For Immediate Release March 3, 2003 Says case is 'emblematic' of anti-gay incidents since 9/11
New York –
Today representatives from the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (AVP) praised the efforts of a witness to a brutal anti-gay attack on Raymond Spreng, a 53 year-old Upper East Side man late Saturday night. As Mr. Spreng walked home from a bar, he was followed, possibly for blocks by three young men. Finally, on East 86th Street, they yelled an anti-gay slur and began beating him, eventually slamming a bicycle frame against his head. Fortunately, a witness to the attack called the police from his apartment overlooking the scene and the police arrived while the victim and the perpetrators were still there.
"We cannot state strongly enough that what this witness did may have saved Mr. Spreng's life," said Richard Haymes, AVP's Executive Director. "So often, no one does anything when they see or hear someone in trouble and in part because of that, many anti-gay incidents go unsolved and perpetrators are left to harm others," continued Haymes. "This case clearly illustrates that sometimes all it takes is for someone to pick up the phone and dial 911 for a life to be saved and perpetrators to be taken off of the street. We are also very glad to see that this case quickly received a bias classification from the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force and we hope that if it comes to trial, it will be prosecuted under the state's Hate Crimes Law," concluded Haymes.
"It bears noting that what happened to Mr. Spreng unfortunately underscores what we've been seeing in our anti-gay bias cases, particularly since September 11th," said Basil Lucas, AVP's Senior Bias Related Victim Advocate. "Overall, bias reports seem to be down somewhat – a trend we attribute to a variety of factors, including the fact that crime overall in New York City has decreased– but the number of violent anti-gay assaults, particularly those involving weapons use, continues to rise." In its last annual report on anti-lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-related violence, AVP charted a 20% increase in assaults with weapons from 2000 to 2001. "Today, if you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of an anti-gay incident, you are more likely than ever to be physically assaulted," continued Lucas. "It appears as though some progress has been made in deterring potential low-level offenders, but the more serious offenders who commit anti-gay incidents may be redoubling their commitment to acting out on their hatred," concluded Lucas.
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