Clothing Maketh the Goth?

I was appalled when I read that the sentencing of these men has yet to take place after such a vicious assault. It places their careers ahead of the public safety of other residents and also, more importantly above the justice for James Howard. In Lancashire, UK, last August, Sophie Lancaster, aged 20, was murdered by being kicked and stamped to death. She was a beautiful alternative young woman. She was on her way home from her friends with her partner, like James, just out for the evening, when five youths attacked Rob and when Sophie tried to stop them, they turned on her and left her for dead. Rob was unconscious, and is still recovering from the wicked attack and death of his loved one. Her mother and friends have established The Sophie Lancaster Foundation in her memory. It aims to raise awareness world wide of the issue of the abuse (often violent, as you have reported here) suffered by goths,emos, punks(remember US Brian Deneke?)and metal fans. We want to research the extent of the violence as we know it often goes unreported and is seen as fights rather than attacks. Sophie's mother is raising money for the Foundation, some of which will go to the hospital near Manchester, where Sophie was nursed before they had to turn her life support machine off on the 24th August. Two youths were sentenced, one after pleading guilty and one after facing a trial, in April this year. They received 16 and 18 years. American supporters said how lenient that was, but James has had no justice yet.Where is the outcry in San Diego about this? Please join us by going to myspace.com/inmemoryofsophie. We have had 111,000 hits and nearly 10,000 friends on there , many from America. I hope the judge finally gives substantial sentences to Benham, appropriate to the seriousness of this violent assault. We have to stamp out this intolerance, prejudice and hatred shown to people from alternative subcultures. The judge in Sophie's case said it was a hate crime, "equal to all other hate crimes". I hope Benham's judge thinks the same. Kate Conboy-Greenwood S.O.P.H.I.E.CAMPAIGN MANAGER
— July 24, 2008 3:21 a.m.