so disheartened and dismayed by the ignorance, the racism, the self-aggrandizing
superiority of the local correspondents that I have been too depressed to enter any opinion. It is a sad time in Patchogue, a sort of tacky town with much vinyl siding, and some really unfortunate architectural projects--but! it has beautiful cloud formations and sunsets as we are next to the water, and some vibrant and interesting multi-cultural markets and restaurants.
I volunteer reading at the local elementary school, to some delightfully bilingual children and was happy to live in what I thought was a healthy, diverse neighborhood. I was so shocked to learn that "beaner jumping" was a known diversion for attacking Latinos for no other reason than their race, or difference, a phenomenon so against the whole idea of the American Ideal that I have been stunned to read these comments, and find so many bigoted, hating, intransigent individuals I wonder that my pleasure in living in Patchogue was
completely mistaken. I would like to implement a small acre of
land adjacent to the railroad station and create a memorial park
to Marcelo Lucero--it would include a playground, a grass area for
gathering, perhaps a speaker's platform--a spot for remembering, healing and recognizing that we are all seeking the true message
of America's promise of freedom and equality.
Thanks again, Mr Harris, I do appreciate your message and I hope you have many more thanks than mine.

Mr Brandon Harris, I thank you for your excellent posts, your tolerant and understanding language, and most of all, for your superb spelling. I live in Patchogue and have read most of this
exchange for the past few weeks, but have been so disheartened and dismayed by the ignorance, the racism, the self-aggrandizing
superiority of the local correspondents that I have been too depressed to enter any opinion. It is a sad time in Patchogue, a sort of tacky town with much vinyl siding, and some really unfortunate architectural projects--but! it has beautiful cloud formations and sunsets as we are next to the water, and some vibrant and interesting multi-cultural markets and restaurants.
I volunteer reading at the local elementary school, to some delightfully bilingual children and was happy to live in what I thought was a healthy, diverse neighborhood. I was so shocked to learn that "beaner jumping" was a known diversion for attacking Latinos for no other reason than their race, or difference, a phenomenon so against the whole idea of the American Ideal that I have been stunned to read these comments, and find so many bigoted, hating, intransigent individuals I wonder that my pleasure in living in Patchogue was
completely mistaken. I would like to implement a small acre of
land adjacent to the railroad station and create a memorial park
to Marcelo Lucero--it would include a playground, a grass area for
gathering, perhaps a speaker's platform--a spot for remembering, healing and recognizing that we are all seeking the true message
of America's promise of freedom and equality.
Thanks again, Mr Harris, I do appreciate your message and I hope you have many more thanks than mine.

Let me point something out to you, Patchogue Parent and Love 4 All: No, I do not live in Patchogue. However, Patchogue is not the only town in America with illegal immigrants. You all act like it is. It is a national issue. We have them here in Indiana. However, they are not bothering me. They work and try to do things to help their families.

Like I said earlier, none of you know what it is like. I do not know what it is like. None of us know what it is like to have to live in a Third World country and try to go somewhere else where you can make it. I have been to a Third World country and I can tell you that I would not want to live there.

How would you like to live in a country where you have to go to a landfill to find your meal? That is what these people you call illegal immigrants have done in their home countries and they are tired of it. They want a better life just like anyone else.

As I also said, none of these people are coming to this country to bother you. Do you honestly think that they want to leave their country and their entire family behind to come to the U.S. because they have to better themselves? No, they don't. But the circumstances do not give them any other choice.

If the shoe was on the other foot, you all would probably understand.

Thank you, Betsy Smith for enjoying my posts. You know, I have been to New York on numerous occasions. I love it. I love the cultural diversity and multiculturalism that they have there.

Unfortunately, Evansville, Indiana is not a mecca of cultural diversity. However, it is doing better and it is a nice city. I have lived here all my entire life. We have a Thai restaurant and an Indian restaurant and in nearby Louisville, KY there is an Ethiopian restaurant and a Cuban restaurant as well as other ethnic restaurants.

