Murder

Murder vs. Homicide
Though one would think murder and homicide would be one in the same there is actually a difference between the two. For one, a murder involves intent. Meaning, a person was intended for death by another person. A homicide is determined by the death of a human, including deaths caused accidentally.

News Article

I've used this article previously in this blog for the topic of hate crimes, and I think it applies to the topic of murder as well. The article was about 47 year old James Craig Anderson who was murdered in Mississippi by a man named Deryl Dedmon and possibly others by beating Anderson and then running him over in the early hours of the morning with a truck. Dedmon was driving the truck.

James Anderson died on June 26, 2011. Deryl Dedmon was given life in prison. James Anderson was portrayed as a helpless victim, which I'm certain he was. Deryl Dedmon and the others involved were deemed as monsters.

The media, of course, was in a frenzy. The realty of murder and hate crimes occurring as a result of racism in the millennium is just absurd. Yet, it clearly can and does occur.

Here is a link to this particular article:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/03/justice/mississippi-hate-crime

Media

 

1

I've chosen this particular video since it is not only relative to the state of Florida, but also because the discussion in the video emphasizes the "reasoning" leading up to the murder of Treyvon Martin by George Zimmerman which was profiling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkANrwUT7Qw

2

 This is a link to a youtbue video about the case against Jodi Arias. She was suspected of murdering her boyfriend. It relates to the discussion of murder because I think her case highlights on the fact that anyone could be responsible of murder no matter how seemingly innocent or harmless.

Mob Violence

What is mob violence? 

Mob violence is when a people in numbers of several or more assemble and act out violently. Riots are an example of mob violence.

 
Why does this type of group violence exist?

I feel that this type of violence exists because being angry, upset, or moved by a certain common issue in life results in little change or action in society when brooded over alone. However, when people come together with similar mindsets it is more likely that they cause they are fighting for (good or bad) will not only be heard by others in society but will also result in the change they are seeking. Obviously, things can turn violent for a number of reasons. For instance, the group fuels its anger and it can erupt in a violent clash in an instant. It’s also possible that actions from law enforcement to control the crowd could be deemed threatening by a member of the group and result in a violent outburst.

NEWS
In the state of Mississppi, a riot broke out on the University of Mississppi’s campus. It involved 300-400 students who were upset and angry over the reelection of president Barack Obama. According to the article, photos were posted on twitter of rioters burning Obama campaign signs. Students were shouting slurs against Obama and African Americans as well. It doesn’t appear that anyone was arrested because it was difficult for police to discern actual protestors from those who were spectators to the riot.

It’s important to note that the article also mentioned that plans of riots by black youths were heard of if Obama did not go on to win the election.

In this particular instance, it would appear that African American’s and the president even were victims of the riot, though indirectly harmed.

Media

1. This is a link to a clip of the riot that occurred in Mississppi post 2012 reelections as I mentioned above.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/university-mississippi-students-riot-obama-election_n_2088176.html

2. This video above is from the riots that occurred in London in the summer of 2011. I was actually in England on holiday when this happened. Luckily, I wasn’t anywhere near the riots however I heard some awful stories about youth who were looting and hurting each other in an attempt to make police feel inadequate. (There is profanity in this video)