Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Portales Islamic Center was vandalized five times in June.
The vermin that vandalized the Portales Islamic Center five times last month are probably not our community's high achievers.
Statistics show they are not "focused on long-term goals (or) imbued with grit and determination," according to the Dolan Consulting Group, which provides training for police across the country.
The research, according to Dolan, shows that most vandals are thrill-seekers, looking for an "emotional rush of the risk, and to lash out at authority. ... (M)ost are generally quite lazy."
"While what they write in their graffiti may suggest a particular bias, in most cases this is more of an attempt to 'get under your skin' than it is a representation of any truly organized or committed group. ... When caught, the vast majority of these vandals are revealed to be troubled teens – not an organized hate group."
Some community members are calling for these acts against the Portales Islamic Center to be declared a "hate crime," which carries stiffer penalties on conviction. But Portales Police Chief Christopher Williams told Albuquerque TV station KRQE the evidence suggests the miscreants are probably not targeting the Islamic faith.
"At this time the damage is extremely similar to that on other vacant buildings in the area, which leads us to believe that this is more than likely not a hate crime," Williams wrote in a statement.
Ahmed Benssouda, the director of the Portales Islamic Center, said "racial messages" were spray-painted on the center's walls, including "the N-word" and the initials "KKK."
Benssouda said vandals punched holes in doors, damaged carpets, and poured beer all over the place.
"They urinated on holy ground," he said.
Most of us don't know if this rises to the level of an official "hate crime." We just want the perpetrators caught and forced to right the wrongs they've executed, preferably with a summer of painting and cleaning and picking up the messes they've made. They should also know we're saddened by the hate they have in their souls that has inspired them to commit these atrocities.
David Stevens is publisher of Clovis Media Inc. Email him at: