White Guy Blames Subway Attack On His Skin Color

Fordell, selling his wares (Facebook).

A white man claims he was beaten and robbed by four men (and a fellow straphanger) on a train taking him home to the Bronx early Sunday morning and now the police are investigating to see if the crime had a racial bias. 29-year-old leather accessories designer Jason Fordell was first taunted and then attacked and robbed by a group of black men on the train to the Bronx just before 5 a.m. The Daily News reports that four of the men remain at large but police have arrested one Brooklyn man who reportedly joined in on the attack for kicks.

Fordell was returning home early yesterday morning from the East Village, where he sells his LethalWear leather goods. Things got ugly after he transfered to a 4 train at 42nd Street. "People started saying stupid little comments—cracker this, white boy this, f----t this," Fordell recounted to the Daily News. "I told them the only reason they were saying this is there was four of them and one of me. I'm a small, little white kid with long hair. They got guys three times my size threatening me."

As the train continued north, things continued to get worse and Fordell says he was eventually put in a headlock, punched, and kicked to the floor by the men. Eventually another passenger joined in, allegedly saying "Oh, I get a few shots, too," before doing just that. When Fordell got to his Fordham Road station he exited the train, only to have his bag grabbed by his original attackers. Fordell claims there was $2,900 worth of merchandise in his bag.

By the time the police arrived the four initial attackers were long gone but Fordell was able to spot the passenger who'd kicked him. Brooklyn man Barminthe Ramoutar, 54, who had no previous arrests, was charged with gang assault and robbery.

Police are investigating the attack, but tell us they won't decide if it was a hate crime until bias can be proved. The MTA, meanwhile, doesn't comment on ongoing investigations. In the meantime, people? If you see someone being beaten on the subway the proper thing to do is call for help. Not join in.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Garth Johnston in News on July 18, 2011 11:28 AM

Comments [rss]

Eric MH

If I may para-phrase the great Ron Bennington - "When you're born, and you look down to see a white dick, it's like you won the lottery."

And for those who don't get it - it's not a reference to penis size. He is saying being born a white male in America is a blessing. He also wasn't saying this to be prejudice, he was stating a generalization that it is still easier being a white, American-born male than any other race or gender.

Automopedia

Nice eye patch

gomer lamefuck

oh, racism schmasism! i'll tell you what the real bias is: nobody likes a goddamned gothic.

gomer lamefuck

black on "black" violence...oh damn, here comes the lols royce!

3fingersbrown

Reasonable gun laws would have prevented this beating. While only criminals and cops carry, the rest of the populace has to cower in fear while waiting for help. Disgraceful.

soothsayer

the headline is straight out of The Onion.

Avery J

Caption from daily news "Jason Fordell said SHE was attacked on the subway by a group of men."Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new... be an accident. What a bunch of jerks.

Adam Moreira

It could be, but I will reserve comment on this until the investigation is complete.

@newhce:disqus, some outlets have. Black-on-Hispanic hate crimes though are much more common.

Heatherbk

"Brooklyn man Barminthe Ramoutar, 54, who had no previous arrests, was charged with gang assault and robbery."

A 54 year old man involved in a gang assault and robbery?!?!?! wow....

Anyways, whites are a minority in Bronx...

Joey Boots

im in the boogie down bronx unfortunately....bedford park on the grand concourse and i ride thiis same train, the 4.....if anyone has a share or studio in manhattan below the park or in williamsburg hit me up as i wanna get the hell out of here..... joeyboots@aol.com

newyorkronin

Or how about we the citizens start packing handguns and go wherever we want, whenever we want in OUR city? If the NYPD and MTA like their pensions, they'd better remember who signs the checks and know when to look the other way when the productive taxpayers take their safety into their own hands. Otherwise, we're going to move out of the state like millions have already done and take our taxable income with us and let the state and city collapse. Then who's going to pay for the food stamps and medicaid? The only justice in this world is what you make for yourself at that scene of the crime in the face of your attackers: Two in the chest and one in the head, long before any cops arrive. If people like their generous benefits, they should accept that the taxpayer has to feel safe and if that safety involves dirtbags being blasted left and right every night, Bernard Goetz-style, then so be it.

timmy c

I really just read all of these comments and I'm not proud of myself.

canofpeas

There's a reason why there are so many black men in prison, and it isn't because they've all been caught with a dimes worth of weed. And always carry a weapon; it can make the difference.

rightnyer

Yup. A few 9mm rounds into these animals' chests would have stopped them cold.

gothamist_tips

detele

rightnyer

TNB. Nothing more to see here, folks.

hotguy

And yes I remember the white kid. Who was chased to his death by these racist blax!!! Those blacks Need to have some big white homo go take a visit up there some time maybe even the nasty south Bronx and teach them a lesson or two.....make them into their bitches
Oh that's right they'll have a few big bfs In the slammer when the cops get their blax asses!!
Carpe diem!!

hotguy

For 3000 of merchandise I'd have fought back and the real Pusey was the 54 year old ol man....if I was on the train I would have fought with the white guy.... For sure.....

hotguy

Actually food for thought folks
Food for thought
2 blax basturds
Were killed on the train WHILE they were attacking a Spanish kid and the PR pulls out a knife, illegal if it's over 6 inches, and kills the dumb jigs who were crazy enough to throw down in the first place!!
The result, after an investigation by the nypd the Spanish kid got off with o jail time as the other kids attacked first with their fists and he had an incident before where he awas attacks and that's why he was carrying
This will give me one more Eason to stock up in some legal weapons
Mace is ok
As are knives under 4 inches
U tip the Dixie cuomo changes our outdated and schwede laws the Negros will rule the night it helps to know boxing or karate thoughd the law

hotguy

This guy looks like he might carry
If I'm on the train late at night is imperative that I carry
And if you are a street fighter. Numbers don't matter so much.
I rememeber the brave ema driver who allowed a poor momma to die and then he got into a brawl with 3 other jigs and he was beating up all threes and a fourth pulled out a gun and shot him dead
This is the shut that the nasty jigs
Do
And why do we have jigs in NYC?
Some nasty homo jigs and trannys accosted me in whole foods and I SSS ready to fight all 4
SMS the bug fatty instigator says to me it's because she's afrki. Amerkim