REPORTED HATE CRIME

"[Bill] Copello said he is considering asking the GLLU and the local group Gays & Lesbians Opposing Violence to look into what, if anything, could be done about the name-calling by Avenue customers. Police and the United States Attorney’s office have said name-calling itself is not a crime. "

I don't understand how the name-calling is not considered a hate crime. According to DC Regulations:

What Is a Hate Crime?

A hate crime is a crime that is committed against a person because of prejudice or bias. Victims of hate crimes are singled out simply because of their perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibility, physical handicap, matriculation, or political affiliation.

Examples of hate crimes include:

Physical attack
Destruction of property
Cross burnings
Arson
Vandalism
Telephone harassment
Painting swastikas and other hate symbols
Use of racial slurs
Cemetery desecration
Verbal abuse
Firebombing of residences, businesses, and churches

Hate Crimes Are Against the Law

In 1989, the District of Columbia enacted a law to address the problem of hate crimes committed in DC. The law, entitled "The Bias-Related Crime Act of 1989" (DC Code §§ 22-4001 to 22-4004), provides for increased penalties whenever a crime is motivated by bias or hate.

(http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1237,q,547599,mpdcNav_GID,1553.asp)


Seems pretty clear-cut to me.

Posted By RobA / At 10/29/08 8:04 AM

i guess its one of those laws that doesnt actually get enforced.

Posted By Si Kailian / At 10/29/08 9:26 AM

Something tells me that this refusal to act will bring about some civic activity ....

Posted By RobA / At 10/29/08 9:36 AM

Isn't the Avenue Nightclub the other teen nightclub in the area that has been causing problems in addition to Bounce? And the teens have been aggressive with homosexuals around City Vista recently as well. What would be a strategy to deal with this?

Posted By JBG / At 10/29/08 9:55 AM

Has the D.C. Eagle hired any private security? I don't condone the actions of the Avenue nightclub patrons. However I don't think name calling between patrons of two night clubs warrants a continuous police presence. Other solutions should be explored first.

Posted By Jason / At 10/29/08 10:01 AM

I think its time to ask 1D to step it up around NY ave & City Vista. There was also a homicide on the 400 block of NY the other day, stone's throw from safeway. & all of the vacant property interspersed makes a bad situation worse. Barry was yakkin the other day about eminent domain for some strategic parcels in Ward 8. why cant the same thing be considered for the Steuarts & Jemal's slumbanking?

Posted By Si Kailian / At 10/29/08 10:15 AM

The DC Eagle has been in that location for 20-some years and the problems have only gotten worse since the Avenue moved in next door. Why should the Eagle pay the $$$ for security when it's the Avenue patrons (and others now it seems) doing the abuse against the Eagle patrons. If it's a hate crime, then MPD needs to step up and address the problem. Making the Eagle get security doesn't address the problem nor the crime.

Posted By RobA / At 10/29/08 10:30 AM

Si, I've asked Lt. Pate to comment on the quote where it says MPD refused to call it a crime. I'll let you know what his comment is.

Posted By RobA / At 10/29/08 10:38 AM

I disagree Rob. There is only so much MPD to go around. My belief is clubs whether they be McFaddens, Platinum, Fur or the Eagle need to provide security if the situation warrants it. Doesn't matter if the club was there first or whatever. MPD should not be expected to be their full-time security for a nightclub. Really if the Eagle is serious about ending verbal name calling then they need to hire security because real-time enforcement is needed. Calling 911 and having an officer show up 8-10 minutes later is too late to make a difference on a crime like that that which leaves no evidence.

Posted By Jason / At 10/29/08 10:44 AM

I agree with you that clubs needed to provide security for their patrons and to keep their patrons out of trouble inside or outside the clubs, but when crimes are occurring, then the MPD is required to enforce the existing laws on the books.

The name calling is a hate crime and needs to be addressed as such - and needs to be reported each time it occurs.

Lately, DC has seen an increase in hate crimes against gays and nothing appears to be done about it. Unless it is treated as a crime, then the patrons of Avenue or those guys hanging out on New York Avenue (or 14th Street in front of the Playbill) will assume that there is nothing wrong with what they are doing and we'll continue to have the violence against the gay community in DC - or I fear much worse.

Posted By RobA / At 10/29/08 10:59 AM

When my partner and I were walking up 5th Street loaded down with groceries from Safeway on Sunday afternoon the passenger in a black SUV driving past rolled down the window and yelled out "Faggots." I have been luck and this is only the second time someone has yelled this at me since I have lived in the DC area. I have been very concerned at the increase in violence and hatred expressed toward the LGBT community (don't forget the windows being shot at the MCC church a couple of months ago too). My biggest concern is the apparent lack of focus on this issue from the Mayor, our Concilmember, and the MPD. I guess we will need to turn into a bunch of screaming queens again to get their attention.

