A friend was nearly killed last night.

[polmaven]

I was out in my garden this morning, and a friend came over and told me that his partner and he were in a convenience store last night, when a gang of kids came into the store and called out "FAG"! When the more aggressive of my two friends began to respond, one of the kids came at him from behind with a karate type kick to his head.

Friend #1 was desperately calling 911, while his partner was being attacked. The police came very quickly. I think maybe the store clerk was also calling 911. The one who did the attacking ran away when he knew the police had been called.

Apparently the police are familiar with at least a couple of this gang of kids, and arrests were made. An officer who knows both of my friends told the kids that they need to tell them who the attacker is, but they would not. The officer has now said they were arrested for a hate crime as well as assault and battery.

An ambulance was called, but friend #2 would not go to the hospital.

I was just beginning to lose my fear for the safety of my gay friends, and now this happens. I hope the parents of those thugs are very proud. They have raised hateful, dangerous children.

[Subdivisions]

1. I'm thankful your friends are both ok.

[polmaven]

2. Thank you...

Me too. I love them both very much.

How can people still be such assholes?

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[omega minimo]

4. and rape is not a hate crime

[polmaven]

8. Honestly!

Rape is just as much an act of hate as this.

[omega minimo]

9. it's not considered a hate crime

[polmaven]

13. I know it isn't...

It should be.

[Odin2005]

37. I agree.

[Warpy]

14. Women are always left out of hate crimes legislation

I guess men love to hate us and think hate crimes against us are natural and they're entitled to commit them.

[Odin2005]

38. Not this guy.

At least some of us prefer to be gentlemen instead of pigs.

[D-Lee]

23. Yes, it is -- read Susan Brownmiller's "Against Our Will"

Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape by Susan Brownmiller

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Our-Will-Women-Rape/dp/0449908208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240092525&sr=1-1

Still the most convincing read on the subject ...

[omega minimo]

24. Recognized as such by the legal system? Don't think so. Thank you for the reference.

:hi:

[tekisui]

5. Stories like this get me angry.

I am glad everyone is ok. I hope the kids learn what it means to be a human before anyone else is hurt.

I admire your friends for standing up and not taking it.

[Fuzz]

6. This was in Mass?

[polmaven]

10. Yes...

In the area just named the 14th "most livable" in the U.S. by Forbes magazine. Pretty scary for the rest of the country.

[bluestateguy]

7. Maybe the cops could use "enhanced interrogation" or waterboarding on the accomplices

I mean, we need to know who the attacker is.

See how these conservatives like it when the tactics they endorse are done to them.

[democrank]

11. Glad your friends are alright.

[MADem]

12. That friend should have gone to the hospital--he should go today.

Natasha Richardson, anyone????????

Hello????


Also, if he wants to sue that kid civilly, and he should (that's one way this shit is stopped--you take EVERYTHING of any value from people who pull this crap) he's going to have a better case the more "harm" he can demonstrate.

Tell your friend to get his ass to a doctor and get checked out. And have the checkup well documented.

[polmaven]

15. I intend to...

He is not answering either his phone of the door. Friend #1 will tell him I said he needs to be seen. I also told #1 they both need to talk with a lawyer, and referred him to one.

Yes...I'll admit it here... I have friends who are - well - lawyers. :hide:

[MADem]

17. Nothing wrong with a good lawyer or three.

If he doesn't wanna keep the lawsuit money, he can pay his lawyers, go out to a nice dinner, reflect on his victory, and donate the balance to the charity of his choice.

But I do think he needs to take those little fuckers to the Church of You Don't Pull That Shit And Get Away With It. And if they're minors, their parents can go along for the sermon as well.

[Dan]

25. no, advise your friend to sue...keep the money

because unfortunately sometimes money is the only language that people understand. Sue the hell out their parents... (yes there parents aren't at fault) but they damn sure are liable. I bet you dollars to donuts when the parents discover that they can lose everything - the other two will discover the name of the kicker.

[MADem]

27. You need to move this post so you are replying to POLMAVEN, not me.

Otherwise she might not see it.

[polmaven]

28. As soon as he is ready to talk

I will discuss that aspect with him...probably tomorow. He already has the name of an attorney. My primary concern is for his physical well being, then his psychological well being.

Thank you for your dvice. I think you are righ, but it may not take that much. From what I understand now, the police have said that they will ask that the kids be prosecuted - possible for accessory to attempted murder if they don't name the kicker.

[mnhtnbb]

34. Yes. Absolutely.

[Warpy]

16. I'm sorry about your friend.

I hope his partner has been keeping an eye in him. Any hard blow to the head can be dangerous.

As for the hateful children, I don't know what we can do beyond locking them up to protect the rest of us once they make their hate known.

It's not always the parents, either. Sometimes it's the larger culture, especially punk culture in middle and high school.

[roguevalley]

18. God, this is hateful stuff. i am sorry for all of you and hope they are

all right.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

19. so glad the cops arrived quickly

and that they are treating this like a hate crime. Hope they find the one who did it and prosecute him.

[nichomachus]

20. Expect a lot more of this

as the right wing ratchets up the hate speech, the hateful TV ads, and the sermons demonizing gay people.

The new Catholic archbigot of New York City made it a point to specifically target gays and lesbians during his installation this past week -- even as he swished down the aisle in his gold lamé gowns and expensive jewels before an audience of fellow pedophile enablers.

[rvablue]

21. This same kind of random attack just happened to a gay Virginian college student.

A group of young guys just went after him.

Don't know all the details but it sounds strikingly similar to what happened to your friend.

Glad to hear your friend is going to be OK and I hope they find they guy who did it.

[Vidar]

22. Glad your friends are ok.

[Hawkowl]

26. They need to press charges

If these "children" aren't held accountable, they will perpetrate violence on others. How will you friends feel if they read in the paper one day, that their assailant kills someone?

[flvegan]

29. Cowards are only bold in numbers.

[virginia mountainman]

30. Occurrences like this is why,

My wife and I, both have CCW Permits, and BOTH have sidearms...

You never know, when one will decide to "one up" the other one and pull a knife, pipe or heaven forbid, a gun.

[virginia mountainman]

31. Delete.. DUPE

[muffin1]

32. One more reason for President Obama

to call for equal rights for EVERYONE. We all know how hate groups multiplied under shrub. That shit actually does "trickle down". If the most popular president in history spoke out, we might see an end to this type of behavior.

[jimlup]

33. All the right wing hatred is starting to boil over...

The right wing media has been pumping this hatred for awhile now. I think there is probably a correlation.

[applegrove]

35. I'm so sorry for all the hate and persecution you face. Nobody should ever have to go through that.

I know.

[Odin2005]

36. Assholes.

:cry:

Good that you friend is OK. :hug:

[Jkid]

39. I hope that thug gets jailed.

Unbelievable they can do that.

[AllieB]

40. Thankfully your friends are OK.

A lot of gay bashing goes unreported-even in gay friendly places like the South End and Jamaica Plain. I hope they get this kid, if only to teach the little bastard a lesson in tolerance.