Cross Burned in Small Oregon Town

Today, the Corvallis Gazette Times reports on an act of hate that occurred in Alsea, a small city in Benton County near the Oregon Coast.

A woman, who moved to Alsea a year ago with her adopted African American son, said that a 5ft tall wooden cross wrapped in what appeared to be a sheet was found burning in her yard.

According to the report, Sgt. Clay Stephens with the Benton County Sheriffs office said "the crime currently would be classified as reckless burning, because there weren’t any threats or other evidence of prejudice to support it being a hate crime".

Many are left scratching their heads that burning a cross, known to be a symbol of hate, in someones yard doesn't constitute a "threat" or "evidence of prejudice".

The Sheriff's office said they will continue to investigate.

To read the complete report from the Corvallis Gazzette Times, please link here.

Posted in: Alsea,Cross Burning,Hate,Hate Crimes,Oregons,Racism,Symbol of Hate