NYPD Captured on Video Violently Arresting Gay Man, Harassing Two Others: VIDEO

The New York Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is reporting on what they're calling a bias-motivated assault of three gay men by NYPD officers in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn on June 3.

Writes the AVP:

Three openly gay men, Josh Williams (pictured, below), Ben Collins, and Antonio Maenza, reported that they were walking past the 79th Precinct when an NYPD officer accused one of the men of public urination and attacked him, throwing him against a police car. The officer was joined by other officers who also attacked the man, throwing him to the ground and pepper spraying him while he was in handcuffs. The survivor was handcuffed tightly, causing lacerations. The survivor's injuries were treated at a hospital, where he was again restrained with wrist and ankle cuffs. The group of officers also arrested the other two survivors.

Watch video obtained by AVP, AFTER THE JUMP...

Representatives from AVP, the LGBT Justice Project of Make the Road NY, Streetwise and Safe, the Safe OUTside the System Collective of the Audre Lorde Project, FIERCE, Communities United for Police Reform, Campaign to Stop the False Arrests, and the Brooklyn Community Pride Center is planning to hold a press conference on the incident on Tuesday afternoon.

The Village Voice has more:

The Voice has also learned that NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau started investigating after someone apparently associated with the precinct filed a complaint.

"This case is so extreme in how the encounter escalated so fast over something so silly and turned so violent," says Williams' lawyer Cynthia Conti-Cook. "Based on how the incident started, there's very little to justify such extreme action other than homophobia."

Slurs were used:

Maenza was watching the incident from the sidewalk and videotaping with his phone. "Josh is on the ground, he's surrounded by officers, he's been maced, and they pick him up and take him into the precinct," he says. "At that point, one of the officers called us 'faggots.'"

Collins recalled that the officer called them, "fucking faggots."

Handcuffed, temporarily blinded and bleeding, Williams was dragged into the stationhouse, and left in a holding cell. He was given a charge of resisting arrest. It took several hours for a paramedic to arrive to treat his injuries and by then, his wrists had swelled alarmingly.

While he was finally in an ambulance on the way to the hospital, he says an officer remarked, "We better not tell him where the soap is." After he was treated, he was taken back to the precinct, where he was fingerprinted and then sent to central booking and then arraigned at some point the following day, a Monday, more than 24 hours after the initial encounter.

More at The Voice...

(image caleb ferguson)

Actor Chad Allen Was at Scene of Santa Monica Shooting: VIDEO

Actor Chad Allen, best known for his role in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, was at the scene of today's horrific shooting at Santa Monica College. Allen said he was studying the library when he heard gunshots, OTRC reports:

"I was studying for my biology final and as I looked out the window, I could see kids looking backwards and running," he said. "So I knew something was going on. I got up and started heading towards the front of the library and that's when we heard a long 'bang' that sounded like a shotgun or a small bomb and then a few repetitive gunshots after that."

"I headed back towards the rear exits and helped funnel people out as best as possible and stay calm," he added. "And I was just on campus right now and as I came out, helped what seemed like a SWAT team figure out how to get to the other side of the field, the football field."

"It got pretty scary," he said. "As soon as people realized there was gunshots and it was real, there was immediately like, a lot of panic. One of the doors wouldn't open, so a lot of kids were panicking against a locked door and funneled around to the other side. Just kept saying, 'Everybody stay calm, we're OK,' headed to the exit."

Watch Allen describe the chaotic scene, AFTER THE JUMP...

Six people were killed in the shooting, including two men believed to be the gunman's brother and father. The gunman, who was 25 to 30 years old, was killed at Santa Monica College, the L.A. Times reports:

Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks described a violent shooting rampage that appears to have begun in the 2000 block of Yorkshire Avenue just before noon. The gunman then moved west along Pico Boulevard, firing at cars and other targets. One person died at Cloverfield and Pico boulevards; two died at 19th Street and Pico Boulevard. Another woman died at a hospital. Seabrooks said the gunman may not have acted alone.  A second "person of interest" is in custody.

"We are not convinced 100% that the suspect who was killed operated in solo or a lone capacity," Seabrooks said. The suspect fled into Santa Monica College, where he was pursued by police. He shot a woman on campus and ran into the library, where he continued to fire rounds from an assault rifle.

Watch ABC7's report, AFTER THE JUMP...

Our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic incident.

2009 Shooting at Tel Aviv LGBT Center Not a Hate Crime: Police

This week, in a surprise development, police arrested four suspects in relation to the 2009 shooting at a Tel Aviv LGBT Center that left counselor Nir Katz, 26, and Liz Trubeshi, 16, dead. The case is under a gag order but some details are emerging.

The AP reports:

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Friday that the motive behind the killing was of a personal nature. He said the suspects intended to shoot someone else at the center. Instead, they opened fire on the two people they killed. Other details of the case are under court gag order.

Haaretz adds:

All three [suspects] are known criminals, with the killer and at least one accomplice being "soldiers" in a large, central Israeli crime organization who have been interrogated since the Bar Noar killings for arson and assault, police said.

The fourth, most recent arrest in the case is apparently of an activist in the gay community. He has been detained for allegedly knowing the motive for the murders and obstructing the investigation by not sharing that information with police. It is believed this individual is directly connected to the motive, and that he was the target of the assassination, which involved revenge.

The activist is known to support young people in the gay community and help them with decisions regarding their sexual identity. Three other suspects were arrested in connection to the murders themselves on Wednesday.

Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv today for its annual Gay Pride parade.

18-Year-Old Gay Rights Activist Brain Dead After Attack by Neo Nazi Skinheads in Paris: VIDEO

Clément Méric, an 18-year-old student at Sciences Po in Paris,and a well-known progressive activist, was beaten by a group of three skinheads near the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris on Wednesday night and is now brain dead, the Guardian reports:

No suspects have been arrested, and Valls told reporters at the scene of the attack – a crowded, pedestrianised area with cafes and chain stores – that finding them is the top priority. It was unclear how the fight developed and how many people were involved. Political tensions are high in France after months of protests against legalising gay marriage, that sometimes ended with troublemakers from the extreme right clashing with police.

The Local reports:

A number of eyewitness reports, as well as a police source quoted by TF1 television, indicate that a group of left-wing activists had gone clothes shopping on Wednesday evening on rue Caumartin in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.

After far-right activists entered the same shop, there was an angry exchange of words and insults. When the group including Meric left the store, the extreme-right group had "brought reinforcements."

The victim was hit by a man wearing what appeared to be knuckle dusters, according to initial reports.

Meric's activism for The Party of the Left encompassed a range of progressive causes, including, apparently, gay rights.

The Local adds:

French industrialist and pro-gay marriage activist Pierre Bergé has caused a stir by implicating the anti-gay marriage movement, known as  'Manif Pour Tous' (Demo for all) in the
attack on Méric.
 
"Despite everyone who's insulting me, I say again: the Manif pour tous accepted into their ranks these fascists who killed Clément. For them to reflect on."

Watch a Euronews report on the murder, AFTER THE JUMP...

Citywide Self-Defense Classes Offered for LGBT New Yorkers; Hate Crimes Forum Planned

City and state officials are reacting to the recent spate of anti-LGBT hate crimes in New York City by offering citywide self-defense classes and taking up the issue in a public forum.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's office announced the self-defense classes, via press release over the weekend:

The trainings will empower New Yorkers by teaching violence prevention strategies and safety tips to the LGBT community.  The kick-off class, led by the Center for Anti-Violence Prevention, will be held on Saturday, June 8th in Room 101 of the LGBT Center at 4:00 PM. An additional evening class has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 12th at the Hudson Guild Elliot Center at 7:00 PM.

Participants should reserve their space by calling (212) 788-5613 or by e-mailing events@council.nyc.gov

“No one should be made to feel unsafe because who they are or who they love,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “The spate of bias attacks against LGBT New Yorkers in recent weeks is unacceptable and must end now.  Our free self-defense classes will teach violence prevention strategies to New Yorkers and will provide the community with the tools they need to stay safe.”

“These classes will empower men and women who might otherwise feel helpless at time when our City is experiencing an increase in attacks against our LGBT brothers and sisters,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “No one should be persecuted or attacked for who they are or who they perceive to be. By giving New York City’s LGBT community self-defense training we are providing the necessary tools to help every New Yorker feel safe within their own neighborhood. Together as a community – unified as one – we will continue to take a stand against hate crimes in a City that is known for equality, acceptance and diversity.”

Additional self-defense classes in Brooklyn and Queens will be announced in coming weeks.

And New York State Senator Brad Hoylman announced there would be a public forum on June 14 at the Senate Hearing Room "to assess the efficacy of New York State’s Hate Crimes Law, how state and local government agencies are implementing and enforcing the Law, and whether amendments should be considered to expand the data collection, statistical reporting, law enforcement training requirements and/or otherwise further the Law’s goals."

Those who wish to attend the forum must complete a form HERE.

Man's Face Shattered in Brutal Anti-Gay Hate Crime in Hollywood: VIDEO

Victor Diego, a 22-year-old employee of Beso, a Hollywood restaurant owned by actress Eva Longoria, sustained fractured ribs, a shattered cheekbone, and a broken jaw in an attack on Thursday night police are investigating as a hate crime, CBS LA reports:

Diego, who is a gay and transgender man, was dressed up to hang out with friends.

“Sometimes men try to talk to him and they get humiliated in front of their friends when they realize it’s a man,” said his sister, Virginia Diego.

“Because he looks really good, he looks like a woman, you couldn’t tell the difference,” she said.

His sister said the assailants kicked him in his temple, which will require surgery.

“He was basically left for dead just because of who he is,” said Virginia.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

ps - it's not clear at the moment whether Diego identified as a man or a woman, given the information in the report that he is gay and trans. For now, based on his relatives' statements we are identifying him as a man. If that is clarified to be different, we will update our post.

UPDATE from GLAAD:

While previous information regarding the victim's gender identity was unclear, the Los Angeles Police Department has now clarified that the victim's name is Vivian and she uses female pronouns. At this point, the victim's preferred last name has not been released.

In a story for the local CBS affiliate in Los Angeles, the victim's sisters suggested that their sibling was dressed in women's clothes at the time of the attack. The reporter told viewers that the sisters described their sibling as "gay and transgender" and they used a male name to refer to her. Moving forward, media outlets should refer to Vivian with female pronouns and the name she gave to the LAPD.

Vivian's sisters also referred to the attack as a "hate crime" but the LAPD's investigation has yet to confirm a motive for the crime. If it is confirmed to be a hate crime, it should be referred to as an anti-transgender hate crime, not an anti-gay hate crime.