Police ask for help in library arson probe (Gay/Lesbian Hate Crime)

[benburch]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060620library-arson,1,6578064.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Police ask for help in library arson probe

By David Heinzmann
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 20, 2006, 12:21 PM CDT

Chicago police arson investigators asked for the community's help today in finding whoever set a public library fire last week that damaged about 100 books, mostly in the gay and lesbian collection.

The June 13 fire at the John Merlo Branch Library, 644 W. Belmont Ave., was noticed by a library patron who alerted staff members. Library staffers were able to put out the fire before firefighters arrived.

Police have few leads in the case and Bomb and Arson Cmdr. Edward O'Donnell asked for any member of the public with knowledge of the fire to come forward with information.

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[Kingshakabobo]

1. That's my hood..........

Probably burning books by day and gay-bashing by night.

[murielm99]

2. I thought Chicago residents had better sense.

They seem more tolerant. And why is it happening near where the gays have their own neighborhood?

Book burning, a sign of the times.

[benburch]

3. This one won't be living here long if we catch him.

I hear the Pontiac Penitentiary is nice this time of year.

[Name removed]

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[dysfunctional press]

6. there's no evidence that this is a hate crime.

and according to the article, the books will all be replaced.

this could just as easily be an "inside job" by somebody hoping to get the topic and some sympathetic press in the mainstream media during gay pride week.

but to call it a "hate crime" without any evidence to that effect is a little irresponsible.

[UncleSepp]

7. Careful with that line of reasoning - it's common in all the wrong circles

This is also the typical reaction to the vandalism of Jewish cemeteries from the dusty corners of the far right. "They're doing it to themselves to get sympathy" - that's also not a responsible charge to make until you have evidence. At the moment, all anyone has evidence of is that there was an arson in a library.

Also, that the books will be replaced is not at all the point. The burning of books has a specific emotional resonance. Books are not burned in order to destroy all of the copies of the book which exist. Books are burned to demonstrate a point, as a symbolic destructive act. Replacing the books does not undo the act itself.