A Black teen was attacked at a concert after confronting a group of young men waving around with the Southern Cross.
Brownsville police officials responded to an assault on Sunday evening at the Willamette Country Music Festival according to the Linn Sheriff’s office. The County Sheriff Jim Yon reported that three boys in their late teens or early twenties jumped on the victim after he spoke up about them swinging around the Confederate flag.
The crew of boys was riding around in a Black Ford pick up truck at the Festival before musician Kid Rock was set to take the stage. They apparently were flaunting the offensive flag around and that’s when the 18-year-old Black male addressed the boys.
An argument broke out between the victim and one of the riders. The suspect jumped out of the pickup truck, punched the 18-year-old repeatedly and drove off.
The victim’s friends found him and reported the incident to authorities. Medical assistance and police arrived at the scene. The young man was taken to Lebanon Community Hospital and sustained non-fatal injuries.
Oregon Deputies searched the perimeter around the festival, but the suspect was not found. Police are searching for the suspect who’s a male with dark hair and was wearing a Black muscle shirt paired with blue jeans, brown boots and a Black cowboy hat. He and his friends were riding in a newer Ford full-sized pickup.
Linn County Lt. Michelle Duncan said authorities are in the midst of conducting an investigation on whether or not the assault will be chartered as a hate crime according to the Associated Press.
