NAACP hopes to put teeth in Oklahoma hate crime law

ADA, Okla. (AP) _ The NAACP hopes to strengthen Oklahoma's hate crime law with a resolution named after a black 18-year-old East Central University student. <br/><br/>The civil rights organization

Tuesday, October 5th 2004, 11:31 am

By: News On 6

ADA, Okla. (AP) _ The NAACP hopes to strengthen Oklahoma's hate crime law with a resolution named after a black 18-year-old East Central University student.

The civil rights organization announced its plan Monday at a community forum in Ada, Oklahoma.

Joseph Tusan of Arlington Texas was killed after a racially charged dispute. He was a freshman defensive back for the ECU Tigers football team. He and nine other ECU students were riding in a pickup truck that was rammed from behind near Ada.

The impact threw them out of the truck bed, killing Tusan and injuring the others.

43-year-old Ammon Dean Reich of Konawa, Oklahoma -- who is white -- is charged with first-degree murder and nine counts of assault and battery. He's free on $125,000 bail. The FBI is investigating.