TOMOROW: NYC Anti-Hate Crime Rally

There have now been four anti-gay attacks in Manhattan just this month. Tomorrow Queer Rising and the NYC Anti-Violence Project will stage a rally in midtown. From the Facebook page:

JOIN THE RALLY: On Thursday May 16, beginning at 7:00pm, Queer Rising and members of the public will rally outside Madison Square Garden (specifically the SW-corner of 7th Avenue and W.33rd Street), demanding attention be paid to the protection of all New Yorkers on MSG vicinity during games, and to denounce any violence against the LGBTQ community. At 8:15pm, a short-list of participating community leaders with speak.

JOIN THE MARCH: After the Rally, we will march through Chelsea, going south along 8th Avenue, ending at Horatio Street/Jackson Square Park.

WHAT TO BRING: Posters declaring your position on anti-violence, safety on the streets, or the Knicks and MSG's responsibility to denounce anti-gay violence.

The latest attack came in the West Village.

A gay man was allegedly attacked outside of a popular New York nightspot in what appears to be a spate of citywide assaults. ABC 7 reports that the victim, who was not identified, was coming out of Pieces, a gay bar in Manhattan's West Village, when he was attacked by two men who were yelling gay slurs. He was not seriously hurt.

The NYC Anti-Violence Project has recapped all four attacks. Beginning next week and through Pride weekend, the group will conduct Friday Safety Nights training sessions in the affected neighborhoods.