We would like to give you an update on the situation involving Walter Currie Jr. In September 2009, we sent information to some of our supporters about this situation.
On June 10, 2009, Walter Currie Jr., a 15-year old black youth, and his cousin, Marcus were witnesses to an assault. Three days later, the cousin of the boy who was assaulted walked up to Walter Currie Jr. (one of the witnesses), doused Walter with gasoline and set Walter aflame. Walter suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns from his waist to his face.
And, though the police reports do not confirm this, persons who were there say that when the young man set Walter on fire he reportedly said, "Burn, n-----, burn." Walter Currie Jr. is black; Walter's assailant is white. When asked, Walter could not explain why this young man picked him out. The final irony is that thirty days later, Walter Currie Jr., was charged with 3rd degree assault apparently because Walter was a witness to an assault.
The Dept. of Justice in Kansas City has jurisdiction in this matter but they were never notified of this hate crime by the Poplar Bluff Police Department; this case was only brought to their attention by a third party. In January 2009, the assailant reportedly stated that he wished that "slavery days" were still in effect. At this writing, only local media has covered this story. Walter had his fourth court appearance on December 2, 2009 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Mrs. Winonia Currie, Walter's mother, still needs your help. Although the Baptist Minister's Union of Kansas City, Missouri held a fundraiser on October 3, 2009, Mrs. Currie is still in need of financial aid to help defray expenses for Walter's medical care and for travel. Please send donations by mail to US Bank, 200 S. Main St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 or take your donation to the nearest US Bank branch.
Information contained in this article has been taken from information provided by our sister branch in Kansas City, Missouri. Other information has been provided by Mrs. Winonia Currie.
Note: Rev. Mary A. Pulley, the president of the Rolla Area Branch of the NAACP, has approved this article. The purpose of the NAACP Point of View series is to communicate the positions of the Rolla Area Branch of the NAACP concerning subjects of interest. For more information, or to join the NAACP, please contact the Rolla Area Branch by e-mail (unit4093@naacp.org), regular mail, (PO Box 1534, Rolla Missouri 65402-1534), or telephone (573-426-3323).
