Brooklyn Activists Stage Kiss-Out In Reaction To Hate Crime

Yesterday gay activists gathered in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood in Brooklyn to stage a "kiss-out" in response to the March 2nd attack on a 22 year-old gay man, who was beaten by cowardly thugs as he left a gay event. The attackers used anti-gay epithets during the attack and are being sought by the NYPD. [Video below] In a separate event, politicos and activists staged a candlelight vigil at the scene of the attack.

Dozens of Carroll Gardens residents rallied against hate on Monday night at Luquer Street between Hamilton Avenue and Clinton Street, steps from the spot where a gay man was attacked two weeks earlier. Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, Comptroller John Liu, Councilman Brad Lander (D-Park Slope) joined a few dozen candle-bearers — a crowd that impressed some residents, though left some activists disappointed. “It’s kind of surprising that there weren’t more people here,” said Brooklyn Heights resident Richard Murray as he held his boyfriend’s hand. “It’s totally necessary to come here, right where the attack took place,” he said, gazing up at spectators who preferred to watch, anonymous, from their windows above. “The people of this block are all looking out of every window. They need to know that this stuff is not going to be tolerated.” Like most pols, DeBlasio, who used to represent the district in the Council, spoke of a “call to action” against hate. “Hate crimes like this are blatant attacks on New Yorker’s core values,” he said.