Beating Death Riles Town's Racial Tensions

Local Pennsylvania Officials Say Killing Of A Mexican Immigrant Wasn't A Hate Crime

(AP)  Luis Ramirez came to the U.S. from Mexico six years ago to look for work, landing in this town in Pennsylvania's coal region. Here, he found steady employment, fathered two children and, his fiancee said, occasionally endured harassment by white residents.

Now he is headed back to Mexico in a coffin.

The 25-year-old illegal immigrant was beaten over the weekend after an argument with a group of youths, including at least some players on the town's beloved high school football team, police said. And despite witness reports that the attackers yelled ethnic slurs, authorities say the beating wasn't racially motivated.

Hate crime or not, the killing has exposed long-simmering tensions in Shenandoah, a blue-collar town of 5,000 about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia that has a growing number of Hispanic residents drawn by jobs in factories and farm fields.

An investigation continues, and no charges have yet been filed, but police say as many as six teens were involved in the fight, which ended with Ramirez in convulsions and foaming at the mouth. He died early Monday of head injuries.

Crystal Dillman, the victim's 24-year-old fiancee, who is white and grew up here, said Ramirez was often called derogatory names, including "dirty Mexican," and told to return to his homeland.

"People in this town are very racist toward Hispanic people. They think right away if you're Mexican, you're illegal, and you're no good," said Dillman, who has two young children by Ramirez and a 3-year-old who thought of him as her father.

On Dillman's fireplace mantel hangs a medallion of Jesus that Ramirez was wearing the night he was beaten. Ramirez had an imprint of the medallion on his chest, marking where an assailant stomped on him, she said.

Police Chief Matthew Nestor acknowledged there have been problems as the community - the birthplace of big band musicians Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and home of Mrs. T's Pierogies - has tried to adjust to an influx of Hispanics, who now comprise as much as 10 percent of the population.

Teenagers have sprayed racially tinged graffiti and yelled racial slurs at the newcomers, he said.

"Things are definitely not the way they used to be even 10 years ago. Things have changed here radically," Nestor said. "Some people could adapt to the changes and some just have a difficult time doing it. ... Yeah, there is tension at times. You can't deny that."

Police are still interviewing suspects and witnesses. Preliminarily, though, they have determined that Ramirez, who worked in a factory and picked strawberries and cherries, got into an argument with a group of youths that escalated into a fight in which he was badly outnumbered.

"From what we understand right now, it wasn't racially motivated," Nestor said. "This looks like a street fight that went wrong."

Retired Philadelphia police Officer Eileen Burke, who lives on the street where the fight occurred, told The Associated Press she heard a youth scream at one of Ramirez's friends after the beating to tell his Mexican friends to get out of Shenandoah, "or you're going to be laying next to him."

Shenandoah Valley High School principal Phillip Andras said he knew little about the alleged involvement of any football players. A call by the AP to the athletic director was referred back to the principal.

But the players' possible involvement has added to interest in the case. Football, along with the town's many block parties and festivals, is a major attraction; home games typically draw thousands of fans.

Arielle Garcia and her husband, who were with Ramirez when he was beaten late Saturday, said they had dropped their friend off at a park but returned when he called to say he had gotten into a fight.

She saw someone kick Ramirez in the head, she said, and "that's when he started shaking and foaming out of the mouth."

The Garcias said they heard the youths call Ramirez "stupid Mexican" and an ethnic slur.

Burke, the former Philadelphia officer, said she saw shirtless youths swarming around Ramirez, called 911 and went outside, when she heard a youth yell obscenities and make the get-out-of-Shenandoah remark.

Despite the witness statements, Borough Manager Joseph Palubinsky said he doesn't believe Ramirez's ethnicity was what prompted the fight: "I have reason to know the kids who were involved, the families who were involved, and I've never known them to harbor this type of feeling."

[gemininight]

THIS IS A ACT OF RACISM AND THEY VERY WELL KNOW IT. WHAT THEY DID IS A DISGRACE TO THIS COUNTRY. THIS COUNTRY IS MADE A MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE BOYS SHOULD BE PUNISH AND MAYBE AS ADULT. THE KILLED A PERSON. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THE WAY THEY ACTED AND THE PEOPLE WATCHING SHOULD OF DONE SOMETHING. THEY ARE ACCESSORY TO MURDER. I AM MEXICAN AND I AM AMERICAN. IF THEY DONT LIKE IT THEY CAN GET BACK ON A BOAT AND GO BACK FROM WERE THEY REALLY CAME FROM. I GUESS HISTORY CLASS THEY SKIP.

