Tag: hate crime

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Philadelphia: Gay Bashing Suspects To Be Arrested This Week

According to a source close to the current police investigation of the Center City gay bashing incident, arrests should happen this week and “people are going to get locked up.”

As of this morning, police had interviewed 18 possible suspects and witnesses.  One more key person of interest – “the girl in the middle of it all” – will be interviewed today.

The process has been time consuming as police want to make sure they “get it right,” and each interview takes at least four hours:

“We’ve had to schedule with the attorneys for all the different times for them to come in,” the source said. “But Monday morning as soon as the stores opened, we started working through the video and then we started the interviews. We want to make sure whoever threw a punch or whoever was part of this assault will be arrested. What happens with cases like this is that, if you rush it and don’t do a good job, they’ll start throwing out charges later on. These kids all have top-notch attorneys, so if our case isn’t put together on our end, they’re going to pick it apart. But we’ve put together a great case for the DA and we’ll be working in conjunction with the DA to bring the charges.”

“The stories have been pretty consistent so far,” the source said. “It looks like it started by either a bump or words being exchanged, and then punches were thrown. But not everyone in the crowd knew what was going on. People were kind of staggering, and some didn’t seem to realize the extent of the one guy’s injuries.”

“It’s a tragedy for the two guys who were hurt and it’s a tragedy for some of the people in the crowd because the majority weren’t involved,” the source said. “But the guys who were involved are going to pay the price.”

The violent attack has renewed attention on the lack of hate crime laws with respect to crime on LGBT people.

In 2002, the state legislature had added sexual orientation to the hate crime laws, but it was later challenged and repealed on a technicality. State Rep. Brendan Boyle has introduced a bill to amend the current hate crime law to include LGBT citizens.

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Philadelphia: Rally Scheduled in Support of LGBT Inclusion in Hate-Crime Law

As public outcry continues to grow regarding the gay bashing incident in Center City last week that sent to gay men to the hospital, the subject of Pennsylvania’s hate crime law and it’s lack of inclusion of LGBT folks is getting a lot of attention.

Not only from pubic citizens but the state’s elected officials.

From Philly.com:

“The gay guy in me and the Philly guy in me are pissed,” said state Rep. Brian Sims, “but I’m a legislator, and my job is to change policy.

“If we can do anything to draw enough attention to this to give the hate-crime bill some buoyancy, we need to do it.”

Sims, a Democrat whose district includes the site of the attack, is organizing a rally Thursday in LOVE Park, at which officials and members of the city’s LGBT community will push for change in Pennsylvania’s hate-crime law.

He’s joined in his efforts by state Sen. Larry Farnese – a Democrat whose district serves parts of North Philly, Center City and South Philly – who will hold a news conference inside the Capitol on Tuesday.

“It upsets me that it takes something like this, a horrific assault, to cast light on the fact that Pennsylvania is woefully behind in protecting its people,” Farnese said last night.

“We should not have to hold press conferences on equality in 2014.”

The rally will take place in LOVE Park on Thursday, September 25th at 2pm.

In addition to state legislators, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf (currently 24 points ahead of Gov. Corbett in the polls) has announced his support for amending the state’s hate crime law.

Via press release:

As governor, I will work to level the playing field by promoting legislation like House Bill 300 that makes sexual orientation and gender identity and expression a protected class and House Bill 745 that amends Title 18 of the Ethnic Intimidation Act to include sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity.

And I will be a vocal advocate for the right of all Pennsylvanians to be treated with dignity and respect. I wish a full and speedy recovery for the two victims, and I hope the people responsible will be brought to justice swiftly.”

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City Councilman Asks Federal Government To Explore Hate Crime Charges For Philly Gay-bashing

City Councilman James Kenney

Amid the outrage caused by a gay-bashing in Center City last week that sent a gay couple to the hospital, City Councilman James Kenney has called for the federal government to bring hate-crime charges against the group suspected in the attack.

Kenney called the incident “a violent and vicious attack on two human beings because they are gay.”

“It’s a crime of violent bias that calls for the full weight of federal prosecution by the United States Department of Justice,” he said in a statement.

Currently, a crime related to LGBT animus is not covered under hate-crime laws in Pennsylvania, but it is covered under federal law. Sexual orientation had been a part of the hate crime statute until 2008, when the state Supreme Court ruled that such inclusion was a violation of the state constitution.

