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Letter to the editor

Hate fuels attack on couple, police say

By KAMEEL STANLEY
Published June 12, 2007

LARGO - When Atari Gainer and his girlfriend Sabrina Seward moved from Dunedin to Largo a little over a month ago, they quickly realized things were different.

People were nice at first, Gainer said, but weeks after moving to Clearwater Trailer City on Clearwater-Largo Road, some neighbors started taunting the interracial couple.

Instead of calling police, the couple opted to keep to themselves and ignore the stares and harsh comments, he said.

But things went too far Friday night when one man started throwing bricks at the couple and their home while he shouted racial slurs, an incident police are calling a hate crime.

"I thought it wasn't real, " said Gainer, 25, who works as a day laborer. "It was all because I'm black."

Gainer said he and Seward, a telemarketer, were in their tiny mobile home when they heard someone calling for help.

They peeked out and saw a few men, who appeared to be drunk, fighting while others partied.

People immediately started yelling racial slurs at the couple, telling them to get back inside, he said.

One neighbor, 42-year-old Joseph Daniel Burnard, started an altercation with Gainer, calling him "n-----, " according to Largo police.

Seconds later, the man, whom Gainer knew only as "Joe, " appeared again, arms loaded with bricks.

Continuing to shout racial slurs, Burnard threw bricks and concrete chunks at the couple's small trailer and at the couple themselves, nearly hitting Gainer in the head, police said.

One of the bricks hit Gainer's ankle, although it didn't hurt him.

"Enough was enough, " Gainer said. "I felt I was going to get in trouble if I didn't do anything about it."

Early Saturday morning, Largo police arrested and charged Burnard with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The crime, a third-degree felony, is usually punishable by up to five years in prison, but it could be stricter if prosecutors pursue the case as a hate crime.

Under Florida's hate crime law, felony and misdemeanor penalties can be enhanced when the suspect shows evidence of prejudice based on the victim's race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, advanced age or mental or physical disability.

Police on Monday said Burnard later admitted to being a racist and said that he "can't stand seeing white women with those n------."

Witnesses confirmed that Burnard used the slurs as he threw the bricks, and he admitted it after being advised of his rights, police said.

Burnard, who jail records say works with concrete in construction, was being held at the Pinellas County Jail on Monday in lieu of $20, 000 bail.

He was appointed a public defender, who entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

Racism is an issue Gainer has had to deal with throughout his life, but not something he wants his girlfriend's 6-year-old son, Paul, to face.

The boy was visiting grandparents the night of the assault, Gainer said.

"It isn't safe, " he said. "If I can't get them out of here, I can get them in jail. Her son has to live here, too."

Times staff writer Jonathan Abel contributed to this report. Kameel Stanley can be reached at kstanley@sptimes.com or 727 445-4158.

[Last modified June 11, 2007, 23:29:28]