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Dad Of 6th Grader Accused of Hate Crime: He's Muslim, Too!
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 31, 2011
Modified Mar 31, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 31, 2011
Modified Mar 31, 2011
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The father of the 11-year-old boy who was marched out of school in handcuffs (and ankle chains!) yesterday on felony hate crime charges is defending his son in the media. The sixth grader, Osman Daramy, had allegedly shoved a female classmate to the ground yesterday, punched her, kicked her, and tried to pull off her hijab while asking, "Are you a Muslim?" The assault, which left the unidentified girl with bruises and a cut lip, was allegedly the culmination of months of abuse perpetrated by Daramy, who, sources say, also cut a classmate's hair during a scissor "rampage" Monday. But his father, Frank Davis, insists the school and the cops are out to get his son.
Davis says his family is Islamic, and though they do not regularly attend services at a mosque, he prays with his son often. "How could a Muslim have another hate crime against a Muslim?" Davis, 32, asked the Post. "Trust me, its a black mail, and its not over yet. They're just out to get him. How can cops look at an 11-year-old boy and say he's a terrorist? He's a regular African kid. Sometimes he wakes up and says 'daddy, I don't want to go to school.' "
The boy's father also spoke to the News, and said he's bought a plane ticket to Sierra Leone for his son, purchased before the arrest. "Why would the school ask a parent when are you sending him to Africa?" Davis asked. "That's what the school keeps asking me. That's not right. They treat the African kids different. Other kids mock him and the teacher never stuck up for him...I need to get him out of this country." First, however, Davis needs to get Osman out of jail. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Family Court today after spending the night in a Bronx detention center.
The school Daramy attends, Dreyfus Intermediate School in Stapleton, is on the state's "Persistently Dangerous" list; the News notes that there were 342 suspensions last year out of a student population of 879. Not depressing enough for you? Do take a moment to check out the photo the Post snapped of Osman's arrest. Saddest perp walk ever.
Tagged
dreyfus elementary
hate crime
hibab
islam
muslim
staten island
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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