The fallout from the defense of four anti-LGBTQ hate crime suspects continues in South Florida, where the director of the queer rights group SAVE just lost his job.
Tony Lima served as Executive Director of SAVE for six years. At a special Champions of Equality Gala on June 14, he publicly recognized Luis Alonso, Juan Lopez, Adonis Diaz, and Pablo Romo for their contribution to the organization, deeming them “wrongfully accused.”
The four men had volunteered with SAVE after arrests for aggravated assault and a hate crime after video caught the four attacking three men at Miami Beach Pride in 2018.
Last week, Lima released a video apologizing for his recognition of the four suspects, though he denied ever labeling them “wrongfully accused,” even though a reporter for the Miami Herald, as well as several others in attendance at the gala, dispute his claim, saying he definitely said those words.
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Lima’s video apology has since disappeared from the internet and SAVE has announced Lima’s termination.
“We deeply regret the damage this has caused the LGBTQ+ community in South Florida,” SAVE said in a statement this week, “particularly during a time when the country was reflecting on the riots at Stonewall as well as the many other hardships and abuses that our community continues to endure.”
“These actions have been incredibly upsetting to the community and most of all, hurtful to the victims of this terrible crime.”
Meanwhile, Lima also issued another apology via the Miami Herald, saying, “I made one mistake in my tenure of six years as the leader of SAVE and I’ve paid dearly for it.”
“Again, I apologize to the victims and to those in the community that were hurt by this. Hurting anyone was never my intention.”
Related: LGBTQ rights group apologizes for accidentally honoring four men involved in antigay hate crime
James Hart
The guy made a mistake. He apologized. His bosses should give him a warning not to make this mistake again. I don’t think a man’s livelihood should be put into jeopardy because of one mistake in judgment.
rarediel
They have to get rid of him. It is a non profit, if they kept him it would be the end of the organization.
Cam
He held up for praise four people that brutally attacked LGBT people in a hate crime and claimed they were wrongfully accused, which calls the victims liars. Additionally there was video of them doing it. This isn’t the same thing as spilling coffee on the printer.
ivyleaguer
so if the two victims were at the gala or decided to volunteer at SAVE, he expected them to work side by side with the four men who beat them up. This guy is a total moron. And so is the audience for applauding them. They are from Miami they knew exactly who those guys were when Tony asked them to stand up. Tony got exactly what he deserved. Those guys only volunteered at SAVE to look good in front of the judge. We all know that and Tony knows it or he terribly naive.
niles
I have a feeling this was not his first mistake.
UlfRaynor
Considering Lima’s job, who he is supposed to represent and the seriousness of his offense against the community he is supposed to be supporting, being fired was the only outcome any sane person would expect.
poundmetoo
Sjw fascists eating their own anyone surprised?
Brian
When your screw up is this monumental, there’s no other option. Even with firing him, they’re going to see a drop in donations. Keeping him would put them out of business.
If you’re going to throw around the word “fascist”, try to learn when it’s at least remotely appropriate to the story.
Cam
Translation: You support the violent bigots who attacked a group of gay guys.
Kangol2
You should probably look up “fascist” in a simple English dictionary, since you clearly have no idea what it means. And then look in the mirror to see a living, breathing version of one.
Jared MacBride
A mistake is adding 9 + 7 and getting 15. What he did was no mistake; stupidity, arrogance, maybe, but not a mistake. Plainly the wrong person for the job.
ivyleaguer
I concur.
Cam
He’ll probably end up doing spots on FOX News soon attacking the community.
ivyleaguer
Here is Tony’s Lima’s twitter for those who want to relay their comments on his actions directly to him:
@therealtonylima
poundmetoo
Thanks I just sent him a message of support, he made a mistake, most level headed people can see that. I do not believe the guy is homophobic or that he would support a bunch of low life violent idiots attacking gays. BTW you are no ivy leaguer. An ivy leaguer would never stoop to your idiocy of trying to bring harm to someone online.
UlfRaynor
Except for the fact he did just that, and in subsequent post after the ceremony he redoubled his support of the 4 bashers after it was pointed out to him the charges they were facing.
He believes the 4 str8 guys over the victims, despite video and eyewitness accounts.
Most level headed people could see that if they bothered to actually consider the facts.
How does one misinterpret a hate crime as anything other than a hate crime?