 |
 |
Tony Randolph Hunter, 37, of Clinton, Md., died last week at Howard University Hospital 10 days after police found him unconscious near BeBar (photo courtesy of Dana Fonville). Acting police Lt. Brett Parson (above) says he’s hopeful arrests will be made soon. (Blade photo by Henry Linser)
|
|
|
| | |
|
Although the number of reported hate crimes against gays has fluctuated nationally in recent years, it has risen in D.C. The most recent FBI data also shows such numbers fluctuating in Maryland and Virginia.
In 2006, law enforcement agencies reported 1,415 hate crime offenses based on sexual orientation bias.
62.3 percent were anti-male homosexual
20.7 percent were anti-homosexual
13.6 percent were anti-female homosexual
2.0 percent were anti-heterosexual
1.5 percent were anti-bisexual
Of the 1,415 offenses, 36 were reported by D.C. police, 13 were reported by Maryland police, and 37 were reported by Virginia police.
In 2005, law enforcement agencies reported 1,171 hate crime offenses based on sexual orientation bias.
60.9 percent were anti-male homosexual
19.5 percent were anti-homosexual
15.4 percent were anti-female homosexual
2.3 percent were anti-bisexual
2.0 percent were anti-heterosexual
Of the 1,171 offenses, 30 were reported by D.C. police, 11 were reported by Maryland police, and 44 were reported by Virginia police.
In 2004, law enforcement agencies reported 1,406 hate crime offenses
based on sexual orientation bias.
60.8 percent were anti-male homosexual
21.1 percent were anti-homosexual
14.3 percent were anti-female homosexual 2.5 percent were anti-heterosexual
1.3 percent were anti-bisexual
Of the 1,406 offenses, 29 were reported by D.C. police, 19 were reported by Maryland police, and 38 were reported by Virginia police.
Additional statistics are available online at: www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/civilrights/hate.htm
Source: FBI Hate Crime Statistics reports, 2004–2006
|
|
| |
|
|
| | |
|
|
| | |
HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: LOU CHIBBARO JR COMMENTS
 
continued...
gay men in Adams Morgan after calling out anti-gay epithets.
Earlier this month, a group of men attacked and beat two gay men outside the Playbill Café on 14th Street, N.W., after shouting anti-gay names at the two victims.
Aside from the dropped case against Cooney, police have yet to make an arrest in any of the cases.
At Monday’s GLOV meeting, organizers said local activists perceive an increase in anti-gay violence in the city, even though police continue to report that crime statistics, including hate crimes data,
show that the number of such crimes has remained stable or declined over the past few years.
“Perception is reality,” Parson told the group. He said to the victims of a violent crime, and to the victims’ friends and family, just one case “represents a 100 percent increase.”
Fenty has not responded to repeated Blade inquiries for comment since Hunter's death last week. Asked at a news conference Wednesday to comment on the perception in the gay community that hate crimes are on the rise, Fenty said only that he wouldn't address "perceptions."
Friends of Hunter have said they are convinced that anti-gay hatred played some part in his murder, despite police reports that evidence of a hate crime is lacking.
Eric Rhodes, a friend of Hunter and Carter, said Carter told him that he swung back at the attackers before running from the scene to seek help.
Rhodes said Carter assumed Hunter also was fleeing from the scene, but Carter learned a short time later that Hunter had been knocked unconscious by the attackers.
The two had parked their car on a street that dead ends into the north wing of the sprawling D.C. Convention Center. Police have said the area is known for violent clashes between rival gangs, or “crews,” whose members live in nearby public housing projects.
Grooms said members of the crews, along with other juveniles involved in crime, shifted their activity in recent years from auto thefts to violent muggings, where victims are robbed and “viciously” beaten.
Third District Lt. Michael Smith, who supervises officers in the area surrounding where Hunter was beaten, said it is not uncommon for members of the crews to beat and injure mugging victims, even when victims show no signs of resisting crew members’ efforts to rob them.
“I feel it was a crew that did this,” he said, referring to Hunter’s murder. “This is what they do.”
Smith noted that he based this opinion solely on his experience in monitoring the crews and that he is not directly involved in the Hunter murder investigation.
At the invitation of BeBar owner Mike Watson, family members and friends of Hunter held a memorial celebration at Be
|