I love diversity. I love ethnic culture and ethnic food and Salsa music and Merengue and Bachata and Cumbia music. I also like the music from Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana and South African singer, Miriam Makeba.

Learning about diversity and other cultures open people's minds and it allows them to appreciate other cultures and people.

I wonder if some of these people on here have ever been to Jackson Heights, Queens or on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn or on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens or to Brighton Beach or to places in the Bronx? All these places have culture from many different countries. You have Arabs on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, Hispanics (primarily Colombians) in Jackson Heights, Russians in Brighton Beach and Puerto Ricans in the Bronx. You also have a lot of Dominicans in New York as well as Trinidadians, Guyanese, Nigerians, Jamaicans, Haitians, Indians, Pakistanis, Palestinians, Syrians and other people from many different places with their own music, food and culture. People should learn more about it and appreciate it.

It is fun learning about other cultures and people. I love it.

To Love 4 All: I think it is wonderful that you taught your son to respect the flag of this country. However, just because some of these immigrants in school do not stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance does not mean that they are anti-American. They probably do not understand because it is not in Spanish. Maybe they should also sing a Spanish version of the Pledge of Allegiance and then they will get up and salute the flag. Maybe they do not want to and so what if they don't. That is their right to choose.

These children have more things to worry about than standing up and pledging the allegiance to the American flag every morning in school. Why does it bother YOU that they don't?

I am tired of everyone expecting these children to give their culture up.

Also, about the way these people live while they are here. Sometimes you have no choice but to have another family live with you because New York has such a high cost of living and high rent what do you expect them to do?

Why don't you try day laboring for a month and see if you can pay your mortgage payment or rent on what they make in a month. Maybe then you will understand why they have four or five families to a house.

Let me point something out to you, Patchogue Parent: You said that I do not know what it is like in Patchogue. You act like that this is a problem on Long Island or in Patchogue. You know what, there are illegal immigrants everywhere. However, as I said earlier, they are not bothering me and never have done anything to me.

I want to point something else out to you, Patchogue Parent, I used to work in a food processing plant that made military rations. They hired a bunch of immigrants from Mexico and Central and South America. Let me tell you something, they are very workified. They are good workers and I would tell you that most employers would much rather have these people working for them than some Americans. They showed up for work everyday and worked all the overtime that they could and worked seven days a week straight for several weeks and never complained about it. Yes, some of them were here illegally, but, they never bothered anyone and they worked very hard and came to work everyday because they had families back home to support.

That is why they come to this country and work and send money home to support their families in Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Haiti, El Salvador, Brasil, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Nigeria, Venezuela, Nicaragua and other places. They have to support their families and that is why they come to this country to find better jobs for themselves and like I said, these are jobs that most people will not do or do not want to do.

What if the shoe were on the other foot, Patchogue Parent and you lived in Barrancabermeja, Colombia and you lived in a slum next to a landfill and you had to go to that landfill everyday to look for food for you and your family? Would you try to go to some other country, (even if you had to do it illegally) to get a better job to help your family? Sure you would.

Sometimes, things do not work out the way you want them to and sometimes you have to do things that you never dreamed of doing in a million years not because you want to, but because you have to because there is nothing else out there that you can do.

These people who are here as immigrants whether they are here legally or not are not criminals. They did not want to come here to commit crimes and they did not come here to commit crimes. They are not criminals and they are not terrorists. They come here to work to support themselves and their families.

And about Barrancabermeja, I do not want anyone to think that all of Colombia is poor and underdeveloped. Most of Colombia is a developing economy. It is still a Third World country that has been ravaged by a civil war that has gone on for more than 50-years. Not all of Colombia is underdeveloped and not all of Barrancabermeja is underdeveloped. Barrancabermeja is a city on the Magdalena River in Colombia that has over 300,000 people. It is an oil refinery city. But a lot of cities in Colombia and in other parts of the world have slums that are usually situated next to rubbish dumps or landfills and people go there to find food or things to wear or to sell. It is very sad that people have to live this way.

