Luis and Richard Vieira say they were assaulted at a Staten Island White Castle in an incident that began with three “youths” walking in, asking them, “What the [expletive] are you looking at, fag?,” and turned into Luis finding Richard outside “semiconscious and bleeding — he had been jumped and sucker-punched in the back of the head.” No arrests have been made, but police are investigating it as a hate crime.[SI Live]
Dame Helga von ornstein
I can never thank my older brothers enough for forcing me to put on those boxing gloves they both got for christmas and making me learn how to fight back physically.
Everyone should know how to physically defend themselves. No, you are not going to win every fight but at least you have a better chance at it (or simply warding off your attacker by making him think twice about continuing).
Kev C
Stapleton area of Staten Island, a very violent and homophobic area where I used to live.
scott ny'er
@Dame Helga von ornstein: True. But then again, 40 peeps vs. you and your partner. I think you might lose that one and quite possibly your life.
OTOH, Of course, you might lose your life by not doing anything as well.
This story is terrible.
ewe
@Kev C: It’s true sorry to say. Staten Island is the Molakai of the boroughs as far as i am concerned.
Warren
I think I see the problem 2:30 AM. A notoriously bad neighborhood. A gang of 40 black youths gathered outside the White Castle. Words were exchanged. Sorry, to hear about the beating, but better minds should have prevailed in choosing a late night eatery.
Kev C
@Warren: I’d have to agree. People have to make better choices, as bad choices can result in injury or death. The good news is that 10 years ago this type of attack would never have been investigated as a hate crime, and probably wouldn’t even be in the newspapers at all.
Soakman
@Kev C and Warren
What you say is true.
But
Fear is the betrayer of hearts.
Kev C
You know, if you live or visit Stapleton, you should always be carrying a weapon in your little man purse. And that’s another thing; the victim shouldn’t have to prove he looked gay enough for it to be a hate crime. Wearing a man purse isn’t the crime, legally speaking. Calling someone a “fag” is what makes it a hate crime.
carlton
@Kev C: People have to make better choices? so we as gay people need to go into hiding/ and/or house arrest after 10 pm because we’ll be assualted? Did you listen to yourself before you typed out what you did. Insert any other minority group and see how dumbfounded that statement is. Gays, if anything, should fight back and prevail to be more prominent. The WORST thing you could do is going into hiding (back in your closet) in this very sensitive time for our community. Be seen and heard!
Jamesiown
40 thugs shouldn’t be allowed to roam any streets like that, when you know they’ll act disorderly. And as for residents of a community not being able to leave their homes at a certain time to avoid these thugs, it should be the other way around. These thugs shouldn’t have the ability to walk down block after block; that’s called loitering and some police presence is clearly needed in that area.
Rhina J.
How can 40 kids just hang out somewhere that late at night without someone raising an eyebrow? in my neighborhood that would get a cops attention, to at least observe them. Of course these kids parents are going to blame society, the system, and cops for their bigoted gang mentality twats. Put em’ in jail and throw away the kids. Society does not need any more low lives in it.
OrchidIslander
@Soakman:
“But
Fear is the betrayer of hearts.”
True that….
But
Sometimes avoidance and common sense is the preserver of bodily tissues, fluids and bones.
I don’t know any people, gay or straight, who would enter White Castle (tempting as it might be – I live in Hawaii and miss sliders immensely!) at 2:30am for a sit down meal with 40 threatening youth of any stripe in the vicinity.
Likewise, standing up for your gay self in the face of certain violence from numerous thugs in a bad ass hood makes no sense to me.
There is a time and place for everything.
That was the time for drive thru service; or a meal at another establishment.
Michael
@Soakman: Fear of emergency rooms does not shame the heart.
scott ny'er
@Michael: Hmmm. Or how about fear of DEATH, or fear of hospital bills, life-long illness, plastic surgery, etc. I mean, if it’s FORTY peeps in their gang, yeah, 2 against 40 makes great sense. Those 2 won’t get their asses kicked or be maimed or get killed. The 40 peeps will admit they are wrong and buy a round of sliders for everyone.
Kev C
@carlton: The reality is that bad neighborhoods exist. And if you make the choice to go into one, and the choice act stupid, talking back to thugs, ignoring the danger, acting casual, then bad things are going to happen. I personally recommend that all gays carry some form of weapon on them and be prepared to use it. That’s a lesson you can learn the hard way, or you take my word for it and do yourself some good.
Mario C.
Where did you guys get “40” attackers? The article says three (3).