So the Fox News Christmas tree got torched. Is it "Hate Crime"?

Question

Is this guy guilty of a hate crime? Why the hell torch a Christmas Tree?

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

Wasn’t it some rando homeless pyro with a history of this stuff? I thought it was LOL funny the way FoxNews was covering it, it was like a couple steps below 9/11. “This was an attack on America, but we will persevere, and build back stronger.”😂 Like just put up another fucking Christmas tree, NYC is filled with crazy assholes, I’m honestly surprised nothing like this has happened before, lmao.

Level 99 dramatic….🤦‍♂️😂

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3pU01sdv-E8

Caveat: Brian Tyler Cohen, the host of this video, is a liberal. He is not agenda-free, I’ll tell you that straight up. But holy shit, neither is FoxNews, so it’s a wash. What I love this Cohen guy for, is he does an excellent job of identifying and articulating a lot of the stuff that has to be read between the lines. Basically, “hey conservatives, I know you SAY this is why you do this, that, and the third…but no one is dumb, and here’s what we all see you’re REALLY doing, verbally and psychologically. We’re reading your ‘between-the-lines’ statements out loud in bold print.” His takes are certainly up for debate like anyone else’s, but for my money, I like the guy’s style. I don’t care about politics so much as I just hate nonsense. Honestly, I don’t even consider myself a liberal, but there are just some conservative “values” and positions that I really don’t respect that are just cloaked ignorance masquerading as the old-fashioned manner of decency, which oftentimes are just shitty attitudes that we should be trying to evolve past. So I enjoy seeing them called out and dressed down, admittedly, haha.

So…is it a hate crime? Who knows. If this dude did for an ideological reason, then yes. If he’s just some rando homeless guy….. crazies gon’ crazy, I don’t really know what to tell you there. Shit, I’ve known homeless people who intentionally try to go to jail this time of year because it beats wintertime homelessness, this could’ve been a case of that, for all we know.

LesterJester · Accepted Answer

Technically I guess it could be a hate crime. The only reason I can see this being one is that there have been people who have vandalised Synagogues by spraying swastikas and other hate related graffiti on them, which is a hate crime.

While a Synagogue and a Christmas Tree are inanimate objects, they also have religious symbolism, where Christmas is a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus... Pagen Origins, Santa and Capitalism notwithstanding. Destroying or vandalising a Christmas tree could be considered a hate crime, but in limited situations, such as if it's a tree that is someone else's property.

On the flip side, Christmas trees are routinely discarded and treated like trash after they're taken down and therefore could just be decoration for many, with little religious connection to the owner of said tree. In such a case, it would merely be vandalism rather than a hate crime.

In a court of law, the accused's "Intent" needs to be factored in. Did they do it because of hatred toward Christianity? Did they do it because they just don't like Fox News or have an issue with someone who works there? Did they do it because they think Fox News is Right Wing Propaganda and they identify as left leaning? Or did they do it just for the attention and a laugh?

Motive and Intent have to be considered. You can't just claim something is a hate crime simply because you want it to be.

jess05 · Accepted Answer

CNN, fox News... etc. If it's based on political beliefs, on either side. It's a hate crime. People Being offended by someone's beliefs, and acting out in a way that creates fear, is the definition of domestic terrorism...
Same as racism. You can believe something is or isn't racist. However, judging anyone based on the pigment of there skin, is racist. Same as judging someone for there beliefs. People who harm others based on beliefs, hold the same beliefs as the worst leaders in our worlds history!
To even consider this to be OK. Is disgusting

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

This is a perfect example of the irrational behavior of the lefty libtards. They are morons my first time voting will be 2024! And they won't beable to steal elections and we won't be thinking to ourselves that , if a deserving Republican wins, then the left will burn down and loot because the police is un-empowered.
Game over!

Miristheiss · Answer

Crimes should be punished based on their physical results.

Burning someone else's property... in public is vandalism, arson... possibly a felony based on the value of what was destroyed.

You are dealing with lunacy when you start trying to read the minds of someone and charge them based on their thoughts.

