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Suspect Arrested in Fatal Baseball Bat Beating of Iowa Teen

Police have finally made an arrest in connection with the brutal death of  19-year-old Marcellus Andrews, who was fatally beaten by group of baseball bat-wielding thugs shouting gay slurs in Waterloo, Iowa on August 19.

Officers arrested Paris Akeem Anding, 19, of 310 Crescent Place, Thursday on charges of second-degree murder. He was taken to the Black Hawk County Jail, where he is being held without bond. Anding was also arrested on a separate warrant for aggravated assault in an unrelated case. Bond for that charge was set at $10,000.

Police said Andrews, a Waterloo resident, and his friends had been involved in an ongoing dispute with others. Witnesses said Andrews was at a friend's home on Cottage Street when a truck pulled up, and a fight broke out between Andrews' acquaintances and the vehicle's occupants. Police said the fight is still under investigation.

Despite the extreme violence and the repeated shouting of "faggot", police insist this was "not" a hate crime and the result of an "ongoing dispute." Several members of Andrews' family have supported the decision.

Slain Iowa Teen's Family Claims He Was "Not Gay" and Does NOT Want Case Probed as a Hate Crime

Sadly, there have been no arrests and no warrants have been sought after 19-year-old Marcellus Andrews was fatally beaten by a group of baseball bat-wielding thugs shouting gay slurs in Waterloo, Iowa on August 19. Detectives insist this was "not" a hate crime but the result of a "dispute."

Here's one reason: Some members of Marcellus Andrews' family now claim the teen was not gay. Family members are downplaying the homophobic slurs, disputing eyewitnesses and say they do not want this investigated as a hate crime, reports the WCF Courier.

Eight members of Marcellus Andrews' family, including his sister and mother, were among nearly 50 people who participated in a communitywide conversation at Jubilee United Methodist Church. Two aunts, an uncle and three cousins also were there. Other attendees included students, professors, civil rights activists and gay rights advocates.

The Waterloo Commission on Human Rights, in collaboration with several community organizations, hosted the event largely because of homophobic slurs allegedly used by assailants during the beating Aug. 19. Waterloo police acknowledge the remarks but said the assault was not a a hate crime, but rather was motivated by a dispute between two rival groups.

Andrews' family does not believe he was gay. His sister, Nichella Andrews, 22, supports the police in ruling out a hate crime. Witnesses' accounts of what allegedly happened have been blown out of proportion, she said. A cousin, Renicia Haywood, 18, noted that a person who displays perceived feminine actions is not necessarily gay. "They didn't come to beat him up because he was gay," Haywood said. "There's more to the story."

"Gay or not, perceived as gay still ends up being a hate crime under those conditions," said Jim Day, vice president of the Black Hawk County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "Perception of gay and being gay still both qualify."

The brutal beating started after several youths taunted Andrews and called him "faggot." Police believe that a "club or baseball bat" was used in the brutal beatdown. Andrews had "severe head injuries" and was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals. He remained on life support for two days.

Marcellus Andrews was slated to start the interior design program at Hawkeye Community College on last week.

The teen was also popular and active in the drill team and youth ministry at his family's church—Union Missionary Baptist Church in Waterloo. That's probably a good explanation of the family's reaction and public comments.

IA Gov: No Link Between Fatal Anti Gay Attack, Gay Marriage Debate

More than one week after 19-year-old Marcellus Andrews was fatally beaten by a group of baseball thugs shouting anti-gay slurs in Waterloo, Iowa, the state's Republican governor finally has something to say.

Gov. Terry Branstad says there is no connection between the beating and the strident anti-gay tone from many marriage equality opponents, reports the Des Moines Register.

A reporter said the homicide could have been related to the sexual orientation of the victim, then asked Branstad what his role was as governor to control the tenor of the debate over gays rights, given the heat of the controversy over the marriage issue here.

Branstad answered: "The fact of the matter is, we need to protect the health, safety and well-being of all the citizens, regardless – if somebody is murdered, it needs to be investigated and prosecuted and people held responsible for it."

"But I see no link whatsoever and I think it’s inappropriate to try to blame people that are not associated with having committed a crime. I think we need to focus on the people who committed the crime and they need to be brought to justice.:

Marriage equality has been legal since a 7-0 Iowa Supreme Court ruling in April 2009. Republican legislators have attempted to amend the state constitution aganst marriage and civil unuions. The GOP has also  sought to impeach the four remaining Iowa Supreme Court justices who issued the landmark ruling.

