Reactions to Live Video of Torture of Mentally Disabled Man in Chicago

A live video broadcast on Facebook showing the torture of a mentally disabled man has sparked widespread reactions and may be 'racially motivated.' Barack Obama, the former President of the United States, described the video as 'horrific.' The video depicts severe and violent behavior against a man who was confined in a corner and reportedly tortured for six hours. Those torturing him shout insults at Donald Trump and 'whites,' urging the kidnapped man to repeat these insults. Four suspects have been arrested: Tashina and Brittany Covington, who are sisters, Jordan Hill, and Tesfaye Cooper. The tortured man is 18 years old and mentally disabled. Police say he managed to escape after six hours when the four suspects left their apartment to intimidate a downstairs neighbor who had apparently complained about the noise. Jordan Hill, one of the suspects, was a friend of the victim, and according to American media reports, the victim's family took him to a restaurant to meet and spend time with Jordan before leaving the location. Jordan Hill then abducted him in a van and took him to the West Side of Chicago. The victim's family reported to the police that their son was missing shortly after. Hours later, the physical and verbal torture of the mentally disabled individual began, along with its broadcast on Facebook. Barack Obama, in an interview with a Chicago channel, described the incident as 'horrific' and stated, 'What we have seen is the emergence of many problems that have long existed there... whether stemming from tensions between police and local communities, or hate crimes of the kind that are now displayed on Facebook.' Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, on the other hand, told Fox News, 'If the attackers were four white individuals and the victim an African American, then all liberals would call it a hate crime, and no one would doubt it.' However, Eddie Johnson, the Chicago Police Superintendent, stated that there was 'never any doubt' that the incident would be investigated as a hate crime, but the police want to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the final judgment is not influenced by current emotions. The Mayor of Chicago also reacted strongly to the video, calling it 'disgusting.' Chicago has a very high rate of violence, and estimates suggest it is only safer than 11% of other cities in the U.S.