Any man who beats up on a woman has a special place in Hell awaiting him. Any man who brutally beats a woman nearly to death because of her sexuality not only holds a reservation in Hell but also a warm spot at a penitentiary. Hopefully, for a long time.

On Thanksgiving, Mallory Owens went to celebrate the holiday with dinner with her girlfriend, Ally Hawkins, at her girlfriend’s family’s home. Travis Hawkins Jr., Ally’s brother, viciously attacked Mallory, reportedly as the family looked on. Travis Hawkins, Jr. is just 18-years-old! A man who does this to a woman is no man whatsoever. According to Mallory’s sister, this isn’t even the first time this woman-beater attacked Mallory, stating that “…he never liked Mallory and Ally to begin with.” I don’t necessarily like my sister, either, but I’d never raise a hand to hurt her and wouldn’t allow anyone else to do it, either.

There are a few issues involved in this troubling case that makes it even more disturbing. First of all, how is it that the family “stood around and watched” as this attack took place? Why aren’t there charges being filed against every one of them who “stood around and watched” as this young woman was being pulverized by a deranged teenager? If no one intervened during the obvious commission of a crime but remains a witness to it, shouldn’t that make them guilty of “accessory to…” the crime being committed?

Secondly, this attack occurred on Thanksgiving day. That was Thursday. Four days ago! No local Mobile, Alabama picked up the story until this very day, November 26th, four days after the horrendous attack. In fact, the only reason they were “pushed” into “breaking” the story is because it had begun to circulate and go viral on the social media giant, facebook. Several prominent pages, including Wipe Out Homophobia, STOP Teenage Suicide, and Enough is Enough: the blog page, began to publish the story late morning. By mid-afternoon, it had gone viral. It was then that the local stations saw an urgency to push the story. How can that be? Why wasn’t this first-page news immediately after it happened. A 23-year-old lesbian was beaten within inches of her life, and that’s not newsworthy? Or, was that another “boys will be boys” incident that didn’t require any media attention. The editors of all of the local Mobile, Alabama media outlets should be ashamed of themselves for failing to bring this story to light. It shouldn’t have taken a facebook effort to shine light on this travesty.

Thirdly, and most egregious, is what young Travis Hawkins, Jr. is charged with. For the crime of beating a 23-year-old woman nearly to death, Travis is charged with second degree assault. Second degree assault! I know that in the state where I live, second degree assault carries very little time. The crime Travis Hawkins, Jr. committed on Thanksgiving Day, against Mallory Owens, is attempted murder. Period. Further, he should be charged with a hate crime. Alas, his charge is a simple second degree assault charge for beating a woman so badly, she now has metal plates under each eye socket. She now has bleeding on the brain. Her life will never be the same. Second degree assault. At the very least, he should’ve been charged with first degree assault.

In addition to the facebook pages that are responsible for bringing this story the national attention it deserves, there is now a facebook page dedicated to getting justice for Mallory: Justice Today – For Mallory. There is also a petition, that needs signatures!, that is designed to compel the Alabama judicial branch to charge Travis Hawkins, Jr. with what he should’ve been charged with from the beginning: attempted murder and a hate crime. (at LEAST a first degree assault charge) Please sign the petition, then pass it on so that others can sign it, as well.

Shame on Travis for beating on a woman; shame on the Mobile, Alabama media for not picking up this story before today; and, shame on the Alabama State’s Attorney’s Office for charging this young thug with a mere second degree assault in the brutal attack. We demand justice for Mallory, and we won’t rest until we see it.

SIGN THIS PETITION TO BRING TRAVIS HAWKINS, JR. TO JUSTICE:

http://www.change.org/petitions/mobile-county-alabama-prosecutor-bring-travis-hawkins-jr-to-justice

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