A white man in Mississippi was arrested after allegedly using racial slurs while trying to run over Black kids riding their bikes.
According to news reports, Mark Hall was booked into the Tippah County Jail, on July 25, on nine counts of simple assault and attempt of physical menace to create fear. His bond was reportedly set at $45,000.
The Mississippi man allegedly uploaded a video of himself saying racial slurs while speeding toward a group of Black kids on social media. In the video, Mark was heard saying, “Awww hell, 50 points,” as he drove toward them before calling the kids “stupid n*****s.” He made his initial comment in reference to video games in which players earn points for running characters over.
Following the incident, dozens of parents and family members from the community showed up at the Ripley Police Department to ensure that charges were made against Mark.
“We are exuberant that they have included the crime of hate, because there will be another body of persons to investigate this and make sure that he comes to justice like he should be,” Miriam Simelton Anderson, who represents the parents, said. She added that simple assault charges and more are on the way.
A father of one of the Black kids on their bikes in the video, Willie Hill, expressed how upset he was about Mark’s disgusting actions.
“We are living in a time that is supposed to be progressive. We are supposed to be progressive people, but we are still dealing with the same things that we were dealing with back when my grandparents and great grandparents were around,” Willie said.
Clarence Holmes–also a father one of the Black kids in Mark’s video said, “He could have hurt those guys. He could have killed somebody or anything, but he had no regard for those Black lives that were out there.”
Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. If Mark is charged, he will reportedly face up to 54 months in jail.
