Racial tension in Chicago? (Humboldt: crimes, landlord, law)

[deslok]

He said something to the effect of "what are you going to do about it", stood up to me wanting to fight me, and then went off into calling me names.

[htmlfamily]

Originally Posted by deslok

I am an italian american with darker skin, and just moved into a new apartment building in the River North area of town. A man in the building my second day there was quite rude in the computer lab area, and even tried to fight me. When he saw that I wouldn't ( since there is a camera in the computer lab of the apt) he started calling me the n word, along with other racial taunts. (saying things such as your kind, etc..)

The building has said they can't do anything about it unless he hits me. Any ideas on what to do? This was 2 days ago.

Call Vic "The Hammer" Bonnanno...

[RichMonk]

Unfortunately people have a right to be racists and vocalize their opinions. If he threatened you then you can make a police report but I doubt the police would make time for it. I understand how you feel. I am of Pacific Islander decent but tend to look Latino to some people and have experienced such disgusting behavior in the past. Just let it roll of your shoulders and be comforted by that fact that he is an ignorant racist who is too stupid to understand what a human is.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by htmlfamily

Call Vic "The Hammer" Bonnanno...

Uhh oh.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by htmlfamily

Call Vic "The Hammer" Bonnanno...

Yeah, don't you have some pals from Elmwood Park?

[CrazyJay]

wow. that's bad.

I've been fortunate enough to have never experienced anything like that.

It seems like you did all you could. Keep cool. Unless he touches you, never touch or attack him back.

[deslok]

While it would be fun to call up friends and make a big deal about it, I'd think that's more stooping to his level.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by deslok

I am an italian american with darker skin, and just moved into a new apartment building in the River North area of town. A man in the building my second day there was quite rude in the computer lab area, and even tried to fight me. When he saw that I wouldn't ( since there is a camera in the computer lab of the apt) he started calling me the n word, along with other racial taunts. (saying things such as your kind, etc..)

The building has said they can't do anything about it unless he hits me. Any ideas on what to do? This was 2 days ago.

Ever hear of a gun? It was made for just such an occassion. And make sure you have a knife to plant in his dead hand afterwards!

[Empidonax]

The manager of your building should offer to talk to him, or perhaps both of you at once, about the incident. Of course, you could refuse the offer, but it seems to me that the other guy is in danger of breach of contract by creating a hostile environment, etc. No one should have to wait for this to escalate into something physical; it should be diffused now, proactively.

If the harassment continues, you might consider securing a restraining order on the fellow. In the meantime, you should try to make other people (esp. tenants) in the building aware (or even witness) to the guy's behavior; perhaps publicity can help subdue his attitude (he may feel powerful over you now, thinking that you have no recourse or interest to do something about it).

Perhaps you could find pamphlets somewhere on racial/ethnic harassment, and leave them in the building's lobby, just in case.... Pamphlets of this sort tend to cover the problems of race perception, as opposed to race actuality.

But most of all, just in case: buy a small notebook, or create a computer file, and record EVERYTHING (with time, date, description, witnesses, etc.) negative or potentially negative that happens with this guy. If things escalate, a log of this sort will come very much in handy.

[JohnDoe2008]

Tell your manager all about it, tell your landlord all about it. Describe the guy as good as you can, say what time and day and where it all happened. SEND A HANDWRITTEN LETTER AND SIGNED to your landlord, and anyone else that runs yoru building with all this info. Be sure to describe this person by height, weight, hair color, the way his tone was in speaking, his accent, his clothing, the time and date, the place, his shoes, where he was sitting, EVERYHTING.
If you want, send a letter to the American Civil Liberties Union too, look them up online, they will respond to you with more advice. But for sure write a letter to your landlord, AND ALSO CALL AND EMAIL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE TO YOUR LANDLORD AND EVERYONE THAT RUNS YOUR BUILDING.

You can also keep an eye out for him, and when you see him, get revenge somehow, you think of that one, jsut remember the way the italian mafia is known for handling people like him.

You can call the cops on him and say he threatened you and thats assault.
You can file a civil lawsuit for assaulting you, which is making you scared he would attack you so you were apprehensive.

Theres A LOTof things you can do, if your not very lazy and want to send him a clear message that his actions are not acceptable, and are most likely illegal as assault.
The hostile environment thing is true also.
I think you can call a non for profit legal clinic,volunteer lawyers who work for free. Theres a couple in chicago.