[lily1972]

vbnvbn this has nothing to with her & her kids. You MORON

[gemininight]

DAVICAR AND vbnvbn. IF ONLY YOU KNEW WERE YOU FOOD COME FROM BECAUSE IF YOU KNEW THAT A MEXICAN HAD PICK THE PRODUCE YOU EAT. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GET UP AT 4:OOAM TO GET THE FOOD IN THE STORE. I NOW THERE IS NOW WAY YOU WOULD DO IT AND GUESS WHAT? IF MEXICAN WERE NOT HERE TO PICK THE PRODUCE THAT YOU SEE IN THE STORE, WHO WOULD?

[lily1972]

& yes I hispanic also. They need to held for MURDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hambonehd]

"IF ONLY YOU KNEW WERE YOU FOOD COME FROM BECAUSE IF YOU KNEW THAT A MEXICAN HAD PICK THE PRODUCE YOU EAT. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GET UP AT 4:OOAM TO GET THE FOOD IN THE STORE. I NOW THERE IS NOW WAY YOU WOULD DO IT AND GUESS WHAT? IF MEXICAN WERE NOT HERE TO PICK THE PRODUCE THAT YOU SEE IN THE STORE, WHO WOULD?
Posted by gemini"

They are probably also the ones who pissed and ... on the produce and been the cause of all the disease lately!!
Anyway, illegal is exactly that.. illegal!

[lily1972]

THEY ONLY **** ON THE FOOD YOU EAT HAMBONEHD

[concorde5]

I''m not hispanic but I can sympathize with hispanics who are here legally or illegally.

We are so quick to criticize hispanics who are here to make a better life for themselves but we say NOTHING about the business owners who hire them. It''s a double standard. If we call illegals criminals then we should call the business owners who hire them criminals as well. You can''t have it both ways.

But this behavior is typical of blue-Collar, redneck, trailer trash, racists.

[gemininight]

DAVICAR2 SURE WHY NOT? I AM AMERICAN I CAN DO THAT. :)

[gemininight]

HAMBONEHD: WELL I HOPE THEY DID **** ON YOUR FOOD AND IF THEY NEED I WILL BE GLAD TO HELP.

[gemininight]

PLUS IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE PERSON WAS ILLEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY. HE WAS KILLED AND THAT IS ILLEGAL.

[lovesamerica]

while I agree the young man was here illegally,that does not justify his murder. If people knew he was illegal,then they should have called the proper authorities. The woman probably couldn''t marry him as you need a birth certificate to get a liscense, oh, but I guess if he had married her he could have gained legal status. Anyways, those involved,directly and indirectly should be punished by the laws of our land..The United States.It is a mess . with the threats and remarks made to him you would think that him and his ''family'' would have tried to remedy the situation before it became an even bigger crime of murder.

[lovesamerica]

Again, instaed of being jerks to him and childishly taunting him, the folks concerned should have call the proper authorities.

[gemininight]

ILLEGAL OR NOT. EVERYONE THAT COMES HERE WANTS THE AMERICAN DREAM. OKAY, DAVICAR2 YOU WANT THEM TO PROVE THEMSELVES. HOW?

[gemininight]

ILLEGAL OR NOT. EVERYONE THAT COMES HERE WANTS THE AMERICAN DREAM. OKAY, DAVICAR2 YOU WANT THEM TO PROVE THEMSELVES. HOW?

[gemininight]

ILLEGAL OR NOT. EVERYONE THAT COMES HERE WANTS THE AMERICAN DREAM. OKAY, DAVICAR2 YOU WANT THEM TO PROVE THEMSELVES. HOW?

[gemininight]

ILLEGAL OR NOT. EVERYONE THAT COMES HERE WANTS THE AMERICAN DREAM. OKAY, DAVICAR2 YOU WANT THEM TO PROVE THEMSELVES. HOW?

[fedup_w_pols-2009]

Murdering him was wrong to be sure. But had he not been here to begin with he would still be alive and we wouldn''t all be on the hook to cover his newly created kids for the rest of their lives like we will be now.