Detectives believe college student Marcellus Andrews was beaten with a baseball bat by a group of teens on Friday, August 19. The teen had "severe head injuries" and was removed from life support two days later.

Police insist this was "not" a hate crime. They confirm that suspects have been identified, but despite eyewitness reports, there have been "no arrests" and no warrants have been sought.

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POLICE: Fatal Anti-Gay Beating of Iowa Teen Was Not a Hate Crime

Disturbing new developments in the tragic case of Marcellus Andrews, the 19-year-old who was fatally beaten in Waterloo, Iowa over the weekend. Detectives believe the college student was beaten with a baseball bat ... but they insist this was "not" a hate crime.

The Courier has details on the murder weapon:

Police said they are looking into the possibility that a club or a bat was used in the Friday morning fight. Marcellus Andrews died Sunday of blunt force head trauma. 

[Police] have information showing a blunt instrument was involved in the fight. He said investigators are trying to determine what it was and who was wielding it.

Police confirm that anti-gay taunts such as "faggot" were yelled by the group of assailants. But this will not be investigated as a hate crime, reports the Des Moines Register.

"We've done multiple interviews and we have heard those allegations, but this was not because of his persuasion or the perception of his persuasion," [Lt. Michael McNamee, Waterloo police spokesman] said. "These were all people who knew each other, and there was some bad blood between the two parties involved."

The disputes date back at least a year, and arguments escalated throughout Thursday and involved a vehicle being vandalized, McNamee said. "It all culminated in that area early Friday morning."

LGBT activists are outraged, reports Radio Iowa.

Troy Price is executive director of the gay rights organization One Iowa. "The language that was used during this attack is very alarming and very concerning to us," Price said. "Regardless of how the investigation turns out as to whether this was a hate crime or not, the fact is there was derogatory, hurtful and harmful language. This person was taunted for what appears to be his perceived sexuality."

Detectives confirm that suspects have been identified. Despite eyewitness reports, there have been "no arrests" and no warrants have been sought.

Marcellus Andrews was slated to start the interior design program at Hawkeye Community College on Monday.

Keep moving. Nothing to see here. Just a Black gay teenager beaten to death with a baseball bat in broad daylight.

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Detectives in Waterloo, Iowa have few leads and have made no arrests after the fatal beating of 19-year-old Marcellus Richard Andrews on Friday. The brutal beating by several youths started after they "taunted" him and called him gay slurs, reports KGAN, KCRG and the WCF Courier.

[Nakita Wright] said the problems started at about 12:45 a.m. Friday when she and Tudia Simpson, her cousin, went for a walk down the street. Andrews opted to stay behind, waiting on the enclosed porch, she said. The two women hadn't made it as far as Adams Street a block away when they heard yelling back at the house. They ran back and found a truck stopped in the street, and the occupants were taunting Andrews, calling him "faggot" and "Mercedes," a feminization of his first name, Simpson said.

The arguing and name calling continued, said Simpson, who admitted throwing the first punch, striking a girl. "She kept saying it, and I hit her," Simpson said. ...

After the brawl ended, she tried helping Andrews to his feet. He appeared dazed. She grabbed one arm and coaxed him as she lifted. He pushed up with his other arm, but then gave up.

Andrews had "severe head injuries" and was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals. He remained on life support until Sunday afternoon.

Waterloo police are investigating a hate crime motive but say the victim "already had a history with his attackers and [was] involved in a fight months before," reports KGAN.

Marcellas Andrews previously studied at cosmetology school. He was slated to start the interior design program at Hawkeye Community College on Monday and "bought his college textbooks" last week.

A Facebook memorial has been established.

Another promising life is lost too early to violence and hate. Sad, sad, sad. Watch KCRG's report AFTER THE JUMP ...

Pawlenty Quits Presidential Race

PHOTO: REUTERS

That was fast. Former Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty becomes the first casualty of the 2012 GOP nomination.

Only hours after his distant third-place finish at the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames, the anti-gay Republican announced that he was dropping out of the race. Pawlenty earned less than half the votes of Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, the winner of the Straw Poll.

Pawlenty's move comes one day after Texas Gov. Rick Perry entered the race. Perry says that he hoped to win Pawlenty's endorsement in his presidential bid.

Black GOPer Herman Cain: Obama is Not "A Real" or "Strong Black Man"

Anti-gay Black conservative Herman Cain says President Obama is not a "real Black man" or even "a strong Black man" in the mold of the late civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

The Tea Party favorite and former Godfather's Pizza CEO is the only Black candidate among the major Republican 2012 presidential hopefuls. Cain expanded on his views about Obama in an interview with The New York Times Magazine.

