If this is not gang related, the Pope (I say this respectfully) is not Catholic. Whether these children belong to a recognized gang or not is not important. That they behaved in gang-like is what counts.

I agree Cloverine. this is indeed gang related. I doubt it would fall under Hate Crime though. Just tge sae throw the charge at 'em and see if it sticks.

too bad the people involved were out numbered.the suspects, by themselves, would have received a beat down.these punks have to run in packs,alone, they aint snot.cant even watch the fireworks...

we had every ethnic group in our neighborhood Saturday, not one bit of trouble, just enjoying the 4th, we had our own fireworks display , from baby's to 90 year olds, and we were 4 blocks away, shows that a neighborhood that sticks together can win against these losers, we will see them serving french fries at the window, or sleeping with Bubba soon

 whocares

I will never understand what is so f'n difficult about respecting other people. Why do people such as this find enjoyment in hurting other people and ruining their lives? Is it because their life sucks that they feel they have to make everyone elses life suck? Obviously they don't care about anyone but themselves. Their lives are going to be cut extremely short if they continue this way. The next person they assault might not be as accepting and may be armed. And these are the same people that will soon be creating kids of their own and ignoring them the same as they were ignored their entire life. Someone needs to put an end to this. Just thought of an idea.... get arrested for a crime and some things will be taken from you to prevent you from ever adding to the neglected population.... sounds good to me. And the scientists can use the goods to try and figure where mother nature messed up.

My neighbor who lives on the block is ready to leave town. Tell me, did these kids not read the memo about hope and change? Where was thuggery in all of that? Do you think our President would be happy about this? 30-40 kids sounds like we need an armed posse to deal with it or maybe the Mayor, councilwoman will get off their tails, quit making the enemy of the police and turn the heat up on these hoodlums!

 missfit

I live close to firestone park. You best believe Im going to chit chat up some of the kids around here to see if any names get dropped and Im giving them to the police! I have seen these lil punks hanging around, and walking around my neighborhood. We must take our communitys back from these punks!!

missfit,
Your intentions are good, but it has two major problems.

1. The "no snitching" policy that has become engrained in today's youth. This policy punishes those who report people to the police, while harboring the criminal element.

2. The ones that are minors will only be held for a short while, and then set free to roam the streets again. But this time they will know who turned them in (refer to problem #1).

Whocares,
Why would you want to take "some things" (by which I assume me mean the ability to reproduce) away, this may be their only real source of income. Have more babies, get more free government money.

I hope these kids do get caught, but instead of a cushy jail cell, let them do some insane number of community service hours, like 2000-3000 hours each. Maybe then they will have some respect for the community.

I know it will never happen, but I have hope.

I searched Google and there are VERY few instances in which black people are charged under Measure 11 guidelines, so-called "hate crime" legislation, which allows for additional sentences up to 5 years and 125k in fines. I think it's despicable the way this kind of behavior is tolerated on one side but not the other, and it fosters a level of resentment. What we need is some solidarity, not more wedges. If the law is intended to deter racially motivated crime then it must be applied equally or not at all.

 misstia

akroncitizen, you touched upon something that is needed: respect for the community...it is sorely lacking...

 historybuff

The Park used to be such a fine place. Now look what
it has become, a haven for the lawless.

!!! HAS ANYONE HEARD OF " THE BLOODLINE".....about 2 years ago it used to b a group of "african american" teens....from 12-20, that would walk firestone park and look for "non african americans" and then jump them.....with the goal in mind that the park would be theirs.....well it worked....people deserted the park....and somehow no one cared y the park was abandoned.....

I've lived in Firestone Park for over 30 years and it is still a fine place. We ride to the parks regularly with no problems! They are not deserted or abadoned! There are good families and good kids who play there daily! One group of foolish kids does not change what a good place the FP is. And No I have never heard of the Bloodline and like I said I've been a life long FP resident.

how could this not be considered a hate crime? if it were a white group of 30-40 teens beating a couple of black people screaming "we rule now" what do you think that would be called? people just never think that black people do anything racist. there are a lot of racist black people out there, and the sad thing about this is for all the hate they have for white people whenever you see a story of a young black male murdered, take a minute to look at the persons picture who did it...another young black male, not a white person!!!!!!!

I was there that evening and the news is down playing this! There were more people than mentioned injured and at the ER that night. And please tell me why this was not on the news that evening!!! A lot of people were injured and the whole street was filled with ambulances but only a small handful of police officers. We even saw one drive past as a gentleman lay in the street in pain. Someone please explain to me where the police were and why no one even cares about this till 10 days after the fact!!!! Come on Akron and get involved!

