We’re pretty used to getting harangued and even pelted with eggs, but we’ve never been physically assaulted by unhappy readers 
(yet). Sadly, Destinie Mogg-Barkalow, a contributor to Bridgewater State University’s student newspaper, The Comment, can’t say the same.
In Wednesday’s edition of The Comment, Mogg-Barkalow wrote a opinion piece celebrating the recent court ruling on California’s Proposition 8. The following evening, she was allegedly approached by two students in the campus parking lot and attacked.
The couple, who were presumably students, asked if she had written the article advocating gay marriage that appeared in this week’s paper. When Mogg-Barkalow, who is gay, confirmed that she was the author, the female punched her. Mogg-Barkalow told police her assailants headed in the direction of East Campus after they hit her, while she went to the Comment offices where other staff members were meeting.
Local police are treating the incident as a hate crime and, while some corners have raised suspicions that the incident may be a hoax, Mogg-Barkalow’s friends and colleagues have expressed their outrage.
How about we take this to the next level?
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“This is my third year on the Comment, my fourth year on a college newspaper and I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Editor-in-Chief Mary Polleys said. “I’m extremely disappointed with the members of the campus community who chose to physically assault a writer.”
A rally will be held on campus tomorrow.
Source: Towleroad. Photos: Bridgewater State University
Chad
“Local police are treating the incident as a hate crime… Meaning they plan on eating a few more donuts and do nothing else.
ek
So the police will agree that this is a hate crime, but when a hate crime actually occurs against a homosexual or transgender, then they are hesitant.
hf2hvit
And the attackers probably call themselves christians
CBRad
@hf2hvit: If there were attackers at all. With all the gaybashing hoaxers, it’s best to stay neutral and wait and see.
B
No. 4 · CBRad wrote, “@hf2hvit: If there were attackers at all. With all the gaybashing hoaxers, it’s best to stay neutral and wait and see”
In this case, a hoax is not risk-free – making a false report to the police is a crime that, in Massachusetts, could result in a $500 fine or a year in jail:
http://www.claxtonlegal.com/making-a-false-report-of-a-crime/
That risk should be a factor in assessing whether the report should be taken seriously, barring evidence to the contrary. You’d have to be a real idiot to claim you were gay bashed when you weren’t given the criminal penalty in Massachusetts.
CBRad
@B: Thnx for the info. Yes, it should be a crime in every state.
TASTEY GOODIES
ANY KIND OF VIOLENCE IS A HATE CRIME CUZ IF YOU AT LEAST TOLERATED SOMEONE, YOU WOULD NOT PUNCH THEM IN THE FACE. VIOLENCE IS HATE, PERIOD.
JamieMcG
Just FYI – the “hoax” website you linked to is a project of MassResistance, a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group.
Lisa M
The search for the suspects is over, and this is now being investigated as a false police report. It was pretty obvious to those of us that go to BSU that the whole thing was made up. If you knew the accuser, you would understand why.
B
No. 9 · Lisa M wrote, “The search for the suspects is over, and this is now being investigated as a false police report. It was pretty obvious to those of us that go to BSU that the whole thing was made up. If you knew the accuser, you would understand why.”
Did a google news search and didn’t find any articles about a false report, but did find one claiming that a sketch of the suspects has been released:
http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2012/02/rally-held-support-assaulted-bridgewater-state-student-journalist-police-release-suspect-sketches/t4M509XBpiBUqo4fm3xloL/index.html
According to http://www.bsccomment.com/news/comment-staff-member-attacked-after-writing-article-supporting-gay-marriage-1.2786110 is a link to a student newspaper article from BSU – in the comments section there is some indication of “false report” rumors being circulated and an opinion that those rumors are false ones.
CBRad
IF it turns out to be a fraud, will Queerty update the story or just leave it hanging like with this one ? http://www.queerty.com/unc-student-quinn-matney-branded-by-late-night-attacker-who-gave-fucking-fag-a-taste-of-hell-20110412/