To Corona Queens, excellent point about capitalism and imperialism in Latin America during the 1960's and 1970's.

Imperialist wars and interferrence in Latin America and elsewhere has driven immigrants from other countries to the U.S.

Let me use Nicaragua and Honduras as a perfect example. During the 1950's, '60's and even '70's, the U.S. supported dictatorships in Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Bolivia and elsewhere. The U.S. funded proxy imperialist wars during the 1980's in El Salvador and Nicaragua and this spilled over into Honduras. They funded these wars because they did not want the Sandinistas to stay in power. The Nicaraguan people overwhelmingly supported the Sandinistas and the U.S. had no business whatsoever funding proxy wars for imperial conquest in Central America.

The people from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador came to the U.S. to get away from all the wars, disappearances and death squads that were all being funded by none other than President Ronald Reagan himself.

Did you know that President Reagan murdered the daughter of Libyan President Mu`ammar al-Qadhafi in 1986 by launching air strikes against that country for no reason? Yes, he did. He had air strikes launched against Libya and they bombed President Qadhafi's home and killed his 2-year old daughter.

Libya was not a threat to the United States and neither was Nicaragua or the Sandinistas. There was no reason for the U.S. to interfere in the internal affairs of Nicaragua or Libya. The people from these countries had no choice but to come to the U.S. illegally to get away from all the wars, kidnappings, displacements, forced disappearances and death squads that were being funded by the U.S. through illegal drug operations by the CIA (Center for Imperialist Aggression).

I like President Mu`ammar al-Qadhafi and President Daniel Ortega Saavedra of Nicaragua because they believe in humanity and freedom and supported movements to free other people from oppression and imperialism.

I am a Sandinista also. :)

The Sandinistas were revolutionaries who liberated Nicaragua in 1979 from a U.S. backed dictatorship.

The Sandinistas freed Nicaragua and gave the people freedoms and supported other national liberation movements in other countries to help the people free themselves from U.S. imperialism, aggression, oppression and poverty.

The U.S., under the administration of President Ronald Reagan could not stand to have a revolutionary government south of the U.S. so he funded a counter-revolutionary movement called the Contras during the 1980's. Reagan's funding of the Contras was illegal. The Sandinista government in Nicaragua was not a threat to the U.S. They wanted to be free from U.S. imperialism and capitalism. They did not want U.S. influence over their country.

The Contras were helping smuggle illegal drugs into this country in order to get guns and money to fight against the Sandinistas. The Contras carried out genocide against the Miskito Indians in Nicaragua in 1987. The Contras supported right-wing death squads in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador that kidnapped people, disappeared people and murdered people. There were five American Nuns kidnapped, raped and murdered by a U.S. backed death squad in El Salvador in 1979.

That is what people do not understand. If a person had to live in a country like that at the time, they would do anything to come to the United States. It was U.S. backed proxy wars for imperial conquest of the region that drove people to come here illegally because they did not want their families or themselves to be murdered.

The Sandinistas wanted peace in the region and there would have been peace in the region had the U.S. not gotten involved and tried to overthrow the Sandinista government.

The Sandinista government of Nicaragua eliminated illiteracy and gave every Nicaraguan free medical care. Neighboring Cuba provided doctors, nurses and agricultural experts to help the Nicaraguan people.

Somoza did nothing for the people of Nicaragua. When the earthquake hit Managua in 1973, all the aid we sent to the Nicaraguan people was not given to them. It was given to Somoza's people, his secret police, military and national guard. It was not given to the people who needed it most.

Daniel Ortega helped the people of Nicaragua when the Sandinistas came to power. When the Sandinistas were fighting the government, they encouraged the Nicaraguan people to join them to help liberate their nation from a U.S. backed dictator. The Nicaraguan people liberated their nation from U.S. imperialism and a brutal dictatorship.

