Horrific gang rape of 11-year-old girl sparks racial tension as all the accused are black and the victim Hispanic



Activist claims arrests show 'selective prosecution' of African-American community

Meeting planned to discuss arrests receives 'death threats'

Outrage over newspaper report that claimed victim 'dressed older than her age, wearing make-up'

Defence attorney slammed for suggesting girl was a 'willing participant'

Questions over arrests: Black activist Quanell X said a planned meeting over the arrests had drawn death threats

The sickening gang rape of an 11-year-old girl - which may have involved up to 28 boys and men - threatens to divide a U.S. community and flare racial tension in the region.

As more shocking details emerge of the prolonged sexual assault in Cleveland, Texas, it has been revealed that all 18 suspects charged so far are African-American and the victim is Hispanic.

Police, prosecutors and defence attorneys have said more people may be linked to the assault, as the victim herself - who cannot be named because she is a minor - says that at least 20 people were involved.

Other people viewed and distributed digital still images and digital footage of the attacks taking place - captured by some of the attackers on their mobile phones - which may lead to further charges.



But one black activist has claimed that the arrests show the African-American community is being targeted in the 8,000-strong town.

Quanell X, leader of the Black Panther movement in Houston - a mere 45 miles away - told ABC News: 'Every adult male that had sex with this child should go to prison, I don't care what the colour is.



'But I do not believe black males are the only ones that had contact with this young child. It appears to me there's only been the selective prosecution of one community, which is African-American.'

He said he planned to host a town meeting tonight, called What's The Real Truth Behind The Rape Allegations?, but the original venue had to be changed because its owners had 'received some death threats'.

Newspaper reports of the attack have been criticised for suggesting that the young girl might have been in some way responsible for the attack.

The New York Times was forced to issue a statement today after an article was published on Tuesday - reporting statements of Cleveland residents.

Reporter James C. McKinley wrote: 'They said she dressed older than her age, wearing make-up and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground, some said.'

Website Change.org picked up on the comment and started a petition, calling for The Times to apologize.

Yesterday, the paper published a letter from a Brooklyn resident, who referred to the section of the report and asked: 'How is this relevant except to subtly blame the victim?'

Site: Authorities say this is the abandoned trailer where it is alleged an 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in November 2010

Carlos Bernard Ligons Jared Len Cruse Isaiah Rashard Ross



Rayford Tyrone Jr.Ellis Timothyn Daray Ellis

Cedrick Deray Scott Eric Berbnard McGowen

Accused: Jamarcus Norris Napper (top left); Jared Glenn McPherson (top center); Kelvin Rashad King (top right); Marcus Anthony Porchia (bottom left); Xavier King (bottom center); Devo Shaun Green (bottom right)

Today Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesman for the paper, issued the following statement: 'Neighbours' comments about the girl, which we reported in the story, seemed to reflect concern about what they saw as a lack of supervision that may have left her at risk... They are not our reporter's reactions, but the reactions of disbelief by townspeople over the news of a mass assault on a defenceless 11-year-old. We are very aware of and sensitive to the concerns that arise in reporting about sexual assault.'

There was also outrage at a defence attorney in the case suggesting that the victim was a 'willing participant' in at least some of the multiple assaults.

Women's interest blog Jezebel.com pointed out a couple of legal points that the defence attorney had perhaps forgotten, writing: 'Lest anyone need to hear this again - an 11-year-old cannot consent to sexual activity, and there is no such thing as a willing participant to gang rape.'



Dirty: This is the inside of the abandoned mobile home where the alleged rape occurred

The uspects arrested in the case are aged between 14 and 27 are accused of taking part in the rape last Thanksgiving in an abandoned mobile home.



Investigators confiscated mobile phones from some of the suspects, after it emerged videos of the alleged incident were circulated around schools, court documents showed.

Speaking to KPRC news, assistant police chief Darrel Broussard said the investigation into the incident was ongoing.

He said: 'There have been leads during our investigation that have alerted us to other possible persons of interest.'



Police then interviewed school employees who had heard of the incident, according to the documents.



School: Cleveland high school, where some of the suspects are students. The arrest of so many young men has cast a long shadow on the town of Cleveland.

Shockingly, one employee spoke with several students 'who had seen the cell phone videos or heard of the incident', police said.



An affidavit claims the victim said one suspect called her 'and asked if she wanted to ride around'.

Three of the suspects then picked her up and took her to one residence where a fourth suspect lived, the network reported.



The fourth suspect told her to disrobe, she said, adding that she would be beaten up if she did not comply,' the affidavit recorded.

The girl was then said to have engaged in sexual acts in the bedroom and bathroom of the house.

While in the bathroom, the girl said she heard one suspect calling and inviting other people to have sex with her.

After she left the bathroom, she saw four men she did not know, the affidavit said.

The party were however disturbed when the aunt of one of the suspects returned home.

The alleged victim and the men then, 'left the residence in haste through the rear window of the house,' the affidavit said.



The group then moved to an abandoned trailer where the sexual acts continued.

The affidavit noted that the alleged victim 'stated that digital still images and digital video images of the sex acts were recorded by one or more individuals using cellular telephones'.



The sixth-grade victim has since been withdrawn from school.

She has apparently told investigators that up to 20 men were involved in the alleged rape.

The victim is thought to have been taken away from her mother and relatives and put into protective care for her own safety.

Some of those charged are from local Cleveland high school, while all 18 are understood to be from the town.