“They’re Young Adults. And They Make Stupid Decisions”: Bound Man Tortured On Film In Chicago As Assailments Scream “F–k White People” and “F–k Trump” [UPDATED]

Two men and two women have been arrested after the filming of a young white man being tortured as what appears to be black assailants shout “f–k white people” and “F–k Donald Trump.” While the assailants appear African American as well as the woman filming the disgusting video for Facebook, the police refused to release the race of the arrested individuals or say whether this appears to be a hate crime. There has also been no statement from the Justice Department or agents dispatched to the Chicago to open a duel federal investigation as was the case in racially charged crimes in places like Ferguson, Missouri. The response from the local commander in Chicago is particularly curious. [UPDATE: A second video has surfaced showing the man forced to drink from a toilet.]

Police say that the young man was from the Suburbs and appears mentally ill. His hands appear bound and his mouth taped as the assailants cut and kick him. He cowers in the corner for the 28-minute video. Halfway through, a man says that the victim “represents Trump.”

The man’s parents in nearby Streamwood, Illinois said that the victim’s parents had not heard from him since December 31st.

When pressed about the absence of any word on a charge of a hate crime, Area North Detectives Commander Kevin Duffin said the department was considering whether race was a motivation and added “They’re young adults. And they make stupid decisions. That certainly will be part of whether or not we seek a hate crime to determine whether this is sincere or just stupid ranting and raving.” Young adults “make stupid decisions” to torture an innocent man on film? Is this really like standing up in a car through the sun roof in traffic or hopping freight cars? I do not recall the youth of culprits being factored into other alleged hate crimes. The use of “hate crime” charges remains controversial among some civil libertarians but the greatest concern is whether the charges appear sometimes based on not just legal but political factors.

[Second Update:  the four arrestees will face hate crime and battery charges.  It is not clear whether kidnapping and torture counts will be added later]

What do you think?