The Tuesday night march started at IHOP in Columbia Heights and made its way to Cobalt in Dupont. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez and Matt Rhoades
A group estimated at more than 500 people walked from Columbia Heights to Dupont last night to recognize the victims of recent hate crimes against members of the LGBT community in DC, and to call attention to the problem still face gay and transgendered people in DC. The event was organized on Facebook by friends of one of the victims , Daniel, who was shot March 11 at the IHOP restaurant in Columbia Heights after an incident which involved anti-gay slurs. Police have listed the incident as a hate-related assault with intent to kill.
Starting off at the IHOP at 14th and Irving Streets NW, the group walked to Georgia Avenue and Irving Street NW for a second brief ceremony at the site where another gay man was beaten and robbed on March 12; he suffered a broken jaw. According to Kyan Brady, one of the March organizers, both of the men were released from the hospital yesterday, March 20.
What is a hate or bias crime? Wikipedia says: “In crime and law, hate crimes (also known as bias-motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation,disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, sex, gender identity, social status or political affiliation.” What does the term mean under DC law? Check out the DC Police definition of a hate crime.
Patrick Pressman, one of the March organizers said he believed that DC Police had estimated the crowd at 520 people. Pressman said the turnout was definitely in the 50o to 600 range. More than 700 people had said they would attend on the Facebook event page.
Video and Photos of March: More Borderstan photos on our Facebook Page. The march drew a great deal of local media coverage, including The Washington Post, as well as local TV stations. Video of the march is available at ABC-7, NBC-4, CBS-9 and Fox-5. The Washington Blade has posted a photo gallery from last night’s march as has The DC Center on flickr. (A hat tip to Chris Wiggins for organizing media coverage.)
The march ended at Cobalt lounge at 17th and R NW, where a fundraiser was held for Daniel, the shooting victim at IHOP –proceeds are going to help cover his medical costs. In addition to a donations bucket at Cobalt, Cobalt General Manager Mark Rutstein said the business was donating a portion of bar receipts to Daniel’s medical fund and that the DJs and the evening’s drag show performers were also donating the cost of their time on Tuesday night for the fundraiser. There is also a Facebook Page, Benefit for Daniel, where you can make a donation through PayPal.
MPD Chief Cathy Lanier was at the kickoff at IHOP, along with Councilmembers Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), and Council Chairman Kwame Brown. The marchers were also joined by some members of Occupy DC who came to show support.
Donations
The organizers have also recommended two organizers where you can make donations in addition to the Benefit for Daniel Fund:
Click above for more images on Facebook from the March 21 march against ant-LGBT violence in DC. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Like Borderstan’s News stories? Get an RSS Feed for the News Section, or an RSS Feed for all Borderstan stories.
Related Stories
- Tonight: Silent March for Recent Victims of Anti-LGBT Violence (Borderstan)
- March to begin Tuesday at IHOP to remember LGBT shooting, assault victims (Washington Blade, March 19)
- March planned in Columbia Heights for victims of anti-gay violence, including IHOP shooting (The Washington Post, March 17)
- 3 hospitalized after spate of anti-LGBT violence (Washington Blade, March 14)
- Two Gay Men And A Transgender Woman Hospitalized After Anti-LGBT Attacks Hit Washington D.C. Neighborhood (Huffington Post, March 15)
A silent march has been organized for 7 pm this evening, March 20, to recognize the victims of recent hate crimes against members of the LGBT community in DC. The event is being organized on Facebook by friends of one of the victims who was shot March 11 at the IHOP restaurant in Columbia Heights. The Washington Blade has full details on the recent attacks.
14th Street NW in Columbia Heights. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Following the March from IHOP in Columbia Heights (14th and Irving Streets NW) to 17th and R Streets NW, there will be a fundraiser at Cobalt lounge. The fundraiser at Cobalt is to help cover the medical expenses of the man shot at IHOP.
According to news reports, a 31-year-old gay man was shot at 6 am on March 11 at the IHOP on Irving Street NW, just west of 14th Street NW in Columbia Heights after an incident which involved anti-gay slurs; he is still hospitalized. According to the Blade, ‘Police have listed the incident as a hate-related assault with intent to kill.’
A Washington Post story adds more details: “The march also supports the victim of a severe beating and robbery of a gay man March 12 at Georgia Avenue and Irving Street. The beating left the man with a broken jaw. It was classified as an anti-gay hate crime. A day later, a transgender woman was assaulted and knocked unconscious in northeast Washington.”
March Details
Details from the organizers on the event’s Facebook page:
- Gather in front of the IHOP located 3100 14th Street NW in observance of the gunshot victim who was attacked on March 11.
- The silent march then continues east on Irving Street to Georgia Avenue.
- The march will stop for a brief statement recalling the details of the second attack, which happened at that location on March 12.
- March then continues to Florida Avenue and goes west on U Street. At 14th Street, the march goes south to R Street and continues eastward to Cobalt lounge at 17th and R Streets NW.
- Wear a solid colored T-shirt of your choice in recognition of the Rainbow flag. If you wish to carry a sign or write on your T-shirt, we ask that you simply put one word such as Sister, Brother, Son, Daughter, Neighbor, Husband, Wife, Boyfriend, Girlfriend , etc. to let everyone know exactly who is being attacked.
Donations
The organizers have also recommended two organizers where you can make donations:
Related Stories
- March to begin Tuesday at IHOP to remember LGBT shooting, assault victims (Washington Blade, March 19)
- March planned in Columbia Heights for victims of anti-gay violence, including IHOP shooting (The Washington Post, March 17)
- 3 hospitalized after spate of anti-LGBT violence (Washington Blade, March 14)
- Two Gay Men And A Transgender Woman Hospitalized After Anti-LGBT Attacks Hit Washington D.C. Neighborhood (Huffington Post, March 15)
