A Hudson County grand jury drew up an indictment against two Burger King employees accused of an anti-gay hate crime.
Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein provides the details, after the jump…
A grand jury in Hudson County has just handed down an indictment of two men, then employees of the Burger King on 3501 Bergenline Avenue in Union City, charging that the employees committed a vicious anti-gay beating of a same-sex male couple on July 22, 2007.
The indictment, State of New Jersey v. Angel Caraballo and Christopher Soto, charges the employees in six counts, the most serious being a first-degree hate crime. The other counts include second- and third-degree aggravated assault.
When the couple asked for a refund for a menu item that the counter person discovered was not available, another counter person then asked who wanted the refund – “The faggots over there?”
How about we take this to the next level?
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The couple left the restaurant. A group of Burger King employees followed them to a side street and beat them mercilessly, though not fatally.
The employees made repeated anti-gay slurs during the beating.
Garden State Equality has also learned that the defendants were named in a police report for an alleged stabbing in November 2006, though the charges emanating from that police report were ultimately dismissed.
“Even in New Jersey, arguably the most progressive state in the country, a state we call the state that doesn’t hate, too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people live in fear,” said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality.
“Part of the problem is the law,” said Goldstein, “for even though New Jersey’s hate crimes law is one of the oldest in the country, it’s now been surpassed in its scope,” said Goldstein. “We expect that state legislators, with whom Garden State Equality has been working closely, will shortly introduce a bill to remedy the problem.”
Walt Boraczek, co-chair of Hudson Diversity Action Council, said: “Hudson Diversity Action Council is shocked that a tragedy such as this could happen in Hudson County, where the embrace of diverse communities has always been a hallmark of what makes our county great.”
“We look forward to working with the people of Union City and across Hudson County,” Boraczek said, “to demonstrate that we won’t tolerate this type of criminal behavior.”
Garden State Equality and Hudson Diversity Action Council will hold a rally against hate next Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 6:00 pm, Pride Connections Center of New Jersey, 32 Jones Street, Jersey City.
Rt. Rev. Dr. RES
NJ has civil unions and are still against marriage equality, yet kudos for their state’s dual parent adoption and for their ENDA hate crimes bill.
I know that physical wounds heal; but the psychological trauma leave permanent scars. Hatred of this kind is a learned behaviour, often with males who question their own psychosexual orientation and purge it out by bashing others.
I certainly hope, for the sake of other victims and potential victimizers, that the prison penalty is lengthy and without time served concurrently. I do not wish any harm to these perps, but they may themselves become punked in prison and learn that rape is violence too.
DavidDust
Is it just me or is the “Burger King” really creepy, or what?
xavier
I personally know chirstopher soto and he would never in his life beat up a person for a refund or even if they were gay. I personally belive that they have the wrong person and ill stick by my friend for ever no matter what..
Cassidy79
What i don’t understand is why people are posting comments that doesn’t even make any sense. i think everyone knows that these tow people who are claiming that they where beaten, all they are looking for is money and the attention of the public. why are they only talking about them, why not talk about the fact that they are 39 and 40 years of age, and still had the balls to punch a 16 year old girl and call her a bitch. come one lets be for real, just because they are gay doesn’t give them the right to act the way they did. why are we only paying attention to one side of the story but lets listen to the other side side of the story coming from the tow guys being accuse. i’m not racist, i have plenty of friends who are gay, but lets grow up and be a little more mature..
firegirl
the victims are not looking for money, but justice. They are tax paying, law-abiding citizens who are just and responsible. For those who judge: 1) you were not there; 2)you don’t need to have been there, listen to the facts — so much homophobia & xenophobia exisits in our society. We have taken such a step backwards. Out very ancient ancestors would roll over in their graves. And not our “Fore-Fathers”, I mean ancient societies (pre Roman, Pre Greek societies…when democracy started)
when we celebrated “differences” and varierties of viverse populations. I live down the street from the “victims” and have known them for several years. Money is not the ultimate goal…it’s education for the ignorant, the stubborn ones, and to expand our horizons in general. Peace for all.
Cassidy79
Number One i am not here to fight or argue with anyone, i am here to claim justice, second of all grow up. what makes u think i was not there, i was there were u there, from what i know i was a customer there that day. what ever the papers say are lies, of curse u are going to agree with them because u guys are neighbors but besides that u need to really know the fact like u say. and as far ass education i don’t think they teaching anyone anything but instead making a full of themselves. i think they should teach themselves first, they are the one been ignorants. i do agree with you in some points but not in all of them, but thats your believe. and i cant argue with your freedom of speech. people should get alone ones and for all because our society its never going to change, we should all be use to our society and the diversity in it. all them lies about them getting hit with a brick, been throne on the floor like rag dolls is just a little bit blown out of proportion don’t u think. enough is enough. again lets bring out the part where they hit a 16 year old girl and call her bitch, now u tell me is that teaching or e mature.