The Sandinistas believe in true democracy and freedom. The U.S. wants every country to do what it wants or else. It should not be that way. No country has to answer to the U.S., nor does any country in the world owe the U.S. anything. The U.S. needs to stop meddling in the internal affairs of other nations and leave other nations alone.

I am a Sandinista and I love Che Guevara. Che Guevara is my hero. He is heroic and he fought bravely for what he believed in.

Viva Sandinistas!

Viva Che Guevara!

Venceremos!

I know this is also off topic but let me point something out about President Mu`ammar al-Qadhafi of Libya.

President Qadhafi is not a terrorist and was never in the business of supporting terrorists. There was no reason for the U.S. to bomb that country. Libya did nothing to the United States. Libya did not support terrorists.

I love President Qadhafi because he is a friend of the people of the U.S. He is also a friend of the people of Latin America, Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Middle East. He believes in Pan Africanism and Pan Arabism. He believes in the freedom struggle and helped the freedom fighters under President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and helped Guinea and Guinea-Bissau achieve freedom and independence. He helped the Palestinian struggle and supported the Palestinian struggle for their freedom and liberation. The Palestinians have a right to their own homeland and a right to return to their ancesteral homelands. They have a right to free themselves from imperialism and occupation.

Fighting against imperialism and occupation is not terrorism. The revolutionary Sandinista government also helped the Palestinians fight for their freedom and so did Cuba. These countries believe in freedom. Cuba liberated itself in 1959 and has kept itself free and helped the Sandinistas liberate Nicaragua in 1979 and helped Algeria liberate and free themselves in 1963. Algeria, Cuba, Libya and Nicaragua in turn helped the Palestinians to try to free themselves from oppression, imperialism, capitalism and occupation and they have a right to be free.

It is U.S. imperialism and proxy wars that are causing illegal immigrants to also come here. What are these people to do, live in war and have their homes destroyed?

The U.S. wants every country to do what they want. The U.S. does not believe in true democracy. The U.S. has interferred in Cuba, Libya, Iran, Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. The U.S. cannot respect the governments of these nations and understand that the governments of these nations are ones that the people overwhelmingly support.

Resistance to U.S. imperialism is not terrorism!

Long live the struggle against U.S. imperialism!

Brandon it is so nice to see a well-rounded and well-educated person with understanding of world hsitory.

Love to all: I am an education major it is realy really really REALLY upsetting that someone use a term such as "mentally challenged" so loosely without knowing what that really means!

Patchogue Parent: open up your eyes honey! Please! Illegal Immigrants do pay taxes!!!!!!!!!
TAX ID #'s!!!!!!!!
They DO contribute to society and economy! And yes they do own homes!
=)

Deb, As much as I value your honest advice toward me, I don't understand why you still DO NOT understand the reason behind my madness, my anger? I do consider my family to be pretty fair, tolerant and decent to every person we meet, but as a parent, when someone tries to belittle one's own young, that's where one says "enough is enough".....My daughter is 12 years old. As if it isn't bad enough to have to deal with pre-teen issues, fitting in with the other girls, excelling in school, etc., do you think she needs the extra pressure of being subjected to reject because of her parents' ethnicity? I think not! This is why I took this incident to heart and so personal. I do consider myself to be pretty open-minded individual. However, my patience has been completely exhausted living with people next door who have attempting to do nothing but bring me and my family down for no reason other than our national origin. And although, I have nothing to prove to them and have moved on, it continues to be a problem for my daughter who has to unfortunately attend the same school with our neighbor's daughter (also 12), who is making her life impossible by telling the other kids on the bus not to sit next to her, telling the kids at school not to sit with her at lunch time or talk to her, or play with her at recess, and telling my daughter her father does not want her to associate with my daughter. Is this behavior fair, normal to tolerate? I DONT THINK SO. My anger would not be what it is today, had this girl had the common sense to do what we told our daughter to do "ignore and walk away", but that's not the case here. We are at the point where I MUST take this a step up and take it to the Principal's attention--this behavior is despicable and so unnecessary at such a crucial age in one's life where they begin to have so many uncertainties about people, life, their appearances, etc. The girls are down right mean and vicious, and so if it takes for me to become this "vicious" parent that exists in all parents when they mess with their young, SO BE IT. My question, what is my neighbor's child going to grow up to be like in a few years, what else can she possibly plan to make my daughter's life a living nightmare? So I do so hope you understand now why the full blown anger. That's my child, and it hurts to no end. The hate must stop..

