In 7th grade, I was forced to transfer to a middle school where I knew no one. The same year, a boy named Kris King moved to the area from Ohio. We were initially outcast as the new kids and were each other’s only friends. We played in band together all through middle school and high school. He was one of the nicest and least judgmental people I’ve ever known. He didn’t care about the color of your skin, your sex, your religion, your sexuality, your age, or your past; if you were his friend, you were his friend.
Kris was killed over two years ago. In a turn of bitter irony, the man accused of his murder is a self-professed neo-nazi who targeted Kris because he was gay.
John Ditullio’s trial begins today. In yet another bitterly ironic twist, the judge has granted Ditullio a defense request to have tattoos of an expletive and a swastika on his neck covered up to prevent the jury from judging him on his appearance.
After Kris died, I made a conscious effort to be more like him so his death would not have been in vain. I hold less grudges and forgive more. I try not to willfully judge people. I don’t hate. I’ve gotten to the point where I can say I forgive John Ditullio and mean it. I don’t care what happens to him after the trial; all that matters is that Kris is gone.
However, I don’t think it’s right that his tattoos be covered up at taxpayers’ expense. He got them after he was arrested and they’re a part of who he is. They might as well conceal the color of his skin or his sex or any other physical characteristic on which the jury could judge him. I can’t imagine how weak the defense must be if they have to cover tattoos in order to get a fair trial.
