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Lansing Police Investigate Attack on Immigrant

UPDATED 07.13.2017 5PM: Police in Lansing are investigating an attack on an Hispanic immigrant as a "hate crime."

The Lansing City Pulse reported that two white males yelled racial slurs at the victim, who is Hispanic, near the corner of South Cedar Street and Denver Avenue in Lansing. It happened on July 5 at 11:40 p.m.

 

Lansing police confirm it is investigating the attack as a hate crime.

 

The victim told the Pulse the males told the Latino victim “Trump doesn’t like you." Then men then beat the victim and stapled a note on his stomach that read "Go back to Mexico, wetback."

 

Lansing police told WKAR News that the victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and there has not been an arrest in this case.

 

The victim told City Pulse he is an undocumented immigrant. He was treated and released from the hospital after the attack. He told the newspaper that he feared immigration officials or police would target him but believed he had to report the crime anyway.  "Whatever you think is right. Just do it," the victim told City Pulse.

 

Guillermo Lopez is the President of Latino Leaders for the Enhancement of Advocacy and Development of Greater Lansing. He said he first learned of the story on July 12.

 

"It's very concerning... It's another sign of trouble in our community," said Lopez.

 

Lopez said people need to stay active in their communities and to learn about each other's differences.

 

LLEAD is now planning a forum on hate crimes and how to report them. A date and location has not yet been announced.

Karel Vega served as radio news managing editor at WKAR from 2020 to 2023.
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