Do Insults Lead to Violence? It did on Long Island

The New York Times

Racial Slurs Preceded L.I. Attack, Victim’s Friend Testifies
By MANNY FERNANDEZ
Published: March 24, 2010

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Walking in Patchogue with a friend shortly before midnight on a Saturday in November 2008, Angel Loja saw some young people approaching them. “I noticed that this group that was coming, they didn’t have good intentions,” Mr. Loja said Wednesday in a Long Island courtroom. “They looked furious.”

Mr. Loja had met up with his friend, Marcelo Lucero, about 2 p.m. earlier that day, Nov. 8. They had been childhood friends in Ecuador, and they separately came to America and ended up settling in the same small village of Patchogue, living about eight blocks from each other. Mr. Loja, now 37, worked in construction; Mr. Lucero, 37 at the time, worked in a dry-cleaning store.

They were on their way to a friend’s house when they saw the seven young men approach. Mr. Loja said he took two steps back, and then the insults started. Mr. Loja said the group called him and Mr. Lucero “Mexicans” and “illegals” and used racial and ethnic slurs against blacks and Hispanics...link to complete article