Posted By JohnD / At 10/29/08 11:25 AM

I have heard of several aggressive incidents recently against gay men around Safeway and nearby by black teens. They clearly are having an issue with the gay community living and shopping and having a club in this community. The uptick is recent.

And Jason -- if white people were yelling slurs and attacking blacks near a black club, we would not tell them to just get security. A hate crime is a hate crime.

Posted By JBG / At 10/29/08 12:21 PM

Look guys, I think if D.C. Eagle patrons want to call 911 so MPD can be dispatched and a report taken that should happen as often as need be. But I'm not for a policeman being permanently stationed between Avenue and Eagle during club hours to keep the peace. For the swiftest correction to this problem a permanent presence would be helpful. But that's gotta come from the club owner first.

Where it seems we are talking past each other other is pre-emptive security versus reporting a crime. I don't think MPD should be that pre-emptive security. I also believe that if the Eagle isn't yet providing that for their patrons that they aren't doing everything they can do to improve the current situation. Hell, hopefully the management of the two venues are good enough terms and both rational enough to recognize that perhaps they should split the cost 50/50.

Posted By Jason / At 10/29/08 1:38 PM

While I agree that there is nothing wrong with an increased security presence, when the law is broken, it should be reported to the police. Not only can they then address it, but it goes into their reporting system to track hot spots around the city and also annual reports on hate crimes. Additionally if someone yesll faggot at someone at the Eagle, then goes up to BeBar and beats someone up, at least the poliice have a record of their previous act and can better determine if it is a hate crime or not.

Also I am not sure if I agree that this is the Eagle's issue to solve. As was mentioned before, they have been there for YEARS with no problems affecting their patrons. Now because a new club moves in up the street, they are responsible for issues caused by the patrons of the new club? Is the Eagle now responsible for providing security all up and down that block of New York Avenue?

Posted By JohnD / At 10/29/08 3:36 PM

yelling FAGGOT isn't verbal abuse? where i come from name calling is verbal abuse. laws need to be inforced. AVENUE needs to control their nitwit customers. AVENUE has been nothing but trouble since they opened. all the trash on the sidewalk is from AVENUE. not Jack Evans campaign office or the Eagle. someone needs to warn AVENUE.

Posted By richard / At 10/29/08 4:27 PM

Dont get me wrong.....calling someone a faggot is an awful thing.....but it should not be a crime. Verbal abuse....suck it up and live with it. Now if people attack someone such as described in that article, that is a crime.

Posted By RT / At 10/29/08 6:14 PM

RT - from your comment I assume (and correct me if I'm wrong), that you are not part of a minority group (gender, race, sexual preference-based) that has had to put up with living with these words all of your life? Based upon DC law, verbal abuse is a crime - and we have every right to expect that it be enforced.

Posted By RobA / At 10/29/08 6:33 PM

Two black queens called me a Breeder and I wasn't offended.

Posted By Libby / At 10/29/08 6:38 PM

I refer you to the article in Metro Weekly regarding the gay-bashing/attack that occurred outside of Playbill on 14th Street. That altercation all started after verbal abuse was thrown at the two guys having a smoke outside the bar. It may start as calling someone a "faggot" but that isn't always where it ends. (The article is here: http://www.metroweekly.com/gauge/?ak=3718)

Posted By RobA / At 10/29/08 6:45 PM

Some of the trannies I've seen on 4th St on my way to work look seriously beat up sometimes. I can only imagine what happens to them in their very high risk lifestyle/profession. I don't think the homophobes (encouraged by homophobic religions and politicians) are targeting any particular group of eegleebeetees with their hate.

Posted By martin / At 10/29/08 8:32 PM

rob do you know when & where the next GLOV meeting is?

Posted By Si Kailian / At 10/30/08 6:21 AM

RobA,

I am not a member of a minority group. However many of my friends are gay, and I am often mistaking for being gay as I am often with a group of gays and lesbians. Part of living in a free country unfortunately is putting up with the biggotry of others. While I find it sickening that someone could hate another person based on something like their race, religion or sexual preference...I find it just as sickening that the government would try to govern thought and lock people away for calling other people names.

Posted By RT / At 10/30/08 6:26 AM

Stay focused people -- we are talking about assaults here that start with the name calling. I know of two assaults (that included name calling -- which is why we know it is a hate crime) at the Safeway recently. We are not debating name calling, we are trying to prevent violence. Stop with the enabling and get some boundaries people.

Posted By JBG / At 10/30/08 6:29 AM