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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1993)
v^LomÌui/ut ci^ÌaW À2AA/ LOCATED IN HISTORIC ST. JOHNS PROUDLY SERVING THE GREATER PORTLAND AREA S A f Y /' IT LOUD. I WEAR IT PROUD. . 1-800-951-3325 Order this great 2-color design on a hign-quality 100% cotton T-shirt or call for a brochure with all our styles.__________ national news Marines found not guilty of bashing Against all factual evidence, a judge in Wilmington, North Carolina acquits three Marines. "m s 8302 N. Lombard 286-1330 AM proceeds benefit QueerThings. Inc a not-for profit corporation working to secure equal rights for Gays. Lesbians and Bisexuals in Colorado ree[i[i m rings for a The largest selection ot : 7 Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual pride merchandise on the ^ Hour» West Coast. 10 an - 10 pm 1 m *. thru Sal 11 an - 7 pm Sun. A Mai. 421 S.W. 11th Ave. i! f a s s • • * o r V* v i m i T a u l i i a i A i SEE US FOR ALL YOUR COLLISION REPAIR NEEDS AUTOBODY (503) 232-361)0 2454 E. BURNSIDE • PORTLAND. 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Judge often used in rape trials was heard: “He brought Jaqueline Morris-Goodson found it on himself.” Amanda Lopez, the woman who three Marines not guilty of simple picked the three Marines up from Camp Lejeune and Colin drove them to Wilmington for the evening, assault. Lance Corporals Patrick Cardone, Hunt, and Walter Watkins had been charged with testified that Pridgen walked up to them in the pulling Crae Pridgen from a gay bar in Wilmington foyer, introduced himself as a gay man, and stated and beating him on the sidewalk in front of the bar that he enjoyed oral and anal intercourse with while chanting, “Clinton must pay!” and “All other men. Pridgen denies having made any such com faggots must die!” The verdict came as a surprise to m any observ - ment, and stated that he never had any verbal ers. There were nearly a dozen witnesses to the interchange whatsoever with the Marines. He beating. The Marines bragged to the police about says that he was simply trying to leave the bar and having beaten up a “fag” both before and after avoid the situation altogether. Louis Raith, a fourth Marine from Camp their arrest. J.K. Nedley, one of the arresting officers, testified that Corporal Cardone asked Lejeune who was not charged in any way, testi how one of the men he had sent to the hospital was fied that he was at the bar. He said that Pridgen doing. Nedley responded that he didn’t know and attacked him and he responded by kicking Pridgen in the face. said that Cordone replied, “I hope he dies.” “He ran at me and grabbed me. He was going As in the Rodney King beating trial, one might wonder how anyone could have mounted a plau to hit me.” The defense has argued that the police were sible defense under the circumstances. One strat egy the defense used was denial: “It was just a bar grossly negligent—that they didn’t give the three room brawl, not a gay bashing.” The defense Marines a chance to explain their actions. “Who maintained that the three Marines had no idea talked to them? Who got their side?” asked they had gone to a gay bar, and were about to leave Bumey. Police officers who were on hand testified that when a brawl erupted. The prosecution responded by recalling a witness who testified that she had the Marines were drunk and raving, and were in met Cardone earlier in the day, and told him that fact bragging about having just beat up some Mickey Ratz (the site of the beating) was a gay “fags.” One officer recalls their saying, “If the bar. Another defense strategy was role-reversal: president hadn’t put the homos back in service, “The victim deliberately incited the brawl to none of this would be happening.” Another promote his gay agenda.” officer testified that “I heard them state that In the weeks following the beating, Pridgen Clinton’s going to pay . . . They stated that they met with U.S. senators and representatives, at hated all faggots. They wished all faggots would tended a meeting with Pentagon officials, and die.” appeared on several talk shows to speak out Bumey reminded Pridgen of his meetings against homophobic violence. The defense has with U.S. senators and representatives in the two suggested that Pridgen deliberately started the weeks following the attack. He then asked point fight to gain sympathy for his political agenda. edly, “Did you tell them about your criminal Defense attorney Ed Bailey quoted Ridgen in record?”, and pulled out a long roll of paper which a speech he made after the beating, in which he he let dramatically fall to the floor. urged gay men and lesbians to “stand up and As it turns out, Pridgen was once arrested for fight.” He asked if Pridgen was fighting that night driving under the influence, and was later arrested in Mickey Ratz. for driving after his license was revoked. Pridgen said that he meant “fight” in a meta “Have you ever fought for your country?” ask phorical sense. “We ’ve been denied our rights for Bumey. too long, sir. This type of gay bashing.. .has been “No, sir,” responded Pridgen. going on for too long. I’m not going to let myself “What have you ever done for your country be violated the way I was and not do anything besides get arrested?” about it.” In another line of attack, Bumey asked Pridgen The defense also attempted to paint Pridgen as if he was gay. a media hound, who had exaggerated the nature of “Yes, sir, I am,” responded Pridgen. his injuries to get attention. Pridgen suffered a “What unnatural sex acts do you perform?” tom ear and the loss of a tooth in the attack. asked Bumey. Defense attorney John Burney reminded Pridgen That line of inquiry was met with an objection of a story he related to the news media about the from the assistant district attorney, which was footprint the attackers left on his chest Holding sustained by Judge Morris-Goodson. up a photo of Pridgen that was taken after the If convicted, the three Marines would have attack, Burney demanded of Pridgen, “Show me faced a maximum sentence of 30 days imprison the footprint that you’ve been telling the press all ment or a $50 fine. Pridgen has filed a civil suit. abouL” O REPORT HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE