NYC Gay Bar Owner Calls Out NYPD For Lack Of Action On Vandalism Attacks
The owner of Vera, a gay bar in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, spoke out against the NYPD’s handling of vandalism after a brick was thrown through the bar’s window Saturday night, the third time in one week.
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The owner of Vera, a gay bar in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, spoke out against the NYPD’s handling of vandalism after a brick was thrown through the bar’s window Saturday night, the third time in one week, Jake Offenhartz reports for Gothamist. The owner, David DeParolesa, told Gothamist that police were dismissive when he reported the incidents and said the NYPD told him that the crimes may not warrant reporting to the state’s Hate Crimes Task Force.
When DeParolesa suggested the possibility of the attack being a hate crime, he claims that the officer responded: “well, you can’t know that.” Police also allegedly did not request surveillance footage of the most recent attack. This comes as Gov. Kathy Hoschul just announced an increase in state police support for those vulnerable to hate crimes following a shooting at an LGBTQ night club in Colorado that injured 25 and killed five on Saturday.
