Against the Fence
19 min / documentary / 2011 / USA
filmmaker: Kurt Richter
Riley was brutally beaten in a bias crime because of his developmental disability. This is a story about his recovery and his own participation in bringing justice to his life.
One of millions of Americans with a developmental or intellectual disability, Riley Campbell was beaten because of it. He was assaulted by three young men behind a Eugene shopping center. The assault took place on his 31st birthday. Riley’s assailants were just 16 and 17 at the time of attack.
Such a bias crime is not unusual. What is unusual is a successful conviction of the attackers. This is a story about Riley’s recovery from a brutal beating and his own participation in bringing justice to his life.
In his letter to assailants, which he read in court, he wrote
“You pushed me on the ground and against the fence out here … out against the fence. Punched me in the face. Kicked me in the face, in the head. … You’re really mean. And I don’t like what you did to me. And I’m really glad that you’re going to jail.” -Riley Campbell
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