Ostrem explains why teens are not charged for racial slurs – ABC 6 News

(ABC 6 News) — No charges will be filed against the four teenagers who taped a racial slur to a Rochester bridge because the act falls under free speech law, Olmsted County District Attorney Mark Ostrem said Thursday.

“This behavior is really very offensive, it offends pretty much everyone. But at the same time we have to abide by the law,” Ostrem said.

In this incident, the insult was protected by the First Amendment because it was not directed against a specific group or person, nor did it constitute a direct insult, Ostrem said.

Ostrem said he was disappointed that he had not had the opportunity to press charges against the teens, and he was not the only one upset about the decision.

“If you go out in the middle of the night and do something, they want to do harm and that is a form of racial terrorism,” said Walé Elegbede, president of the Rochester branch of the NAACP.

Elegbede said they are now calling on prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to keep an eye on the youths.

“We cannot send the message that you will get away with it. So if we see a pattern, we definitely want things like this to be taken into account,” Elegbede said.

Elegbede encourages the community to get involved with the NAACP and talk to their families about justice.