A real black man is not timid about making the right decisions, that’s what I meant. Look, I’m not getting into this whole thing about President Obama. It is documented that his mother was white and his father was from Africa. If he wants to call himself black, fine. If he wants to call himself African-American, fine. I’m not going down this color road.

 Cain responds to the rallies featuring hateful signs and taunts against Blacks and President Barack Obama

It has been said that the Tea Party has embraced you partly to provide cover for some racism in its ranks — like, How could racists support a black guy?

There’s no validity to that whatsoever. People who are still making those accusations have no other way to intimidate the growing force of the Tea Party citizens’ movement.

Cain must be a "strong Black man" in the mold of Clarence Thomas! Keep telling yourself that, my "brotha"!

In other news: Last week's much-anticipated first poll from the Des Moines Register put Cain in third place, with 10 percent support, behind after Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. But this was before four key Iowa staffers resigned over the holiday weekend.

PPP Poll: Herman Cain and Palin Tied for 2nd Place in Iowa

PHOTO: AP/FOX

Right-wing Tea Party darling Herman Cain is making an impression on Iowa voters, according to the latest Public Policy Polling.

Romney polls at 21%. Sarah Palin and Herman Cain are tied for second at 15%. Newt Gingrich is 4th with 12%, Michele Bachmann 5th with 11%, Tim Pawlenty 6th with 10%, Ron Paul 7th with 8%, and Jon Huntsman 8th with 0% (only one respondent to the poll picked him.) 8% said they supported someone else or were undecided. Cain and Palin have been the biggest beneficiaries in Iowa of Huckabee and Trump’s decisions not to run. Cain is at 15% now despite not even having been included on our last poll.

Cain has vowed not to appoint any Muslims as federal judges. That's probably earning him a few  points among the GOP's social conservative base ...

The anti-gay Black Republican appeared on the CBS Morning News, watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Black GOPer Cain: "I Will Not Appoint a Muslim Federal Judge"

Former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain is one of the darlings of the Tea Party movement. The Black right-wing presidential hopeful appeared at the Conservative Principles Conference in Des Moines and threw some  red meat to the social conservative audience.

Cain vowed not to appoint any Muslims as federal judges or a members of his cabinet because "there is this attempt to gradually ease Sharia law and the Muslim faith into our government."

"It does not belong in our government. This is what happened to Europe. And little by little, to try to be politically correct, they made this little change. They made this little change. And now they’ve got a social problem that they don’t know what to do with hardly. The role of Islam in America is for those that believe in Islam to practice it and leave us alone. Just like Christianity. We have a First Amendment. And I get upset when the Muslims in this country, some of them, try to force their Sharia law onto the rest of us."

Cain also slammed the Obama Administration's health care reform, saying "The Founders got it right. ... We don’t like this radical socialism that’s being shoved down our throats."

Not sure which is more ironic: A Black Republican quoting "the Founders" that deemed him 3/5 a person?  Or a social conservative Christian theocrat upset that anyone would try to "force their [religion] onto the rest of us"? And isn't there a lil something in the Constitution about "no religious test "for office?

Watch the crazy AFTER THE JUMP ...

Bachmann Slams Pro-Equality Iowa Judges as "Black Robed Masters"

Speaking in Des Moines, potential GOP presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN) praised conservative Iowa voters for ousting three justices involved in the unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruling that brought marriage equality to the heartland.

Bachmann slammed the justices as "black robed masters", reports Politico.

Bachmann, speaking to a group of home school advocates, credited conservatives with sending a “shot across the bow” to judges throughout the country. "You said enough is enough and sent them packing, and I’m very proud of what you’ve done," she said, repeatedly calling judges “black-robed masters.” "It’s very rare that a judge does not go back to office."

Iowans ousted the judges last fall – in what in other years would have been a routine retention election – after the April 2009 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that made Iowa the first state in the Midwest to sanction same-sex marriage. About 54 percent voted "No," booting Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit after a massive campaign against them led by Bob Vander Plaats and the Iowa For Freedom group.

And the"black robed masters" who decided Bush v Gore?

The founder of the U.S. House Tea Party Caucus is "stepping up her activity in Iowa as a Republican presidential prospect" and will make a decision about a 2012 campaign by June, reports the Des Moines Register.