You can''t pick and choose which laws you will follow. Illegal is Illegal, end of story. They are dragging our country down and yes we need to hold them accountable for being here and those that hire them need to be led off in handcuffs on TV and jailed. Then this *** would stop really quickly.

[concorde5]

IF someone has GOOD INTENTIONS....perhaps they could prove that FIRST by complying with the laws in this Country pertaining to immigration!!!!!

Posted by DaVicar2 at 04:33 PM : Jul 18, 2008


DaVicar2....Exactly. Business owners who hire illegals are criminals and they should start complying with the laws in this Country pertaining to immigration!!!!!


You show your true colors because you NEVER mentioned Business owners who break immigration laws by hiring illegals. If there were no Criminal Business Owners who hire them, they wouldn''t be here!

You are a RACIST my friend!

[needed2bsaid]

Just because the man was an illegal here in the United States he was still a man. This IS a hate crime and the chicken S^H^I^T''s of this little piece of SH^IT town should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you don''t like the illegals then pick up your phone and help them back home with a call to the U.S. Immigration. I have. Cleaned out a facility in Chicago, IL.

[gemininight]

I DONT LIKE PEAS IN MY FOOD BUT I REALLY DONT KNOW OF ANY MEXICAN FOOD THAT HAS PEAS.

[needed2bsaid]

But whats funny about this picture is, they are flying flagged banners over the street that is Mexican national Colors... HOW ODD!

[concorde5]

I can''t stand redneck racists.

[gemininight]

feedup-w-pols: IF HE WAS IN MEXICO, DOES NOT MEAN HE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY. MEXICO IS REAL BAD PLACE TO LIVE. I AM MEXICAN BUT DOES NOT MEAN I STUPID ENOUGHT TO LIVE THERE. AS FOR DAVICAR2 THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE ILLEGAL ARE POOR. SO, HOW DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO PAY FOR A PERMIT TO WORK IN THE US.

[gemininight]

NO, MOREN THAT IS ANYBODY. HUH?

[sociald63]

racist as*shole bunch - where is rev jesse or al when we needed them ... oops - delete that - they only get involved when a black felon is involved

[wardoglrs]

This will get much worse in the future so it would be to there benefit to leave this country before they get there arse kick.

I am in construction and there are far to many around taking jobs that Americans can do.

Most employers don''t give a *** about how they get the job done and look the other way for profit
at the expense of Legal citizens.

A warning to them that are illegal to get out for your own good before the economy gets even worst

You are in serious danger and your family is to.
You illegals are not welcomed here in any way and your lack of assimilating is your own fault cause you don''t want to be Americans you just want to leach off this great nation

Get out or face the consequence

[grammawhamma]

"They think right away if you''re Mexican, you''re illegal, and you''re no good," said Dillman."

"The 25-year-old illegal immigrant was beaten..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, I guess they assumed right that he was illegal. Therefore he was breaking the law by being here.

But no one deserves to be beaten and killed.

[aterc]

My prayers go out to this young man and his children and my GOD bring him to a better place then what''s on this earth!

I wonder how they could live with themselves, knowing they took a person life. How sad! Even sadder when you have the police denying the motive of the crime, in order to protect one of their own. I guess the people there, pay their taxes for such services from the police force. The police seem very bias and one sided. The citizens of that town, I would be quite worried, to know your police forces doesn''t protect and serve, but serve to protect the murders of this crime.

[standlee5]

They think right away if you''re Mexican, you''re illegal,..."

Well, duh. They just said in the article that the guy was illegal. Why is an illegal living and WORKING in this country taking jobs away from American citizens? This policy is bound to result in racism.

[gemininight]

WarDogLRS YOU ARE A MOREN. FOR ONE THE JOBS AVAILABLE TO AMERICAN THEY WONT ALWAYS DO. LIKE PICK PRODUCE IN 110 DEGREE WEATHER.

[standlee5]

Illegals need to go home. Mexico is booming there are jobs to be had there. If they want govt. social services go there and get them don''t come here.

[standlee5]

Would Mexicans give a rat''s behind if an American was murdered in their country. Go home and FIX your own country.

[standlee5]

Why isn''t Mexico booming like China. Why aren''t the Mexican people demanding their govt. do something different. Because it''s easier to cross the border and PRETEND they''re American. They don''t want to fight for their own country.

