Indian-Americans in Washington have launched a White House petition campaign after a US jury handed down a guilty verdict in the trial of Dharun Ravi who secretly filmed his gay roommate's sexual encounter, saying the boy been robbed of one of the most fundamental rights: "presumption of innocence".
Ravi, an ex-student of the Rutgers University, was convicted last week on charges of using a webcam to spy on his now-dead roommate Tyler Clementi's sexual encounter with another man.
Found guilty of invasion of privacy, bias intimidation and witness and evidence tampering among other charges, Ravi now faces 10 years in prison. The sentencing has been set for May 21.
"Address the fact that media is driving Justice System's decisions: 18-year-old Rutgers student Dharun Ravi is NOT Biased" petitions the Obama administration and has been posted on the White House website.
The petition needs at least 25,000 signatures to evoke a response from the White House.
Over the weekend less than 1,000 signatures were signed in support of the petition.
"In 2010, Dharun Ravi, 18-year-old Rutgers student, secretly recorded his roommate Tyler Clementi with another man and posted it on the internet for everyone's view. For the next two years this is what was portrayed by media, politicians, activists worldwide and it was believed to be true. He was prejudged and declared guilty (10-year prison)," said the petition dated March 16.
{{/usCountry}}"In 2010, Dharun Ravi, 18-year-old Rutgers student, secretly recorded his roommate Tyler Clementi with another man and posted it on the internet for everyone's view. For the next two years this is what was portrayed by media, politicians, activists worldwide and it was believed to be true. He was prejudged and declared guilty (10-year prison)," said the petition dated March 16.
{{/usCountry}}"In 2012, we know none of this is true: nothing was ever recorded/ broadcast; every single witness testified that Ravi had NO hatred towards gays; however muddled law led to guilty verdict. Ravi was robbed of one of the most fundamental rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution: "presumption of innocence," it said.
"This is not the precedence we want to set. Instead of drawing lines in the sand and taking sides, let's come together as people and prove that we can make tough decisions and show some compassion, understanding, and sympathy," the email said.
"Please sign this if you believe that equality and tolerance should be achieved through honest, open communication and not through a vicious and vengeful prosecution that only serves to fuel tempers and alienate us even further," it said.