SOPHIE
Stamp Out Prejudice, Hate & Intolerance Everywhere
Sophie Lancaster was a 20 year old lady who was kicked to death last August by a gang of despicable teenage thugs. Her boyfriend was set upon first and as he lay unconcious, she cradled his head and begged them to stop. Then they started on her and she never recovered. Her boyfriend Rob recovered but has no recollection of the event. The QC for the prosectution said they were attacked simply because of their alternative style of dress.
Last week, the murder trial began. I don’t want to say much more, the harrowing details are easy enough to find online, suffice to say, it was a brutal and savage attack. A hate crime. Alternative cultures are regularly targeted by teen groups and Sophie’s courageous family and friends started a campaign in memory of Sophie which aims to promote a greater understanding between people from different groups and they have an online petition which closes on the 28th March asking Downing Street to widen the definition of ‘hate crime’ so that it includes crimes committed on the basis of appearance and against alternative or sub-cultures.
I didn’t know Sophie or any of her family but who could remain unaffected by such a cruel and vicious attack on an innocent and beautiful young lady . . . or not be moved by the dignified dedication of Sophie’s friends, her family and her boyfriend Rob?
Earthside 
Posted by Jose on March 18, 2008 at 7:32 am
I wish I would be entitled to sign the petition. This is not only happening in Britain. Everywhere else those beasts attack decent people for inexplicable reasons. A world campaign that should be sponsored by UNESCO is imperative.
As happened with children and their rights, people also have rights covered by the Charter of Human Rights. The UN are not there to promote embargoes or other procedures that eventually damage innocent persons in so-called third-world countries, they are also liable to defend them in “the other world”.
Posted by earthpal on March 18, 2008 at 8:28 am
Thanks Jose. I was extremely restrained when writing that post. I didn’t want my true emotions to uglify the tribute to Sophie.
I’ve cried and cried over this. It’s broken my heart. To think how that lovely girl died. And how she tried to help her poor boyfriend who was also savagely attacked. To think there are young people in this world who are capable of such evil. I am a tolerant person. I accept that we are a product of our upbringing and circumstances. But I just can’t get my head round the fact that people can be so violent – and totally without provocation. It’s incomprehensible.
Yes Jose, the UN exist to protect and defend the rights of all humans and they have a role to play here. I just don’t know how we can end this culture of violence. It’s getting worse.
Posted by matt on March 18, 2008 at 9:06 am
This case also shocked and horrified me. As soon as I saw what she was wearing I thought, ‘oh no, they’ve been killed for being goths’. The killers haven’t been named because of their young age. They should be; this needs to change.
Unfortunately, all things considered, we now live within a very violent country. I do worry for my own children.
Posted by earthpal on March 18, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Yes, me too Matty. I am scared for my kids And my heart aches for the parents of Sophie and for her boyfriend Rob.
I just don’t know what to think about those thugs. I don’t even want to think about them but something has to be done. They are definitely old enough to know the seriousness of what they did but even if they get a life sentence, they will still be let out at an age of which they will be young enough to start afresh. That’s not justice for Sophie and Rob.
‘Hate’ is a word that I was brought up not to use casually but I really detest them for what they did. And I hate myself for using using any emotional energy on them at all.
Posted by Jose on March 19, 2008 at 8:10 am
The criminal laws should contemplate judging the youth older than 10 years as adults. A boy/girl that age should already be wise enough to know what they are doing, which behaviour is evil and which one is good. Good forensic psichologists to decide on the convenience of an open trial so that other young people start choosing their way around.
Posted by Jose on March 19, 2008 at 8:12 am
And parents should be given a higher degree of responsibility in their children’s education, resorting to hard punishment (not bodily of course) if necessary. Punishment to start at an early age. Too much has been granted that permit children to oppose violently and openly their parents’ decisions, which in my opinion is the main cause of the subsequent vandalism.
Posted by matt on March 19, 2008 at 8:38 am
Without doubt certain children are taking advantage of laws put in place to protect them. Some have such an attitude that they are plainly out of control. They have no respect what-so-ever to anyone is so-called authority; not teachers, not the police and not their own parents.
Teaching such respect (a healthy respect) comes from the parents. If little Johnny gets pulled up by a teacher for being naughty the parents first reaction shouldn’t be to march into the school the next day to have a go at the teacher.
Posted by Osskall on March 19, 2008 at 2:05 pm
That’s very well written earthpal, I know it’s hard to restrain ones true emotions when dealing with this appaling crime. Thanks for letting people know of the SOPHIE-campaign and the petition. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for justice to be served.
Posted by earthpal on March 20, 2008 at 1:09 am
Jose and Matt, I agree with you both. And yes, the parents should bear responsibility too. At the ages they were, they knew that what they were doing was very wrong therefore they should be named – and tried as adults. I never thought I’d hear myself saying that. I’m a non-judgemental person … as I said previously, I recognise that we are a product of our upbringing and our circumstances. But every human being, no matter how they were brought up (apart from the mentally ill in some circumstances), knows that kicking and stamping on a defenceless person’s head, with or without provocation, is utterly and unquestionably wrong.
No excuses for them. They should be punished as adults. I can’t repeat here the real depth of my feelings.
Osskall, thank you for your thoughts. Yes, justice for Sophie and Rob.