In response to three gay bashings taking place within hours of each other, the gays have organized a march starting at the place where Kevin Aviance was brutally attacked. If you want to participate by getting pissed off and showing the world, "You're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!" Then meet at 2pm Tomorrow, June 17 at 14th St. and 1st Ave.
Here's the 411 on the bashings which have been reported:
Saturday, June 10, 12:30 AM - East Village, Manhattan
On his way home, Kevin Aviance is brutally attacked by a group of men yelling anti-gay slurs
Saturday, June 10, 1:10 AM - Astoria, Queens
A group of three friends are attacked by a larger group yelling anti-gay and racist epithets and wielding a baseball bat
Sunday, June 11, 5:45 AM - Astoria, Queens
A man is followed off of an "N" train by another man who harassed him with anti-gay language, pushed him down elevated platform exit stairs to the street, and kicked and punched repeatedly.
I learned about this march from an old friend who's mad as hell:
Did you know that a blade has to be over 4
inches to be considered a concealed weapon? That
means a razor blade in your wallet is legal. Be
prepared.
Check out my friend's entire rant and official E-mail from Anti-Violence Project after the jump...
Hi Everybody-
I think the anti-violence coalition should endorse
self-defense as a viable option in cases like Kevins,
because their preventative measures, like "being aware
of surroundings" and calling 911, obviously aren't
effective. Politics might be part of why they don't
put out the message that fags should be armed and
ready to stick-up for themselves. Politics aside,
whether we should take martial arts classes are carry
razorblades, doesn't matter to me, as long as people
KNOW that we are NOT afraid. If people understand
that fags fight back, that we are, in some cases
armed, I think less attacks would occur.
Even still, whether any of us agree on whether or not
self-defense should be endorsed, there should be a
visible, ANGRY, response to last weekends attacks, by
EVERY member of New York's gay community. WE SHOULD
NOT TOLERATE violence of any kind perpetrated on our
ranks. Whether you're a fan of Kevin Aviance or not,
whether you like him or not, he IS one of New York's
gay icons. If he gets attacked, who next? You?
Please march to show that you aren't afraid. If you
agree that self-defense is important, that we
shouldn't let our perpetrators get away without a
bruise, cut, or broken bone, make a sign and carry it
proudly. Did you know that a blade has to be over 4
inches to be considered a concealed weapon? That
means a razor blade in your wallet is legal. Be
prepared.
I'd like to see signs that say:
"I fight back!"
"We aren't afraid"
"I'm not afraid to use my blade"....etc.
It might seem absurd at first, but THINK about it.
Please forward this to as many people as possible.
Thanks.
xx-Mat
March and Rally this Saturday
Raise Our Voices Against Anti-LGTB Hate
in Our City and in Our Neighborhoods
When: Saturday, June 17
Where: Gather at NE Corner of 14th Street and First Avenue at 2PM; march at 3PM to Christopher Park (Christopher & West 4th Streets)
Why: In the last week - as unfortunately happens so often in June - a number of hate incidents have impacted our community in neighborhoods around the city:
Saturday, June 10, 12:30 AM - East Village, Manhattan
On his way home, Kevin Aviance is brutally attacked by a group of men yelling anti-gay slurs
Saturday, June 10, 1:10 AM - Astoria, Queens
A group of three friends are attacked by a larger group yelling anti-gay and racist epithets and wielding a baseball bat
Sunday, June 11, 5:45 AM - Astoria, Queens
A man is followed off of an "N" train by another man who harassed him with anti-gay language, pushed him down elevated platform exit stairs to the street, and kicked and punched repeatedly.
Make your voice heard...
...we will not be targeted even as we celebrate our History, our Pride and our Survival...
Stand up and be counted Saturday...but anti-LGTB hate happens all year long...
...what you will do to help stop anti-LGTB hate and help those who fall victim to it after the March is over...
Community Partners in this Effort include: the NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, Daniel Dromm, Empire State Pride Agenda, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Gay Men of African Descent, Hedda Lettuce, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, the Latino Commission on AIDS, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, mano a mano, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, New York State Black Gay Network, NYC Council Member Rosie Mendez, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, NYS Assembly Member Deborah Glick, NYS Assembly Member Sylvia Friedman, NYS Senator Tom Duane, People of Color in Crisis, Unity Fellowship Church of Christ, list in formation
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