Police are currently interviewing “persons of interest” but no arrests have been made as yet.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims

In related news, state Rep. Brian Sims – who represents the area where the attack took place – says he will push to change the hate crime law to include gender identity, sexual orientation, and physical and mental disability to the hate crime law. Already introduced in 2013, the legislation is not likely to see any activity until 2015.

“One of the things I’ve learned is that sometimes it takes a horribly negative experience to get people out of their seats, for them to be active and engaged,” says State Representative Brian Sims of his colleagues in Harrisburg. “It’s not necessarily because they’re opposed but because they aren’t aware of the need. So we are going to be sure to utilize this horrible event to make sure that they hear about it. I’m going to be bringing two people with me who will be able to tell them all about it.”

You can watch Councilman James Kenney speak to the City Council about the attack below:

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Philadelphia: One Member Of Gay-Bashing Mob Fired From Catholic High School

NBC Philadelphia is reporting that some of the members of the mob who are “persons of interest” in the attack on two gay men last week which sent them to the hospital with severe injuries were alumni from Archbishop Wood High School in nearby Warminster, PA.

One of the persons of interest was also the assistant basketball coach at Archbishop Wood before the school dismissed him from his duties Wednesday, according to a school spokesman.

“He was not a teacher at the school but serving as a coach on a contract basis. He was terminated this evening and will not be permitted to coach in any Archdiocesan school,” the spokesperson said. “We expect all those who work with students in our schools to model appropriate Christian behavior at all times.”

UPDATE: The AP is reporting that the assistant basketball coach, Fran McGlinn, resigned from his position at the school when confronted about the allegations, and was not fired. One has to wonder – if innocent, why would McGlinn resign so quickly after being identified?

Four of the alleged attackers arrived at the police station to give statements accompanied by their lawyers.  One lawyer told the press that the vicious attack was in self-defense because one of the two gay men threw the first punch.

Right, because two gay men when confronted by a homophobic mob like to instigate a fight on a dark street when they are outnumbered 6 to 1.  Makes perfect sense.  I’d like to see the mob’s defensive wounds…

The high school, Archbishop Wood High School, issued this statement in regard to the attack:

Earlier today, Archbishop Wood High School became aware that some of its former students were allegedly involved in the assault of two men in Center City last week.

This afternoon, administrators communicated with the entire Archbishop Wood school community to make it emphatically clear that the school does not, under any circumstances, tolerate or condone the violent and hateful behavior displayed by those who took part in this senseless attack.

Administration also stressed that Catholic schools are centers of learning where students are expected to treat each other in a Christ-like manner at all times and that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The actions of those who took part in the attack are reprehensible and entirely unacceptable. They are not an accurate reflection of our Catholic values or of Archbishop Wood High School.

Watch the report from the Philadelphia NBC affiliate below:

(via JMG)

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Philadelphia: Mob responsible for hate crime beating may claim “self-defense”

Caryn Kunkle, a source close to the two men who were brutally beaten in Philadelphia during a hate crime this past weekend, has shared on her Instagram account that the mob of homophobes look to claim “self-defense” for the cause of the violence:

Hate Crime update: the group of 15 genius kids who attacked two unarmed and non-PDA gay men on their way out for pizza on Sept. 11th at 10:45pm in the Rittenhouse area of Philadelphia are claiming “SELF DEFENSE”.

Probably because the insanity defense was clearly unavailable…..

Since when does collectively pounding someone’s face into the concrete while audibly and repeatedly shouting “dirty faggot” qualify as self defense?

Not sure, but the DA should have a field day with this trial.

(Police arriving on the scene thought it was a shooting because there was SO MUCH BLOOD coming from the unconscious victims head)

(h/t PhillyMag)

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Social Media Helps Police Track Down Attackers In Philadelphia Hate Crime

The photo that went viral in helping find alleged hate crime attackers

In what seems to be a stunning use of crowdsourcing social media, people on Twitter and Facebook have apparently pieced together clues which have led to the attackers of two gay men this past weekend in the Central City neighborhood of Philadelphia.