TO QUEENS HAVE ANOTHER CORONA I WASN'T SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH THAT MAKES YOU MENTALLY CHALLENGED. SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE STARTING TO MAINSTREAM CHILDREN THAT ARE MENTALLY CHALLENED INTO SOME REGULAR CLASSROOMS. AND IF YOU MADE IT THRU GRADE SCHOOLS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL WHY CAN'T OTHERS? YES SOME IMMIGRANTS PAY TAXES. BUT A LOT OF THE ILLEGAL ONES DO NOT.
MARTINEZ: . NO NEED FOR YOUR ANGRY CURSE WORDS. I LIKE PAT PARENT WILL KEEP WHINING CALL BROOKHAVEN TOWN UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THE ILLEGALS IN MY COMMUNITY YES I SAID MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE I LIVE HERE. MARTINEZ CAN LIVE IN A WORLD OF HATE. MUST SAY ENJOYED GETTING YOU PISSED OFF! YOU ALL ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINIONS AS ARE THE REST OF US. YOU JUST DON'T LIKE WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE WITH YOU.

CORONA QUEENS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY GRAMMATICAL & SPELLING ERRORS!
BUSY WORKING. HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY.

Hey guys.. Hate and anger is what has caused these problems. Racism gets along well in an environment of hate and anger. We ALL have a right to our opinions AND all have had some horrid experiences. I look as white as the next white person, but my family is red and white. I have watched movies about my savage family members.. killing innocent people because they are heathens, savages, no respect for family etc. Well that is about as true as all Latino's are illegals, all Black's are lazy, All Irish are drunks, all Italians are in the Mob ... do I need to go on here with the rest of the stupid jerk stereotypes that are out there? I think not.

My point is still the same.. This man was murdered..these kids got drunk in a public park (where were the police) and DROVE drunk to look for 'mexican's to beat up'. This is wrong, this is hatred, this is illegal, this is a real problem.

Yes, Queens and Brooklyn have cities within cities of same cultured individuals. Some are Italian, Irish, Latino, Oriental, German, etc. These communities work together with each other better than those in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Back in the 50's & 60's people left Queens and Brooklyn to raise their families in the burbs... but the concept of the happy neighborhood working together fell apart about 20 some odd years back. The attitude is now... my property, my zone, get the hell out, don't touch, disrupt etc. Well I am raising my two kids to understand we are all different in personalities and ALL are part of one race, the HUMAN Race. Where your parents came from, speak, religious beliefs does play a part in your personal make-up....BUT there still is just ONE RACE on this planet, not multiple.

Yes, illegal / undocumented individuals are causing a stress on budgets in all aspects. To become a student in the schools you need your adult (parent/uncle/aunt/grandparent/sibling in charge) come in resister you with two forms of ID showing you live here within the borders. No one has ever asked if the person is legally a resident or not. This issue is equal to the military issue, don't ask, don't tell. This don't tell is causing a stress on the school budgets (along with the other costs that are out of line). That (the school budget issues) is another issue in it self. I do know our budget was not passed because many parents said they are tired of paying for some many illegals in the school district...again hatred being brewed and not discussed.

I do feel the immigration laws should be revised. Have a sponsor family, be registered and learn to be part of the whole not an outsider. I noted the amount of money mentioned above that anyone must have to come here...I have not researched that to see the validity of it, but doubt its false information. For those individuals that are here illegally now, I do not feel blanket amnesty / immunity is right, but I do believe the right to be given A FAIR option is right. Be given the chance to register, have a sponsor family, and pay a tax fine for the time you were here illegally and be put onto the tax roles AND GET THE SAME RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES I AM ABLE TO GET FOR MY FAMILY AS A LEGAL RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY.

