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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFBI: Man used racial slur before striking crying toddler on Delta flight.
FEBRUARY 15--After demanding that the mother of a crying toddler shut that nigger baby up, a male passenger allegedly slapped the 19-month-old across the face as a flight prepared to land in Atlanta last Friday evening, The Smoking Gun has learned.
The shocking February 8 incident aboard Delta Airlines Flight 721 resulted in Joe Rickey Hundley, 60, being charged with simple assault, according to a U.S. District Court affidavit. Hundley, seen at right, is president of an aircraft parts manufacturer headquartered in Hayden, Idaho.
In an interview, Hundley denied striking the toddler or using a racial slur, though he did acknowledge that he asked the mother to quiet the child. Hundley, who said he was traveling to Atlanta to visit a hospitalized relative, described himself as distraught on the flight, during which he said he consumed a single alcoholic drink.
As detailed by FBI Agent Daron Cheney, Hundley was traveling to Atlanta from Minneapolis in seat 28A on the MD-90 twin-engine jet. He was seated next to Jessica Bennett, who shared seat 28B with her son Jonah.
Bennett, 33, told investigators that the aircraft was in final descent to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport when her child started to cry due to the altitude change. Bennett added that she was trying to get [her son] to stop crying, but he continued.
At this point, Bennett recalled, Hundley used the racial epithet as he told her to shut the child up. He then allegedly turned around and slapped the toddler in the face with an open hand, which caused the juvenile victim to scream even louder. The slap, Bennett said, caused a scratch below [the childs] right eye.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/baby-slapped-on-plane-571923
riverbendviewgal
(4,251 posts)Nasty man...he deserves to be facebooked and shamed....and sued and put in jail.
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)JI7
(89,182 posts)of the nurse being told she can't take care of a baby because she is black .
people aren't even trying to hide anymore it seems.
Bluzmann57
(12,336 posts)That asshole would have been begging for that plane to not only land, but run over him as well. Let's hope he is punished to the fullest extent of the law.
goclark
(30,404 posts)who happens to be African American, would be climbing over the seat to give him an Ali Punch. They would have to pull me off of him if he touched my grandchild!
I would do it no matter what race my grandchild was -- my extended family is Japanese /Chinese/ Black/White and we all get along great.
Hell is way too good for Fools like that idiot!
atreides1
(16,046 posts)If it was my child, that clown would still be visiting his relative in the hospital...in the other bed!!!
Ilsa
(61,675 posts)As soon as seeing him strike anyone's child.
Asshole needs to go to jail.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)You'd think he'd want a first class seat so he wouldn't have to rub shoulders with any of the 47%ers. Or hit their babies.
Pig.
indepat
(20,899 posts)Bucky
(53,795 posts)Not a bad choice, as far as witnesses go.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)more likely he was citing witness reports. Also, even if he'd been there he couldn't have been sitting right next to the mom because the configuration on the MD-90 is Seat A, Seat B, aisle, then seats C, D and E. Slapper guy had the window seat, mom had the aisle seat with baby on her lap.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)Another passenger said he both heard the epithet and saw the slap.
indepat
(20,899 posts)Cha
(295,929 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)I don't ever remember seeing any big industry there.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)There still are a bunch of those loonies still there. I hope the Southern Poverty Law Center gets involved.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)It's a pretty area. Sorry they're attracting so many whack jobs.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)people who are descendants of the original settlers many of French and Norwegian decent and native Americans. Those locals aren't racist. The racists have moved up there from south of there because the places they originated from didn't want them and their wacko ideas either. The people of those inland forests tended to leave them alone so they settled in. I lived up there for five years. It is really lovely. Too bad they always vote for the Republican who doesn't give a shit about preserving the heritage and wilderness areas of the place.
jsr
(7,712 posts)Last edited Fri Feb 15, 2013, 11:05 PM - Edit history (1)
mythology
(9,527 posts)It implies that he should suffer some sort of prison attack. Whether it's meant to be physical or sexual, it's not cool either way.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)He has previous record for attacking a woman too..
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)There is enormous consensus on DU that cheering on rape for a criminal or alleged criminal is an ugly thing.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)lot of it (class).
jsr
(7,712 posts)Good catch. Thanks.
Nevernose
(13,081 posts)Good job, and thank you.
sheshe2
(83,355 posts)How anyone could strike this child's sweet face is beyond me.
Catherine Vincent
(34,485 posts)What the hell is wrong with that racist fool? If this did happen, they should lock this sorry racist bastid up and throw away the key. If this had happened to my child, there is no way, this man would have been able to walk off that plane without a limp.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Catherine Vincent
(34,485 posts)This just makes me mad and can't believe it actually happened.
Logical
(22,457 posts)I would have been glad to restrain him.
He deserves a night or two in jail for sure!
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)He could be looking at a decent stint in federal prison, plus a civil suit.
MRDAWG
(501 posts)nothing to do with race.
I don't like loud people of ANY age.
I don't want to hear your story, ipod, movie , child etc.
