Justice for Angie Zapata
Angie Zapata was brutally murdered in July 2008 in Greeley, Colorado. She was murdered because she was a transgender woman. Her murder was a hate crime.
Allen Ray Andrade, the man who murdered Angie Zapata was convicted of first degree murder and bias-motivated crime (more famously known as a ‘hate crime.’) He was also convicted of vehicle and identity theft. It took the jury of this case only two hours to come to a guilty verdict. Allen Ray Andrade will spend the rest of his life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
Of course, this is not necessarily “justice” for Angie Zapata and her family because Angie is dead and just because her murderer was convicted and will spend the rest of his life in jail, Angie will not miraculously come back to life. However, returning a guilty verdict in this case, the jury has spoken volumes and have given not only the people of Colorado, but across this country a nice dose of reality and have said that no hate crime will go unpunished. That no innocent people should die by simply being who they are.
Angie’s family released a statement after the verdict was read. Angie’s brother gave a truly amazing and emotional speech. It is definitely a touching speech, you can see just how loved Angie Zapata was and the damage that Andrade has done to this family and to every person who loved and cared for Angie is not erased by a sentence of life in prison.
For the transcript of this speech, head over to Feministe.
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I also pray for justice for Angie Zapanta. What happened to her was so horrible.
What happened to Angie Zapata is a real eye-opener. Life is short. Let's do what we have to now before it's too late. I commend the decision of the jury.
When will this “hatred” ends? To put this to a halt, let's begin within us. Let us learn to love everyone even our enemies…too hard to do? Yes, because we were told to hate and hate..but if we practice to scrape the word hatred, everything will follow. Please unite to end this suffering….We don't deserve such a cruel death…
That's just horrible.. Like you said, the worst thing about murders is that no matter what kind of punishment the murderer gets, the victim won't have the chance to recover..
I just hate “hate crimes”, why cant people just live and let live..
but this case had a great outcome, the guilty got punished.
In Pakistan, where I live there are so many hate crimes and gender based crimes that one even stops counting and the sad thing is that the guilty just walk free. by walk free i mean they dont even get convicted, they are corrupt powerful people who dont even get to spend a day in jail.
It is just too frustrating…
this post had a great verdict..
Fantastic post, very interesting ideas, Thanks for sharing your experience
The statment is very touching. You can see the emotions in words.
That was very sad, my sympathy be with you. Where thus justice rely hope that criminal case would be close into right decision of the court.
A crime is a crime and a criminal must be punished for that. Allen Ray Andrade was the murderer of Angie Zapata he must rest in jail for and he must be fined and that amount pay to Angia's family.
To kill because of hate? I think killing is all about hating. Just look what happen to the wold right now…Wars..
This is indeed something touching. hate crime because of transgender issues is absolitely detestable. Countries should get together and make more stringent laws.
This is indeed something touching. hate crime because of transgender issues is absolitely detestable. Countries should get together and make more stringent laws.