Following are excerpts from some of the letters Judge Glenn Berman received as he considered the sentence for Dharun Ravi, who was convicted in March of invasion of privacy, bias intimidation and other charges for using his webcam to see roommate Tyler Clementi kissing another man. Clementi committed suicide days after the September 2010 invasion. Berman sentenced Ravi to 30 days in jail.
The last names and other information about the writers was redacted.
Courtney:
"As a 20 year old ... I would have probably done that (sic) same as Dharun. It's wrong but it is not punishable by prison and deportation."
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Jackson, a former Rutgers sociology professor:
"My regrets over Gail's suicide is why I am presuming to write you about the Ravi case. Not a day goes by that I do not think of her and feel guilty over what I might have done to prevent her suicide as well as grief over her loss. ... I am convinced that he had no idea that his immature prank would contribute to his roommate's suicide that he, like me, will punish himself with guilt for the rest of his life.
"If you decide to impose what some people might regard as a lenient disposition instead of a prison sentence and need an opinion on the side of mercy, feel free to publicize my reaction to my daughter's suicide. My view is that Ravi will carry to the end of his life a self-imposed punishment: regrets and guilt over his possible contribution to his roommate's death."
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Dave, a Rutgers student:
"The entire trial is preposterous; a sop to the politically correct Lords of Homosexualism. There is no crime here. There are only (purported) impure thoughts. And 'hurt feelings.' Which much be assuaged, preferably by burning Mr. Ravi at the stake. I had a class with Dharun Ravi, there is no way he has hate in his body ... silliness, yes hate, no!"
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Allen, a member of the Navy:
"I am gay and I know what bullies are like. Dharun Ravi did not bully Tyler. ... and he does DESERVE to live in MY country that I fight for. This jury decision was clearly influenced by media, it needs to be overturned."
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A group identifying itself as "members of South Asian Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Tran Communities," including scholars at Rutgers and the University of Massachusetts:
"We would like to point out that gay, lesbian and trans young people are bullied constantly in this country, and there have been many other suicides reported in the press that occurred as a result of bullying. However, we are not aware of any of the bullies in those cases being held responsible in a court of law for those suicides ... We believe that Mr. Ravi would have had a very different experience of the judicial system and the media had he not been the son of immigrants. We do not believe that justice for a gay man can be bought with injustice against an immigrant."
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Manoj:
"Ravi did a stupid prank, but not a 'hate crime!' Please consider the secluded and fearful live that Ravi has been living now. He has been punished already for a stupid prank."
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Amitabha, of Succasunna, N.J.
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