Especially on a closed in place. No cell phones on airplanes because of this.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)And called him the "N" word......
ajk2821
(89 posts)If you don't want to sit next to the child, offer to switch seats with a person in back. I bet you might get some takers. I have three kids and due to my wife's work, we travel quite a bit. We pay full fare, just like you, for our kids seats. Despite that, I have been told by passengers and attendants that we can't use over head space for our kids luggage; that our three kids all have to sit on our laps so they can seat other passengers (we buy 5 seats for 5 people) among other things.
goclark
(30,404 posts)ADULTS!
Young Children are usually doing fine on the planes that I've been on recently / age appropriate -- it's the crazy Adults that can get on my nerves.
dlwickham
(3,316 posts)than in a seat? If I paid for 5 seats, I want my five seats
that makes absolutely no sense
PotatoChip
(3,186 posts)No matter what other passengers and attendants say. And I'm the type of person who always tries to avoid conflict, if at all possible.
Maybe these people don't realize that you paid for all 5 seats?
As to the OP, what a despicable thing this man did! I hope he will be penalized as far as the law will allow.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)know you have 5 tkts and ask what their reasoning is -
You bought the 5tkts
& need to show them to the attendant
perhaps they do not know if the seats are unassigned that 5 tkts were purchased
SYG on that
If they refuse report them to the airlines, make sure you get their name and all other attendants that agree with them on the flight. They may be just ASSuming you have only 3 tickets
dlwickham
(3,316 posts)maybe you should invest in a pair before the next time you fly
csziggy
(34,120 posts)That way you can totally control who flies in the same closed in space as you.
Children are people, too. If their parents have paid for a ticket, they have as much right to be in the seat assigned as you do in yours. If you don't like the company of the people in the plane, then you should consider alternative modes of transportation, not try to segregate those who do not meet your criteria.
Earplugs or noise canceling headphones work, too.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)That doesn't mean you get to call them names or hit them. Or even whine about how children are SO annoying that they all ought to have to ride in the back. What it means is that, since you are the grownup you get to behave yourself. Use earplugs or a noise-cancelling headset, or just suck it up. You won't be on the plane forever.
Jeez.
cali
(114,904 posts)this is about a grown man hitting a crying small child and using racial slurs. Clearly, genius, it had everything to do with race and a racist pig.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)Response to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)
Horse with no Name This message was self-deleted by its author.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)Response to HipChick (Reply #43)
Horse with no Name This message was self-deleted by its author.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Some are just directed to the poor child
....like the one I read said that the baby cries a lot because he doesn't know who his father is like most black babies
goclark
(30,404 posts)and the Father was Black?
The "N" Word was not appropriate in any situation. I am African American and my grandfather was " More White / Blue eyes, Fair skin looking" etc.
One day when I was abt. 6, he took me shopping downtown in a Big City in the East. In those times, especially for African Americans, when we went " Downtown" we were dressed in our " Sunday Best." ~ that meant I was wearing a pretty blue dress, a little purse, don't remember the color and shiny new black patent leather shoes.
A White lady was walking toward us and said......
"What a beautiful little girl, is that your maid's child?"
My wonderful grandfather ( who was the beloved Butler for an extremely wealthy White Man) calmly told her....
" This is my wonderful grandchild and I am a proud Colored Man - "good day "
I am now a Senior and I still remember that experience. The lady appeared to be in what I would call "total shock!"
I often wonder how she handled other situations that involved RACE during her lifetime.
wtmusic
(39,166 posts)Figures.
Response to wtmusic (Reply #40)
Horse with no Name This message was self-deleted by its author.
ellie
(6,928 posts)I just flew Delta from Atlanta and they have to be the worst. I was flying next to an unaccompanied minor who was beyond fidgety, thanks to the flight attendants who kept him filled up on cookies. Thanks! Just what I wanted to do: babysit.
ajk2821
(89 posts)They will happily try to move you or just be a man and then they will make you move since men can't sit next to unaccompanied minors. And as an added bonus, they will imply that you are a child molester too when they move you.
ellie
(6,928 posts)Every flight I am on is like the last flight out of Saigon: filled to the brim.
jmowreader
(50,453 posts)and asked them if anyone knew there was an aircraft parts manufacturer in Hayden before tonight.
"Yeah, I THINK we ran a story about them five or six years ago."
I looked on Google Maps for the company; its building is smaller than most of the barns around here.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)is in my opinion, trivial. Slapping someone else's child? He should have been taken off the plane in hand cuffs.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)It is something that poor baby will be dealing with the rest of his life as long as racists like that are around
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)You're right, that child will probably be dealing with them the rest of his life, and I can only hope will learn how to deal with them.
But if I, a white woman, were travelling on a plane with my toddler (which I did when the boys were that age) and if they started crying, which happened more than once, I would of course do all I could to sooth my child and get him to stop crying. If the man in the next seat slapped my child, I would absolutely demand that he be arrest for battery.
Hitting a child? Someone else's child? As I said, the man should have been taken off the plane in handcuffs.
Pisces
(5,592 posts).