Milwaukee Parents Arrested For Giving Newborn Baby Racist Name
Â Justin and Jan Bunnie, parents of a newborn baby boy were arrested shortly after returning home with their bundle of joy.Â  Why would parents of a newborn be taken into custody at this most important time in their lives?Â  Police Chief Arthur McManus said, âWe didnât âarrestâ them exactly; we âpre-arrestedâ them. Like detaining. We were following court orders.Â  The judge said they set the kid up for abuse in the future, so we had to take them in.âJustin and Jan were first brought to the attention of the courts by doctors and nurses at the hospital where their baby was born. According to court records, the judge decided that they had given their newborn a name which, when coupled with their last name, forms a racial slur forÂ African-Americans.Â  The editors of Empire News respect the intelligence and sensitivity of our readers, and in the interest of privacy and respect to the newborn, will refer to the baby simply by hisÂ first initial, âJ.âThe couple was arrested for what Superior Court Judge Sylvia Hargrave called âfuture potential abuse from society at large due to irresponsible parenting and judgementÂ leading to lifelong emotional damage.âIn an interview From the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility, Justin Bunnie said, âWe didnât mean nothing racial. Â We wanted our kid to be someone special and get noticed in the world to succeed in life. Even if what the judge said is true, then my baby would have to defend himself and be strong.Â  You got to be strong to survive in this tough world, so this would make him stronger.ââI wanted him to be a like a celebrity,â said Baby Jââs mother, Jan.Â  âLike sometimes famous people will have unique names that get attention and all the internet stories, like the Kardashians and Honey Boo Boo.Â  Everybody knows their names and they are rich and happy. Thatâs what we want for our little Jâ.Â  Itâs not fair to put us in jail.The coupleâs public defender, John Offmore spoke about the case.Â  âWeâre petitioning to have them released on probation in exchange for a change of baby name.Â  It is unfortunate that a child would go through life being called âJâ Bunnie.Â  Iâve told my clients that although it is their choice, it was misguided, and they seem to have taken it seriously.âJustin Bunnie reluctantly went along with his legal counselâs idea.Â  âWell, itâs for the good of the baby,â he said. âAnd we also got to think about our older son, Francis.â Â FrancisÂ goes by the nickname âFuzzy.â âNo one had a problem with that name.âThe couple should be released within the week. Â An alternate name has not yet beenÂ chosen, although Jan Bunnie was provided with a baby nameÂ book, courtesy of the State of Wisconsin.Â  âIâm kind of leaning towardsÂ âHarry,â but I have to check with my husband first,â she said.