A white teen in Illinois has been convicted of attacking and helping to put a noose around the neck of a black teen.

Back in 2011, Mathew Herrmann and two friends lured 17 year-old Joshua Merritt to one of their homes and proceeded to restrain him, call him the “n-word,” and put a knife to his throat. Apparently, they attacked him because he was dating one of their family members.

After pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery, a judge gave Herrmann 2 years probation and ordered him to write an essay about lynching and read it aloud at a peace circle, “a process where offenders meet victims and community members in an effort to resolve issues between them.”

Herrmann, who was 18 when he took part in the 2011 attack with two younger accomplices, was at first charged with committing a hate crime, unlawful restraint and battery ­­— all felonies.

But under a deal with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery. The sentence was imposed by Cook County Circuit Court Judge James B. Linn

…

Merritt said he was invited to hang out with Herrmann and his friends at the house.

Merritt said he had been friends with Herrmann since his freshman year at Brother Rice. Herrmann was sophomore, but they were both in clubs and had a ‘trust with each other.'”

Read more at suntimes.com

 

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