Man Airport Passengers Tackled For Anti-Gay Assault Getting Off Almost Scot-Free

A man who was tackled to the ground by airport passengers last year after assaulting another man he called “faggot” will get off practically scot-free.

Just before Halloween last year an amateur video of a man, seemingly drunk, in an airport, harassing and then assaulting another man he thought was gay went viral. The subject of the video, McCleish Christmas Benham, provided the perfect opportunity for onlookers and bystanders to take action to protect the oppressed.

The video, you’ll remember, opens with Benham attempting to wrestle a cell phone from his future victim, who seems to weigh about half what Benham does.

As security guards come over, Benham, apparently prepping for a fight, removes his sweatshirt, but they take no action. He then assaults the man with the cell phone, who is wearing a pink shirt, calls him a “faggot,” and announces, “Queers! That’s what I’m upset about.”

Later, he kicks the man in the groin, and that’s when passengers – not security guards – take action, and wrestle him to the ground.

Finally, police step in, handcuff Benham, and arrest him. 

On the ground, he tells another passenger why he did it. “This is America, that’s why, the same reason you get to live and walk Black,” he seems to say.

The video quickly went viral and has been viewed over five million times.

“Benham was charged with public intoxication and simple assault, both class-C misdemeanors each punishable by a maximum $500 fine, but no jail time,” Towleroad’s John Wright reports. 

“Benham posted a cash bond to get out of jail and entered a conditional plea of no contest at the time. Because Benham failed to appear in court, his bond will be forfeited and he will be convicted on both counts,” a court manager tells Towleroad. “Benham’s bond was $262 dollars on the assault charge and $212 on the public intoxication, for a total of $474.”

That’s it. No jail time, no hate crime charges, nothing. Just $474 and a few hours in the slammer to cool off.

His victim however, will live with the memory of being assaulted, forever.

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Image via YouTube