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Near-Fatal West Village Beating May Be Hate Crime
By
John Del Signore
Published May 14, 2009
Modified May 14, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published May 14, 2009
Modified May 14, 2009
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More details have emerged on last night's brutal beating that landed a 50-year-old man in critical condition at St. Vincent's Hospital. Police sources say the attack may have been unprovoked and believe Allen Williams of Buffalo was hailing a cab in the West Village around 2 a.m. when he was beaten by strangers who thought he was gay.
The Daily News reports that Williams was on Seventh Ave. South when four thugs blocked him from getting into two cabs, then punched him in the face. The blow knocked Williams down and he hit his head on the pavement. According to police, witnesses heard one of the assailants say, "I got him good." (MyFoxNY says his blood was still seen on the sidewalk hours later.) It's not known if Williams, who is still unconscious, is homosexual, but some residents tell the News that gay bashing is on the rise in the West Village. Robbery apparently was not a motive, because Williams' wallet and ID were not taken.
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly informed reporters today that police are investigating the beating as "a possible bias attack." City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who represents the Village, said, "We need to send a message—sadly, yet again—that we have no tolerance for hate crimes in the city of New York." Last December, a man was fatally beaten in Brooklyn by men who thought he was gay; the victim was actually just drunk and arm-in-arm with his brother.
Tagged
attack
beating
gay bash
hate crime
nyc
west village
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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