Watch: 18 Year Old Victim of Hate Crime Death Threat ‘GAY MOVE DIE’ Speaks Out

‘I Should Not Feel Unsafe in My Own Neighborhood’

A Richmond, Virginia man is now speaking out publicly after his car receiving an anti-gay death threat message spray painted on his car. Police are investigating it as a hate crime. 18-year old Michael Bowman says he “broke down” when he saw the words “GAY MOVE DIE” on his SUV.

“I just broke down,” Bowman told WRIC. “I was like, this is 2017. We shouldn’t be having these issues. I should not feel unsafe in my own neighborhood.”

Bowman had to spend the night in the hospital, suffering from an asthma attack after seeing the death threat.

“I was fine seeing the first word, but move? I was like, no, I’m not moving. I’m a fighter, not a quitter,” he said. “Then when I saw die, I was like, why would you even write that?”

Police now have surveillance footage of the perpetrator vandalizing the car, and are asking the public for help. Anyone with information can call (804)780-1000.

Virginia Pride’s president James Milner says when he saw the car, “I felt like I had been punched in the gut.” The organization is working to help Bowman raise funds to repair the damage.

“Everybody has stood up,” Milner told WRIC. “There is this strong wall of support that is saying we will not let this happen in our community. This is wrong. We’re going to fight it. We’re going to support the person who was victimized and we are going to stand together to make sure this doesn’t ever happen again.”

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