[gemininight]

standlee5: I AM MEXICAN AND I AM NOT ILLEGAL. HUH?

[standlee5]

How many American citizens hae been murdered by Mexican illegal immigrants. Were those hate crimes?

[lily1972]

DaVicar2 you must also like it too you eat it

[sandycat2]

They are Mexican and they are here illegally so they are not entitled to the American Dream. A person who comes here legally leaves his country behind and embraces our country and our values and our flag and our language. That is what my immigrant family did when they came here. They worked in the coal mines and were so poor they didn''t have the money to put a stone on to mark their graves. While I feel sorry for Mexican people who want to come here to find work, I also have to support the laws and sovernty of my country which we need to safeguard or we won''t have any jobs left for lower middle class Americans. You know the ones who have to work 2 jobs to feed their familys and don''t have health insurance.

[gemininight]

DAVICAR2 ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ILLEGAL FROM MEXICO, CUBA, JAPAN ECT..... YOU THINK THEY ONLY COME FROM MEXICO.

[gemininight]

stanlee5 YOU ARE STUPID. TRUELY STUPID.

[standlee5]

gemini, I''m stupid because I think American jobs should be for Americans and American social services should be for American citizens. I''m stupid for thinking our education system should teach American kids not be overwhelmed by spanish speaking children. Why shouldn''t Mexico take care of it''s own citizens.

[gemininight]

STANDLEE5, YES YOU ARE STUPID AND WHAT IS A AMERICAN. BECAUSE ONE DAY BEING BORN IN THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT TITLE YOU AMERICAN ANYMORE.

[concorde5]

You racists are pathetic and quite stupid too. You vote for people like Bush who want an open border, and want corporations to hire illegals for cheap labor, and ship your blue collar jobs to China.

You rednecks are too stupid to be allowed to vote. I would much rather have illegals here any day over stupid, trailer trash, racist rednecks.

Business owners are making a fool out of you southern hillbillies. They ship your jobs to china and demand an open border so they can give illegals any jobs that they can''t ship away.

The reason china is doing so well now is because of all the jobs that corporations are shipping to china instead of keep them here or at least moving them to Mexico.

If all the jobs that have moved to China had went to Mexico instead, THERE WOULD BE NO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEM! And you hillbillies are too stupid to realize the wool is being pulled over your eyes. Wake the f*ck up already!

You rednecks have been sold out by your own politicians that you idiots keep voting into office. You now want to cast the blame on illegals when the blame squarely lies with the Business owners who hire illegals and the politicians who support this system.

Freakin idiots!

[lily1972]

standlee5 you speak as if AMERICANS would take those hard labor/ extrem heat jobs......PLEASE get real!!!!!

[grammawhamma]

Posted by gemininight at 05:28 PM

What are you "trying" to say?

[lovesamerica]

I lost many dept.s at my job due to outsourcing to Mexico. Now its China,India ect... why does everyone want to come here when we have no jobs? I guess it is because we have freedoms that we take for granted and services that most of us legals don''t even know about. I know of a group in my neighborhood that are here from the ukrain. They buy a house and pay no taxes for 5 yrs. then just before the 5yrs is up they sell it to a family member,another 5yrs. and so on. Why does a 1000sq. foot home have 10cars parked outside? That is why people come here. because while I work 5 jobs and am just paying the bills,others can come here and really live the American dream,although many just make the money here then go back to their country....The man still should not have been killed or harassed.

[gemininight]

IT WAS REPORT IN THE NEWS THE OTHER DAY. THAT SOMEONE WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUNITION TO WERE IF YOU ARE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, IT WILL MAKE YOU A AMERICAN.

[grammawhamma]

Posted by concorde5 at 05:30 PM

Just look at the pot calling the kettle black! Your post was quite judgemental, racist and bigoted in my opinion.

[gemininight]

DAVIVAR2 I GUESS THAT IS YOU MEANING OF AMERICAN, STUPID. NICE. I NEVER THOUGH YOU WOULD THINK OF YOURSELF THAT WAY.

[lovesamerica]

And who ever you nimrods are calling all Americans stupid,make sure you tell your countrymen not to call on us in times of disaster...we are probably too dumb to send you anything but food and tents and money,God how stupid can we be?

[gemininight]

VERY MUCH LOL!!!!