I am a 54-year-old white straight male. A youngish man walked beside me and said, "Sucks about the election, huh?" I responded "yup." And then ... my hat was knocked off my head, and three other young men appeared. All wearing hooded sweatshirts. Someone pushed me. Someone shouted "fucking faggot!" And someone spit on me. Someone took a punch at me, but hit my jacket. I screamed for help...but no one was on the street. They ran."
The reader reported the incident to the NYPD.
I couldn't describe them. But they were white. Young. And I think they all wore hoodies. I am okay. But incredibly shaken...the cops were kind of helpful, but without details, were not sure they could help more, other than to "look out for more incidents in the area."
Oh, man! This is terrible. Very sorry for this fellow who had to go through this.
ReplyDeleteI had an election-related experience although thankfully not physical. On Wednesday morning, I was sitting in Union Square Park, very early so not that many people around, when a crazy guy sat down near me and said really loudly, "Any Trump fans here?" and then "American won last night!" He kept talking and trying to get people to engage with him but everyone was silent. After a minute I couldn't take it anymore so I got up to walk away, and he goes "Yeah, bitch, get out of here!" (I'm female and he was a big scary guy -- he kept mentioning the Marines, which fit with his look of ex-military guy gone to seed.)
It really felt like an immediate consequence of what has happened. It's awful to see such ugliness!!
I am glad you are both ok. If more and more haters are gong to feel emboldened to act out like this, we are going to have to really watch out for and take care of one another more than ever. When you walk east west, know which blocks have storefronts open at night that you can run to for help. Bullies like to pick on the vulnerable. Stay together and be strong.
ReplyDeleteAre we assuming the bullies are Trump supporters?
ReplyDeleteThis is terrifying on all counts. My heart goes out to this guy. I can understand how anyone would be shaken up. Those kids are assholes. I happen to be gay myself and live a block away. I am scared something like this could happen to me now that Trump will soon be in office. I am short and small. How in the fuck would I defend myself against a pack of cowards like those men described. What is the matter with people? If post election is an invitation to hatred and violence, we are all about to face a world of turmoil. This election has unleashed some of the biggest duche bags I've ever heard of. Hope this guy and that woman are all right :(
ReplyDeleteHad 4 teenagers on first street between 1st and 2nd ave around 10am yell 'trump sucks!' at me. From their tone I think they were feeling cocky but not really serious. First time I've had a bunch of people yell something in my face in NYC in 10 years living here. Hopefully tensions fade soon.
ReplyDeleteGood wishes for better health go our to all of my neighbors after this election. It's pretty clear, judging from the rise of hate-fueled incidents since then, that we are in for one hell of a wild ride. I don't understand how a Trump win translates directly to violence, but it's clear that in some cases, it does. Ex-marine gone to seed? That's like the scariest comment ever when combined with hate. I'm not afraid, but I'll be rethinking those 4 am insomnia walks. Stay safe people and defend, whenever possible, the vulnerable among us. Wear your keys in hand (points between fingers and outward), know when to cross the street, carry a whistle, etc. Nothing turns me into a raging butch dyke faster than seeing my gay and straight friends getting hurt.
ReplyDeleteThese humanoid bags of dicks remind me of the Droogies engaging in a bit of the ultraviolence.
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought that when Burgess wrote A Clockwork Orange that the orange would be the recently elected figurehead.
Trump single handily set America back a hundred years. And it is not just Trump supporters who are acting aggressive and violent. Just becareful and protect yourself and loved ones. EV people stick together, its those outside visitors who love to get drunk and cause trouble.
ReplyDeleteSORROW.
ReplyDeleteAnd safety pins!
Rodent-like Trumpians.
ReplyDelete10;17
ReplyDeleteprecisely. There was a rise in random attacks before Don Worthless won. Mostly on the elderly. And of course sexual assaults and rapes. But you wouldn't know from the sunny stat bragging coming from the Blaz and Bratton and now O'Neill.
Be Aware Your Surroundings. Everyone.
And let's be careful out there.
That is horrifying. What is the matter with people? Humans are worse than actual animals. What happened to civility, respect and harmony?
ReplyDeleteF Trump!
This was a buddy of mine, and he is doing OK. He's been handing out those safety pins to show people who are safe to deal with in case a problem like this happens.
ReplyDeleteWearing one now.
I'm glad the victim of the attack is OK. Is sounds terrible. I'm not sure one can tell that the violent attackers are Trump supporters (don't have all the information) but if they called the victim a "faggot" you can certainly identify it as an anti-LGBTQ hate crime. Even if the victim is straight, someone attacked for their perceived status and/or if attackers think that "faggots" or LGBTQ people are deserving of violence, this is an indicator of a hate crime. It should be reported as such to the Hate Crimes unit of the NYPD and to the Anti-Violence Project (avp.org). Anti-LGBTQ comments and violence need to be called out, identified, and reported. This is part of informing society that this is an issue that needs to be looked at and addressed. We all need to stand up for the rights of our fellow citizens.
ReplyDeleteLovely..so I guess gay bashing is now a ' thing' again. I moved back out to the provinces (Richmond, Va) fifteen years ago and twelve years ago was viciously gay bashed, which resulted I a broken nose, orbital bone, and a bunch of cuts and bruises. No arrests, no prosecution. Never again. We have to get each others backs, whether we are gay, straight, a person of color, a woman. Whomever. Love your neighbor as you love yourselves. Peace and love to my NYC friends, I miss you.
ReplyDeleteChris
I've been harassed online by trump supporters for days now when I stream the marches. I make the stream public so people can see it but now it's going to be private due to the trolls. My fave was I should die of "friendly aids" today.
ReplyDeleteSPLC, ACLU, Democracy Now, NYT, Daily News among groups and news outlets reporting a spike in incidents against women, POC,
ReplyDeleteLGBTQ, and every other group by the altritecrowd. We must be vigilant and prepared to help, on the streets, campuses, public transit, everywhere. Already incidents at NYU, New School and Columbia.
This is all so troubling and shameful. What do these people want? They are getting more attention than ever, but I guess that's the point. NBC has blood on its hands.
ReplyDeleteAnother consequence of Trump....it will be open season on tenants, rent stabilization, subsidized housing like NYCHA, and just about any kind of non-luxury housing that big real estate wishes to acquire for itself.
ReplyDeleteHis son in law Jared Kushner will own the EV and beyond.
The Uber- hastening of Michael Bloomberg's demographics cleansing of NYC
Maybe they were Jill Stein supporters?
ReplyDelete