In other words, give a fair option for people to come forward with out fear of being deported. If they cannot pay the 'fine/penalties' in full, then let them pay it off on a monthly/weekly basis, without interest, from their checks they are earning - Making payments is part of the American way correct? I am a citizen, natural born and had to pay back the IRS for a tax error - I paid it off monthly and I didn't die. The plan must have an incentive to come forward. Those people that choose not to get into the program would have to deal with the laws and be deported.

Then more companies can then hire these people legally, more people in the work force, more taxes being collected and less impact on our budgets... I have said this too many times, one law, one nation.

You do realize this would be a win win for all people involved. The
illegal problem would be resolved. Well, except for those who just want to hate someone because their lives are so flipping rotten, they won't be happy at all. They will HAVE to find someone else to blame for their problems. Personally, I believe a mirror would help for them.

Again my prayers are with the family and friends of Lucero. Maybe his horrid death can bring to light a point that has been hidden behind closed doors of this pretty village community for way too long. The same issue is in many other towns and villages throughout our Country. We must focus on fixing the problem .. not screaming at each.

These kids did wrong, they committed a crime against another human being, because his skin was another color. That is racist, but many adults here are being as bias and racist as the actions of these kids.

Fix the problem and resolve your issues... One Law, One Nation and sorry but one race.. the HUMAN RACE.

This incident doesn't surprise me at all (the murder does, but not the mishandling of prior complaints). SCPD is notoriously lazy when documenting field reports and police officers rarely capture a complainant's statements accurately or note the significant details of a case. They probably just dismissed the complaints as teenage mischief or a nuisance at the time, but someone ended up dead shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, a little punk pointed a gun at someone and pulled the trigger. There should have been a shakedown of anyone matching the descriptions instantaneously. And for this fine work we pay our police officers more than anywhere else. Unbelievable!!

And can someone please note that ALL of those "suspects" involved in the hate crime/murder were from MEDFORD, not Patchogue. Yes we share a school district, but why is our town being singled out and not the home of our white-trash neighbors to the north?!

LOVE, enjoy working while I go have a cup of coffee or two....

martinez,
i will have my coffee when i am sitting around the pool in sunny puerto rico for the next 5 days!!! Happy Turkey Day =)!

To Ms. Betsy Smith, Wow! Such heart-warming, caring and compassionate words. Your comments have been by far the most touching and sincerest posted on this blog. We should all reflect on your words of wisdom and encourage each and everyone of us to strive to be better people to everyone we meet and unite as ONE. May God continue to bless you with such a generous heart.

Brandon and Corona: I love you guys! Your knowledge is fascinating and served me to extremely educational. Thank you both also.

Love, don't forget your 1000 SPF lotion....bammmmmm!

GOT THE 2000 SPF. VERY FAIR SKINNED AND PROUD OF IT!!
BLONDE TOO!!!!!!! ROCK ON WITH YOUR BAD ATTITUDE!!! =).

Love,
Oompa Loompa doompadee doo
I've got another puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doompadah dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me

What do you get from a glut of TV?
A pain in the neck and an IQ of three
Why don't you try simply reading a book?
Or could you just not bear to look?

Oompa Loompa Doompadee Dah
If you're not greedy you will go far
You will live in happiness too
Like the Oompa
Oompa Loompa doompadee do

martinez,
impressive, as usual haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! I hope your getting your rocks off. who will you oompa while i'm away?

martinez,
who will you drop a house on "My Pretty" (NOT)!! You have entirely to much time on your hands. HAA!

Love 4 All...
First I prefer a Heineken,
Second- I can say a am sensitive to labels and categorizing children. It would just be nice if you could understand that children have different Learning Styles. Perhaps you are a more visual, or linguistic, or an abstract person. People learn differently from an early age. However if you learned science in "X" country when you emigrate here, you are going to need a chance to understand science through English. Many ESL children need these classes to assimilate, but yes it is unfortunate that some children do not move onto mainstream classes.