A Twitter user named “@FanSince09” started to get the pieces together after police released surveillance video showing what appeared to be the group who attacked the two men.  From that video, a Twitter user named “@GreggyBennett” found a photo from a nearby restaurant that featured a group of people wearing the same clothes.

Over the next few hours a game of Twitter-telephone led to identifying the restaurant, and then users cross-referenced the restaurant’s Facebook page to see who had “checked in” that night.

One thing led to another and another.  At this writing, the alleged perpetrators have been contacted and are turning themselves in.

We shall see if justice prevails.  Stay tuned. Below is a local news report where @FanSince09 calls in to discuss how the story unfolded.  @FanSince09 has appeared on several TV shows this morning including Good Morning America and more.

You can read how the story unfolded via Twitter in this Storified tweet-chain:

[View the story “How Twitter May Have Helped Track Down the Suspects from a Philadelphia Police Surveillance Video” on Storify]
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Philadelphia Police Release Video of Suspects in Brutal Hate Crime Attack

This is very important regarding the brutal attack of two men in Philadelphia this past weekend that left sent the victims to the hospital, one of whom had to have his jaw wired shut due to a fractured jaw.

Please watch the video and read this info from the Philadelphia Police Department:

On September 11, 2014, at 10:45 pm, the complainant, a 28 year-old male, along with a friend, a 27 year-old male, were on the 1600 block of Chancellor Street when they were approached by a group of unknown white males and females.

As the group approached the complainants they made disparaging remarks about their sexual orientation. The group then attacked the complainants holding them while other members of the group punched them in the face, head and chest.

During the assault one of the complainants dropped his bag containing his cell phone, wallet and credit cards.

When police approached one of the suspects picked the bag up from the ground. The group then fled and were last seen north on 16th Street towards Walnut Street.

Both complainants were transported to Hahnemann Hospital for multiple injuries. One complainant was treated for fractures and deep lacerations to his face requiring surgery and his jaw wired shut.

Suspect Description: A group of approximately 10-12 white male and females all in their early 20′s “clean cut” and well dressed. One suspect was described as having a husky build, brown hair, wearing a brown shirt and shorts.

If you see these suspects do not approach them, contact 911 immediately.
To submit a tip via telephone, dial 215.686.TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.
All tips will be confidential.

If you have any information about this crime or these suspects, please contact:
Central Detective Division
Det. Domenic #9140
Det. Waring #8101
215-686-3047
DC# 14-09-036141

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Two Philadelphia men beaten in apparent hate crime

Two Philadelphia men were attacked and violently beaten in what is being labeled a hate crime.

Investigators say a gay couple was walking in Center City when they were stopped by a group of people and brutally beaten on the corner of 16th and Chancellor. Both of the victims are now recovering from serious injuries, including one man having his jaw wired shut due to severe fractures.

From the local NBC affiliate:

Sources tell NBC10 the 27-year-old and 28-year-old victims were walking from a restaurant in the area of 16th and Chancellor around 10:45 p.m. Thursday.

Suddenly they were approached by a visibly intoxicated group of two men and six women.

Witnesses say someone in the group asked, “Is this your fucking boyfriend?” When one of the victims told them yes, the group allegedly attacked them, punching and kicking them in the face, head and chest.

Police say one of the suspects then snatched a victim’s bag containing a cellphone, wallet and credit cards. The group then fled in an unknown direction.

“It was a bunch of screams at first,” said witness Geoff Nagle. “…a lot of punching and kicking.” Another witness, who asked to remain anonymous, says he heard the group screaming homophobic slurs.

Anyone who was in the area at the time is urged to contact police if you think you have any information that might be useful.

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NYC: One year ago Mark Carson was killed for being gay

In an event that rocked New York City and the world one year ago, Mark Carson was shot in the face at point blank range in the West Village when asked if he was gay.

Thousands turned out for a vigil in his honor. The promise was made to never forget as speaker after speaker stood up and repeated: “Say his name – Mark Carson. Mark Carson. Mark Carson.”

Mark Carson’s killer was apprehended and is currently awaiting trial.

When those who are “uncomfortable” with the LGBT community ask “why do you have to be so visible?  Why do you have to shove it down my throat?”

One simple, powerful answer: Mark Carson.

(photos and slideshow by Michael Paul)

(h/t JMG)