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Cops Investigate West Village Gay Bashing As Hate Crime
By
Jaya Saxena
Published Mar 30, 2011
Modified Mar 30, 2011
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By
Jaya Saxena
Published Mar 30, 2011
Modified Mar 30, 2011
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Police are searching for a group of thugs that beat up Damian Furtch, 26, at a West Village McDonald's on Sunday, leaving him with two black eyes and multiple stitches. Furtch posted photos of his injuries on Facebook, and wrote "I thought I was safe in the city I loved but apparently wearing fluorescent colored clothing and pink shoelaces really bother some f-----g a--holes to blind side me and hit me." Police are investigating the beating as a hate crime.
Furtch said he and a coworker from the Pink Tea Cup went to McDonald's after work and, where the two attackers began to stare at them. Furtch and his friend felt uncomfortable and left, but the attackers followed them outside, asking “if he had a problem” and yelling anti-gay slurs. They began to punch Furtch, and one of the attackers allegedly yelled, “You Fucking F----t.” Furtch's coworker wasn't hurt.
Furtch told Watts Up With This, "I was dressed a certain way—not that it should matter, it’s NYC in 2011 right?" He also said one of the attackers had a large tattoo of a Gothic cross under his left eye. He told the Daily News of his attackers, "I think they're cowards."
Right: Via Damian Furtch's Facebook, Left: West Village McDonald's
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