Well that's regarding children- as for adults from experience I know that learning Italian at the age of 11 was Extremely Easy for me. However, when I tried to continue with it in College and when I wanted to take a Japanese course as well, it was more harder because Of the Language Acquisition Theory... which just states that your early teens are your prime years to acquire a language... as you grow older it is much more difficult, especially for imigrants who sometimes do not have the time to take English courses.

If at any point I got offended it was because like I said I am very sensitive to the needs/capabilities/abilities of children as well as immigrants.

do I sense a hint of jealousy? i distinctly remember you saying earlier "BUSY WORKING"....guess not!

Corona, .
it was never my intention to disrespect any child of any ethnic background. I have a son who is half hispanic. I do not think that esl classes should be banished. But as a parent of a school age child I feel that something has to be done to possibly reduce the amount of just spanish classrooms. I have seen in my district that all kids are suffering and doing without because of the increase in these classes. No child should be denied an education. But their has to be a better way that is fair to all. I do apologize to YOU if I have offended you. All of us are entitled to our feelings and opinions. Only in this country are we able to express ourselves so freely. However, it can be done in a courteous manner. There is no reason for certain individuals to be so mean, angry and use curse words towards others because they have a different point of view. Everyone who comes to this country deserves a fair chance. But there are people who enter this land to take advantage. Not just latinos from all cultures. These individuals (from everywhere in the world) are not proud Americans. Would this country stand for what it stands for today if we were not taught to be proud of what we stand for and for what we believe to be fair and right?

martinez,
LOL. yep at work getting paid to sit and laugh at your oompa loompa blogs.

All Americans besides a small handful of racist creeps agree that a crime like this is an atrocity.

It is also shameful that special interest groups and media like those who write the editorials in the New York Times have chosen to exploit this horrible incident for political purposes.

Someone on here pointed something out about stereotypes and that was a great post.

I have argued with people about Muslims. Not all Muslims are terrorists. Not all Muslims support terrorism and not all the Muslims were in the streets celebrating when the World Trade Center fell to the ground on 9/11. Most Muslims are good people who are well educated.

The same with any other group. I have Italian friends and I joke with them about the Mob and stuff. But, you know what, they are good honest people who work for a living and they do not have any use for the Mob. They do not have any use for people who cannot do an honest days work and make and honest days pay.

I went to Colombia in 1997. Not all Colombians are drug dealers, guerrillas, paramilitaries or criminals. They are good honest people just like everyone else in the world who want to work hard and make a better life. I have friends in Colombia who do not have any use for the drug dealers, guerrillas or other criminal elements that are causing trouble for their country. They love their country dearly and they want to have peace, to be able to travel anywhere they want to without being stopped by the military, guerrillas or paramilitaries.

The point I am trying to make here is that when you stereotype people then other people feel that they are all that way. Not all Black people are lazy, not all Hispanics are bad people. People want to stereotype other people because it is convenient for them. They do not want to go out of their way to get to know them. They want to judge and stereotype other people and because of this, this is why you have racism.

And let me say something about the child who expresses racist feelings. Where does the child get it from? The parents of course.

It is wrong for anyone to have racist feelings. There is no reason or any excuse for anyone to be racist.

Another thing I have a problem with.

The media never suggest that the inflammatory rhetoric of groups like La Raza stirs up ethnic hatred and may lead to hate crimes such as the recent incidents of Latino ganbangers gunning down innocent black people in Los Angeles in order to scare black people out of the neighborhoods that they want to be "racially pure" ethnic enclaves where no one other than Latino aliens are welcome.

(all Americans, even Latino Americans, are treated with hostility in those neighborhoods)

The difference of course is that the only transgression of people like Steve Levy is that they stand up for policies that are in the best interests of Americans of all ethnicities, while representatives of groups like La Raza preach hate because that is what gives meaning to their lives.

Brandon Harr