"Hate" crime in and of itself is foolish.
Murder is against the law. Assault is against the law. That is sufficient. Trying to get into the head of an offender and to guess that they "hated" the object of their attack and to charge them differently is just lunacy.

This guy should be charged with the normal penalty's for vandalism, arson, or any other charges damaging property and lighting fires in public places and disturbing the peace and or dangers their acts may have caused. That is all.

OfDeath · Answer

Depends on the circumstances. I can empathize with someone being so over Christmas after a life of having to endure it EVERY YEAR, that they're driven insane and then go and torch a Christmas tree.

But if he is doing it because he hates Christians or thinks it goes against his own bullshit religion which he believes is the only truth or some crap like that, it's a hate crime.

But going back to my original point. I think Christmas should be like the Olympics. Once every 4 years and every country goes in a draw to decide where it will be. Then the people who really want Christmas, can go to that place.

Goforit1010 · Answer

"Hate crime"? What the Hell is that? All crimes are "hate crimes".

So NYC decided to let this asshole loose so he can repeat his crime spree. I hope there aren't any Christmas Parades going on there anytime soon. Oh wait!!! a!

normalice · Answer

He's not white enough for it to not be a hate crime. Just make sure he isn't a trump supporter before accusing him of a hate crime. If he is a trump supporter then obviously this was a mentally disturbed lone wolf. If itnisnt then this guy is a mirror representation of the entire democratic party and we should talk about it every day for the next 10 months 😅

BeenThereLovedIt · Answer

Fox news and the right wing in general have the worst case of martyr syndrome (being the victim) that I've ever seen. It's like an entire portion of the population has borderline personality disorder with a healthy dose of paranoia.

It was a random homeless person with mental health issues, nothing more.

My god these people are amazing at being victims.

jshm2 · Answer

Nope. Little to do with faux news and trust those bastards trying to spin a story out of little and make it all about them.

The building also houses the offices of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. The suspect is also not known to have any affiliations at this point.

Could just be a moment of Christmas madness from him. Won't know until the trial.

FakeName123 · Answer

Depends on the context. But considering he attacked Fox News - there is a good chance this is politically motivated towards conservatives and/or christians. Thus by todays standards it should be considered a hatecrime.

Though, chances are it will not. Can't behateful towards conservatives and christians apparently.

loveslongnails · Answer

In order to be a hate crime, you first have to prove that it is "motivated by bias on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity"... in most states. If the prosecutor can do that, good luck. It's more likely the guy's a nut job, or he just hates Fox News, which doesn't fit into any of those categories! LOL

Anonymous · Answer

No, a Christmas tree is not a religious symbol, nor is it related to a religion, race, or culture, at all. Except maybe ancient pagans. It's more a consumer-capitalist symbol, making it a political symbol more than anything else.

Still, that is 100% arson and should carry either jail time or a hefty fine.

darkcloud1945 · Answer

No matter if it was a hate crime or not he will no spend any time in jail because we in NYC have a no bail policy. The IDIOTS that run NYC do not care about the people who live and work and pay taxes. They pander to people who they think will vote for THE DEMOCRATIC COMMUNIST PARTY OF AMERICA to help keep them in office and will lead to the down fall of this country that is the objective. OH by the way the perp is already out on no bail for another crime.

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

It's not a hate crime but you can still be charged. If you own that Christmas tree then burn it, it's not a problem but it creates a sort of pollution like burning plastic which is against the law depending on where you live. Burning someone else's Christmas tree means you're destroying someone else's property which is also obviously against the law.

Snakeyes7 · Answer

No, hate crime implies that he has a motivation that is against minorities (which isn't how it should work but that's how it is) or some other protected class. As far as I know, Fox News is one of the last groups of people that the left would put in that category. This guy is just a psycho.

anon171999 · Answer

I actually think that's funny. Like he was probably upset about something and decided that of all ways to express his anger, he was going to torch the Christmas tree. That's similar to what the grinch did lol. I don't know why I find that funny.

TrueConfection · Answer

No need for option C. He was released without bail.

EmotionalMess · Answer

How the frick is that a hate crime? Did some christian group complain because burning a symbol of their religion or something?

