ChristiansUnite Forums

Authorities encouraged to investigate false information in 'hate crimes' death

The American Family Association of Michigan is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who falsely reported a hate crime against an elderly man in February.

In late February, national news reports carried the story of 72-year-old Anthony Anthos, who told relatives he was beaten in the head by a man who hurled anti-homosexual insults at him. After Anthos died, homosexual rights activists used the incident to push for hate crimes legislation. However, police found no evidence of a hate crime and said Anthos died of an accidental fall caused by a degenerative disease.

Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan (AFA of Michigan), says Detroit police should investigate those who gave false and misleading statements regarding the elderly man's death. "That is a criminal offense," the pro-family leader points out. "We believe whatever testimony is available should be brought forth to police," he says.

However, Glenn says the AFA of Michigan has not heard back from the authorities as to whether or not they will seriously investigate the crime. The pro-family group has put up the $5,000 reward in the hopes of encouraging anyone with information about the person or persons who made the false statements to police to come forward.

The AFA of Michigan spokesman says this case is just the latest in a string of false reports of so-called hate crimes. "There was a similar incident in Boise, Idaho, in January," he says, "where a 21-year-old Boise State University student claimed he had been attacked by a white man who hit him over the back of the head while calling him names associated with homosexual behavior. And, as it turns out, he later admitted that he had made the entire incident up and, in fact, hit himself in the face."

In light of the facts of the case, Glenn says he is calling for an apology from the homosexual rights group, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Officials with that group said the AFA of Michigan was responsible for the death of Anthos because of its so-called hate speech.