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Police investigate NYC West Village attack as possible hate crime by Michael K. Lavers
National News EditorFriday May 15, 2009 A man remains in serious condition at St. Vincent’s Hospital after he was viciously beaten in the West Village early yesterday morning as a result of what police continue to investigate as a possible hate crime.
Four men beat Alan Williams, 50, of Buffalo near Café Riviera the corner of Christopher Street and Seventh Avenue South around 2 a.m. Thursday morning as he tried to hail a cab. The Daily News reported several of Williams’ friends said he is gay. And the newspaper cited New York Police Department sources who said Williams, an accountant, had a card from Gay Men’s Health Crisis in his pocket.
Williams suffered head trauma, and he remains in a medically induced coma at St. Vincent’s.
"Any violent assault of this kind is a terrible tragedy," Sharon Stapel, executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, said. "We would like to express our concern for the victim and for family and friends affected by this assault."
This attack comes a little more than six months after Keith Phoenix and Hakeem Scott allegedly beat Ecuadorian immigrant José Sucuzhañay to death on a Bushwick street after they thought he was gay because he was walking arm-and-arm with his brother Romel.
Stapel added her organization continues to work with the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn [D-Chelsea.]
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Michael K. Lavers has written for the Advocate, the Fire Island News, the Village Voice, WNYC and other media outlets. He has also provided commentary on LGBT and other issues to the BBC and the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC. He blogs at Boy in Bushwick [www.boyinbushwick.blogspot.com]
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