Anonymous · Answer

It should be a terrorist attack, because now there won't be a Christmas tree there until next year. He terrorized all Christians by showing what he will do if he gets half a chance to any Christian.

supercutebutt · Answer

Trumptarded QAnons smashing apart my Capitol is fine but destroying a tree? That's totally unacceptable.

TheLittleInnocent · Answer

Well I wouldn't term it a hate crime.. I don't reckon he torched it cuz he hates Christmas. He probably hates Fox 💀 That or he really is a psycho

RolandCuthbert · Answer

Why would he be accused of a hate crime? "Who" is he hating?

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Eh, it's nbd. Just get another tree. I mean, yeah, it was incredibly rude. And he should spend a week in jail and have to pay restitution. But I think it should be a misdemeanor, not a felony.

Subarugirl · Answer

A hate crime against pagans maybe... since the decorating of the tree is a pagan ritual the predates Christ.

exitseven · Answer

THis guy should get a post on Biden's cabinet. He would fit right in.

RedThread · Answer

Yeah the dude must have really hated trees. Wasn't he a homeless guy with a history of burning shit? Why are people blowing this up so much?

Anonymous · Answer

Oh that's just the guy who burns stuff and always gets arrested. He is a pyro or whatever. Joking lol. This question must be a joke to right?

Wester1967 · Answer

They burned down the Athens city Christmas tree a few years back. It was a great marshmallow roasting event.

NorthwestRider · Answer

I bet when people say terrible things about Trump, you think that is also a hate crime 😂😂 This is an arson not a hate crime

captain_voidwalker · Answer

There is no such thing as a "hate crime" there's just a crime. What motivated someone to commit a crime is irrelevant, all that matters is that a crime was committed

Bidensucks2020 · Answer

He was paid by DNC to take Fox out since Fox has been hammering their stumbling idiot Biden.

front2back · Answer

Hate crime? No, it's a tree.  Arson and being a nut? Yeah.

lottiebannotie · Answer

Complete nut job but if it was a white guy it would be a hate crime ridiculous

genericname85 · Answer

did he incite people to violence or hurt other people? or did he just burn down a tree?

OddBeMe · Answer

Well…I’m the same way we apply toward murders of black people… If this guy was trying to terrorize whites or Christian’s…then yeah.

Anonymous · Answer

I don’t see it as a hate crime more like a fire bug

Caunsos · Answer

Not a hate crime. It simply destruction of private property and arson.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm pretty sure the rules of the Intersectional Olympics states that it's impossible to commit a hate crime against conservative people.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Obviously not. The man has serious mental health concerns.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes it is, it is targeted oppression of Christians which is a "hate crime" if you like. But really what it is is an assault on the faith, which should carry a capital sentence.

l2igorous · Answer

Based on the poll answers given, I can definitely say that this isn't biased at all. In any way lol

Anonymous · Answer

Is Christmas trees Religious, race, or sexual, height or age.

Flower7 · Answer

I don’t consider that to be a hate crime.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Yes, he should be brought to justice this is crazy

psosweet5 · Answer

He's operating on another spirit. Terror!

bean2k21 · Answer

Maybe Satan Claus told him to do it

KostasKouvalis · Answer

It's a hate crime. Someone hates Fox News

boobliker · Answer

do you really want to know what we think?

Wise4myage · Answer

B. Not a hate crime but stupid and ignorant.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

Could you explain how that’s a hate crime

noohair · Answer

It is an evil act against Christians.

007kingifrit · Answer

it very well could be a hate crime

TsAubreyKate · Answer

Wish I did it that’s fucking hilarious 😂

Better_off_here · Answer

we need more people like him hating on fox news.

Anonymous · Answer

Bright idea, fire bug.

Msputiton · Answer

Lmfao

MountAverage · Answer

Hate against a tree?

Anonymous · Answer

Who cares?

joeldalton · Answer

hate crime

Jouth · Answer

fox news

jimmy2 · Answer

Hate on Christmas

Anonymous · Answer

Was it Antifa?

So the Fox News Christmas tree got torched. Is it "Hate Crime"?

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