By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
Members of Greater Seattle’s African American community were once again reminded that hatred and racism seem to be alive and well in America, as a young Black man lays in a hospital bed as a victim of a hate crime.
According to Reports, on Jan. 20, DaShawn Horne, 26, and a lady friend spent the evening together at her home after a night out on the town, the next day the young lady’s brother, identified as Julian Pailate Tuimaugo, an eighteen-year-old male, came out of nowhere, began arguing with Horne and as Horne turned to enter a Lyft ride, Tuimaugo struck Horne with an aluminum baseball bat, striking him twice about the head and continued to beat other parts of his body.
The alleged assailant also videotaped the beating and the footage shows the attacker hurling racial slurs, along with the threat, “this is what happens when you bring Black people around here”. The Lyft driver attests to hearing the attacker saying, “this is what happens to these ni–ers out here, huh? That’s what happens to you ni–ers out here, boy,” which, according to prosecutors, places this incident in the category of a hate crime.
Horne, who has been in the hospital for three weeks now, lays in a coma at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle fighting for his life. The attacker was apprehended by Auburn police and was charged with first-degree assault and malicious harassment and is currently in detention.
A Lyft driver witnessed the attack and is said to have been responsible for saving Horne’s life. Horne is a mail handler with the U.S. Postal Service. Horne’s life has changed and he faces the challenges ahead. A vigil was called and the community gathered to stand for justice and to declare that the community, greater Seattle, King County, Auburn and the State will not tolerate racially motivated violence and brutality.
As the community rallies around the family, community leaders have offered their support in this tragic event.
“One thing I would like to say about this terrible event is that hatred is on the rise in America,” says Rev. Harriet Walden of Mothers For Police Accountability states.
“With this most egregious act of violence we have to stand up to the hatred no matter what form it comes in,” she continued “I myself must offer support to the family of the victim and as a mother I must honor Ms. Horne for her fortitude and unconditional love as she stands by her child’s side during this tragedy.”
Rev. Carl Livingston believes that while society had made considerable progress on the issue of race there is still more work to be done.
“From my perspective on this matter, no matter what kind of progress we make as a people, we still have to deal with our lives being threatened because of the color of our skin,” said Livingston.
“It is imperative for African Americans and all people of good will to stand up against what just happen to Mr. DaShawn Horne and to stand against the Trumps of the world who want to fan the flames of hatred and violence on our community,” added Livingston.
Through all of this one must honor the strength of LaDonna Horne, the mother of the victim, as she has to endure this tragedy. Horne is optimistic about her son’s future and is extremely grateful for the support that she and her family have received from the community.
“We would like to thank everyone for their well wishes, thoughts, prayers and love throughout this time DaShawn has been hospitalized from this brutal, unprovoked attack,” said Horne. “Love is going to get him out of this bed and he will walk away from this hospital in the near future. Please continue to keep DaShawn in your nightly prayers and learn to love one another.”
