By Gus Saltonstall
A man yelled a homophobic slur and threatened to cut another man recently on the Upper West Side, police said this week.
A 38-year-old man was standing on Amsterdam Avenue, between West 95th and 96th streets, around 4:50 p.m. on July 21, when a person approached him and made an anti-LGBTQIA+ comment toward him, police said.
The person then also threatened to cut the man, and simulated a knife, police said.
There were no injuries and the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the Upper West Side incident.
NYPD released a photo of the suspect.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
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Terrible how regular these kinds of events have become. The doorman at the Dahlia (212 west 95th Street) called a neighbor of mine a homophobic slur last year when he was outside the building “on private property” and told to move. Short mixed race guy with a top knot. The building refused to do anything about it. As far as I know he still works there. I’m amazed the residents are comfortable with him working in their building.
Thank you. This type of behavior should always be called out when it occurs. Bully racists and homophobes–or any kind of hate speech– need to be publicly outed.
Is that the perpetrator or the person being threatened?? The picture is a little confusing, as the person pictured looks like he is the one being threatened?
The image may have been captured after the incident. Looks like a security camera still shot. This may just be the best angle they could get showing the perp’s full face.
Perp.
It says ‘photo of the suspect’ …. what would make you think otherwise?
I understand why it’s confusing. The article said the perpetrator simulated a knife attack, and it appears as though the man in the photo is the one being targeted by that simulated attack.
If they find him, what’s the punishment? Mets or Yankees tickets?
No doubt this terrible. Though how come it’s OK to use slurs and violent threats directed at Jewish people in public. Not to take away from other slurs and threats. It’s a genuine question. Do we have laws against slurs and threats? Are they just specifically homophobic and racial or other groups as well.
ethnic, racial, sexual orientation or slurs in general are not illegal. The typical person is allowed to call anyone anything they want. That’s the law, although some organizations will have you believe otherwise. There’s no such thing as verbal assault. Hate speech is not illegal. It might violate some institutional policies, but it’s not against the law and is generally protected by first amendment. Look it up.
If you’ve been following the news of late, plenty of complaints have been filed in situations where hate speech was directed at Jewish people.
I believe it has to do with the concept of ‘protected class’ but not sure.
Please define “protected class”. By this, do you mean human being?
A protected group, protected class is a category by which people qualified for special protection by a law, policy, or similar authority
Understood, but with exception of people with disabilities, it remains a word salad.
For those confused by whether the picture is of the perp or the victim, the sentence above the picture says that it’s of the perp.
I would like to see more of the video I’m guessing the photo came. from. The victim seems to be threatening the suspect. What makes this a hate crime vs an argument where unkind things were said?
I’m not a lawyer, so take this with any many grains of salt as you feel appropriate, but my understanding is that a hate crime occurs when the victim is targeted based on their membership in a protected class (sex, ethnicity, religion, etc.)
Why does it matter that you’re not a lawyer if you want to comment on a legal issue?
He looks surprised that anyone would stand up to his ignorant abuse, or was he just afraid of being identified?