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HATE CRIMES

Out on Bail: Suspects in Beating of Same-Sex Couple Holding Hands Released – Hate Crime Charges?

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The four men suspected of beating a same-sex couple at a gay pride event in Miami turned themselves in to police on Tuesday and were released Wednesday morning on bail (video below). The Miami police department had said via Twitter it expected felony charges but did not mention hate crimes charges.

Two of the victims (the third was a bystander who jumped in to defend the couple) say the four suspects shouted anti-gay slurs at them in Spanish.

No hate crime charges have been decided yet.

The suspects are Juan Carlos Lopez, 21; Luis M. Alonso Piovet, 20; Adonis Diaz, 21; and Pablo Reinaldo Romo-Figueroa. The Miami Herald reports they “are charged with aggravated battery, but the charges could be enhanced under state law if they are classified as hate crimes.”

The State Attorney for Miami-Dade County, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, said via Twitter the “Hate Crimes Unit will evaluate this incident thoroughly.”

“That makes me happy that, at least, they were nice enough to admit that they committed the crimes,” one of the victims, Dimitri Lugonov, told ABC 10 News. “It’s not over yet, but the main part is done.”

His partner, Rene Chalarca, added: “We were together. So for me, it’s like, yes, it was a hate crime.”

Citing an arrest affidavit, ABC 10 adds that “one of the suspects bumped into one of the victims before words were exchanged.”

“Police said the suspects started shouting gay slurs in Spanish and then began throwing punches, beating the men so badly that one told police he was unconscious after several hits to his head.”

Watch via NBC 6:

 

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HATE CRIMES

One Killed in ‘Terrorist Attack Against the LGBT Community’: Fort Lauderdale Mayor

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Two people were struck by a pickup Truck at a Pride parade in Wilton Manors, Florida.

“One of the victims has died, said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, who was at the parade,” Local 10 News reports. “The white pickup truck was lined up with other floats when it hit the gas and ran over two people standing by to take part in the parade on Wilton Drive, as Local 10 News reporter Christian De La Rosa witnessed.”

The surviving victim is in critical condition at Broward Health Medical Center.

“The truck narrowly missed hitting U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was in a convertible participating in the parade,” the newspaper reported.

Mayor Trantalis blasted the incident as a terrorist attack.

“This is a terrorist attack against the LGBT community,” Trantalis said. “This is exactly what it is. Hardly an accident. It was deliberate, it was premeditated, and it was targeted against a specific person. Luckily they missed that person, but unfortunately, they hit two other people.”

There is a suspect in custody.

 

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HATE CRIMES

180 House Republicans Just Voted Against Condemning Anti-Asian Hate After Atlanta Spa Shootings

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Wednesday afternoon the U.S. House of Representatives voted 244-180 to pass a resolution condemning anti-Asian hate, after eight people, including seven Asian Americans, six of whom were women, were shot and killed at spas in Atlanta, Georgia in a series of hate crime mass shootings last month.

All 180 “no” votes were from Republicans. No Democrats voted against the resolution.

Among the “no” votes were Georgia Republican Representatives Rick Allen, Andrew Clyde, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jody Hice, and Barry Loudermilk. Congressman Loudermilk represents part of the area where the killings took place.

The text is quite simple.

“Condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the House of Representative’s commitment to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community.”

The resolution says, “the people of the United States mourn the 8 innocent lives lost, 7 of whom were women, 6 of whom were women of Asian descent, and several of whom were immigrants.” It lists the victims’ names: Xiaojie “Emily” Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Yong Ae Yue, Soon Chung “Julie” Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Sun Cha Kim.

And offers details honoring their lives, like this: “49-year-old Xiaojie ‘Emily’ Tan, a hardworking mother and the owner of 1 of the spas, was a dedicated and caring business owner who is survived by her daughter and husband.”

And this: “63-year-old Yong Ae Yue was a mother of 2 sons who was known for her kindness and generosity and her love of her pet Shih Tzu.”

The resolution also says that the House of Representatives “condemns the heinous and inexcusable acts of gun violence that led to the tragic loss of 8 lives,” “condemns any racism and sexism in the choice of the shooter to target Asian-owned businesses and murder 7 women, 6 of whom were of Asian descent,” ” honors the memory of the victims, offers heartfelt condolences to their families,” and “reaffirms the commitment of the United States Federal Government to combat hate, bigotry, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again.”

 

 

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HATE CRIMES

Watch: Shocking Video Shows Man Stomping 65-Year-Old Asian-American Woman

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On Monday, New York City reporter CeFaan Kim posted horrific details of an attack in which a man brutally attacked a 65-year-old Asian-American woman, captured on the security footage from the lobby of a nearby building.

The man, shouting “f*ck you, you don’t belong here,” kicked the woman to the ground and then stomped on her before she could get up. According to Kim, the security guard in the building refused to render the victim aid, and closed the door on her.

“Victim is currently hospitalized with swelling to the face, pain in left leg,” reported Kim, noting that the NYPD hate crimes unit is now investigating the incident.

 

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