Hundreds Rally In Support Of Dharun Ravi

Hundreds are rallying at the State House in Trenton in support of Dharun Ravi, the ex-Rutgers student convicted of bias intimidation and invasion of privacy charges for using webcam to spy on his roommate kissing another man.

Supporters held signs that read, “Justice Not Vengence” and “Set Dharun Free” outside the state capitol.

“I could not find anything in my research about invasion of privacy or roommates or peeping toms…any of the things Ravi was charged and convicted of as a predicate for a hate crime” said Marc Poirer, a law professor at Seton Hall University.

Supporters held the rally to call attention to what they see as problems with the state’s hate crime laws.

“The background of hate crimes law comes out of lynching, anti-gay violence, not the kind of invasion of privacy problem that occurred here” said Poirer.

The 20 year-old faces up to ten years in prison when he’s sentenced next week.

“It’s a complete witch-hunt” said one man at the podium.   “We want justice for Dharun..and we feel the verdict didn’t deliver that.”