30 to 40 black teens, we rule now, Barack Obama - president. Come on!!!This has Hate crime all over it..get real people.. And i'm not a racist...but even i can see what this really was.The law NEEDS to get far more serious with punishment for these types of crimes, maybe even spread the word on radio and tv what will happen to you if you commit this type of act and get caught. That might help.

walking in the darn middle of the street going to Garfield, on side streets was the beginning to me, the sidewalk is where you walk, defiant to everything , I feel that Firestone Park is lost to the fatherless kids with absolutly no future, I'll be leaving soon, what a ruin of a once nice neighborhood, Brown St is the new Copley road, ...thanks you sgarbage people. prison and the french fry jobs are awaiting, you rule not my street....come across Brown St a couple blocks......you'll cry for yer mama, and your dad, if you know who he is trying that e here...bring it. our street is ready

Amen Paddywhack, I am with you! Its about time we stand up to this thugism and quit brushing it off. You cant rationalize with these good for nothing pieces of trash. They might "rule" their slums but from over here in Smalltown, USA these BASTARDS are only good enough for flipping my burgers. Thank God we still have the Second Amendment....I can assure them that they will never rule my world and Obama will never take that right from me!

14-18 year olds? Why weren't they at the fireworks with their families? When the black culture glorifies gun toting, pimping, womanizing and gangs what do you expect. How many of these kids live in fatherless homes? Most i bet. The glorification of the thug life style and no family enviroment is a epidemic in the cities across the country.

That group of thugs better be careful about confronting whites...they may get what they wish for-a confrontation they wont win! Then Sharpton & all the others will be pouring into town crying about how these "children" are innocent

I've lived in the park for 20 years now. I do know every year at this time a group of about 50 black youths get together and cause trouble. The Akron police know this and I'm sure good ol' Don knows this as well. I just want to know why the Beacon chose to hide this story and why I can't comment on it over at Ohio.com.

 missfit

There are school riots over there at Garfield High school too! That doesnt hit the news either. Last year there were at least 5 that I know of and a few times that the school was in lock down mode (Bomb threat calls!.) gang fights and kids spilling out into traffic fighting, I never ever imagined this part of town in such a deteriation but There is the Hillwood homes (section 8 AMHA) housing right there on Wilbeth/Arlington those are the ones filtering into the park for those that live there in firestone park keep their homes and property very well kept up and nice. Its those individuals (mostly thug culture punks) who dont live there causing the trouble. For the record, there are wannabe white kids involved in gangs here in town as well, a few of them have mixed gangs of white and black kids, Ive seen them wearing various T shirts representing their side. I will bet if they look on Youtube this fight will be on there- these kids love themsleves and take honour in what they do-

This whole race issue is being brushed under the rug by the mainstream media in Akron & Cleveland. A friend of mine had his house torched near St. Sebastians by some thugs. All because he dared to challenge them over their very loud cursing. Nothing ever came of it. Mayor Don better get it in gear or he will need the National Guard to quell the uprising.

ruin every neighborhood, and what do you have, come to my street, WE ALL WANT YOU TO COME TO MY STREET, try that here

In order for this to be a hate crime, you need a member or members of an empowered group attacking an oppressed person or group. Only a total moron or a person completely blinded by bigotry could suggest that the young African Americans who shouted, "we rule now" really are an empowered group. Therefore, no hate crime here. It was simply some "whites" being at the wrong place at the wrong time and - who knows - maybe they said something to provoke the youths?

Define empowered in this case Rosencratz. Has your pinko philosophy evolved at all? This isn't 1865, this isn't even 1965, how exactly in your pseudo intellectual mind is the evil "Whitey" holding back the black man in 2009? A family of four provoking a gang of 40, sure, think of the stupidity of that comment.

It's called 'blame the victim', goatman. A common phenomenon for people who are in denial about a group or person's ability to commit a crime. It had to be their fault, I mean, what gives them white folks the right to sit outside watching fireworks in our hood? (heavy on the sarcasm, but that's the mentality we are dealing with). Sheer numbers made them an 'empowered group' and their words made it a race issue. Until enough of us are sick and tired of the nonsense, and willing to take action, nothing will change.

Rosencratz - In order to stop this kind of thugish behavior. You start calling these hate crimes and prosecuting these individuals to the fullest extent. You keep letting this go on in your city and pretty soon you have a full on riot! These kids will never be anything other then what they are. It's not anyones fault except there parents and the culture in which they choose to glorify.

I have lived in Firestone Park for almost 30 years. I sit on our front porch regularly and see a number of very well behaved young children riding their bikes with their families as well as a number of people walking the neighborhood. This is very disturbing to see this happening in parts of the neighborhood. I will be looking for some type of a neighborhood meeting to establish a neighborhood watch group, I would hope very soon, and I will be in attendance. I don't want to live in fear in my neighborhood and that is just another reason for getting my ccw license and ready for someone to try and invade my home. Shame on ABJ
for not permitting comments on there site regarding this matter.

Its a hate crime!!! when you attack someone for there race and say things such as( its a black world) its a hate crime, If the teens were white and the family was black they would have thrown the hate crime at them.its a fact u know and i know that equality no longer exist here . I have my ccw and i hope others get it as well, teen or not there would have been blood shed. i hate to say that but i think thats what it comming too.I know these punks wouldnt care if that guy was alive or dead. look out for each other.!!!!

What kind of gun laws do you guys have? If this were in TX some of those "teenagers" would have ended up in the mourge.