Should Austin Be Known As A City of Violent Hatred and Intolerance?
Nothing breaks my heart more than hatred and violence. And I can’t stand to see it present in our city.
Growing up, I lived just outside of Dallas in Euless, a town full of diversity, known particularly for having a large Tongan population (If you follow High School football, then you might be familiar with the Trinity Trojans). Because I’d always had friends who were black, white and brown, I lived in a semi-idyllic world, thinking that racial violence was a thing for past generations. That all changed in Junior High.
One morning in the school cafeteria, a crazy, cowboy white dude decided to put on some razor-brass knuckles and go punch a black football player named Bubba in the belly. Flesh is flesh, no matter what color, and those razors did a number on Bubba’s insides. He spent many weeks in the hospital recovering.
Bubba was pretty much beloved by everyone. My family and friends visited Bubba in the hospital. And our school organized a giant rally against hate to show that this was NOT something we would stand for in our community.
Well, ladies and gentleman, Austin has had our cafeteria moment. Last week, two gay men got followed from the bars on 4th St to the Parking Garage at City Hall and then were jumped by four dudes. Here’s a shocking account from Emmanuel Winston, one of the guys who was assaulted:
Emmanuel Winston was attacked from behind by four cowardly gay-bashers.
I’m writing to you to tell you about the experience my friend and I had this weekend. We were leaving a popular gay bar, Oilcan Harry’s, at around 2:30am late Friday night, early Saturday morning. We had just come from celebrating Jersey Night for the opening weekend of the spring softball season for gay Austin softball league. Both my friend and I were wearing our team jersey’s.
We were followed from the outside of the bar to three blocks down to the City Hall parking garage and attacked from behind by four men. The nature of the crime was based out of cowardice. The first unexpected blow was a punch to the back of my head. Attacking us from behind left us disoriented and unable to quickly react. At one point there were three men on me, kicking and punching my face. I don’t think these men expected us to fight back like we did, but my friend and I are fairly athletic men. When we were able to get the men of us and face them that is when one of the men called out to us calling us fags. They ran away, we tried to follow, but we lost them. I sustained contusions and lacerations to the face. My friend thought he had broken his nose.
I have never in my life experienced anything like this. The fact that I had been a target of a hate crime simply because of my sexual orientation had me shocked. We filed a report with the Austin Police Department and are waiting to see if the men can be identified, caught, and prosecuted.
The reason why I’m writing to you is because this needs to change. We live in 2010 and yet are still plagued with the ignorance and fear of others. A clear message needs to be sent that this is not o.k. I’ve been overwhelmed with the stories of other men and women who have also been targets of hate crime violence and at the time didn’t have the platform to speak. I am speaking out in behalf of future generations of gay men and women and hope that they never have to go through an experience like mine.
This is Austin. And in OUR Austin, this is NOT acceptable. We need to send a message to those punks that this is not acceptable. We need to send a message to City Hall that this is not acceptable. And we need them to show the world that the City of Austin and the Police force will do whatever it takes to bring justice.
Join me in showing the world that Austin will not be known as a city of violent hatred and intolerance. Take a stand and march against hate this Saturday, February 27th, 2010. Share the Facebook Events with your friends. Let’s stand together and show that this is not the Austin we want.
DEETS: March Against Hate (Feb 27th, 2010); Start at Oilcan Harry’s (211 W 4th) and walk over to City Hall; 2-330P Facebook Event
Or call and let your voice be heard:
- Mayor Lee Leffingwell Phone: (512) 974-2250
- Mike Martinez, Mayor Pro Tem Phone: (512) 974-2264
- Randi Shade, Council Member Place 3 Phone: (512) 974-2255
- Sheryl Cole, Council Member Place 6 Phone: (512) 974-2266
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NEW POST: Should Austin Be Known As A City of Violent Hatred and Intolerance? [link to post]
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This makes me so sad. I too came from Dallas, and one of the things that made me love Austin so much was the sense of everyone being accepted no matter how different. I hope they catch these guys, try them for the hate crime they perpetrated and show their faces on television so we can see them for the cowards they are. Attacking someone from behind and then running when they actually put up a fight!? REPULSIVE.
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RT @SocialTNT: NEW POST: Should Austin Be Known As A City of Violent Hatred and Intolerance? [link to post]
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RT @SocialTNT NEW POST: Should Austin Be Known As A City of Violent Hatred and Intolerance? [link to post]
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RT @Do512_Hannah: RT @SocialTNT NEW POST: Should Austin Be Known As A City of Violent Hatred and Intolerance? [link to post]
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Austin March Against Hate, tmrw, 2PM @ Oilcan Harry’s - http://bit.ly/cTQGir (@SocialTNT blog post about the incident: [link to post] )
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RT @Do512_Kelly AustinMarchAgainstHate, tmrw, 2PM @ Oilcan Harry’s - http://bit.ly/cTQGir @SocialTNT blog post about it [link to post]
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Wow. RT @Do512_Kelly Austin March Against Hate, tmrw, 2PM @ Oilcan Harry’s - http://bit.ly/cTQGir (see @SocialTNT blog [link to post])
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@PerezHilton Austin March Against Hate, tmrw, 2PM @ Oilcan Harry’s - http://bit.ly/cTQGir [link to post]
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This is UNACCEPTABLE. RT @ATX4U NEW POST: Should Austin Be Known As A City of Violent Hatred and Intolerance? [link to post]
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RT @ATX4U: NEW POST: Should Austin Be Known As A City of Violent Hatred and Intolerance? [link to post]
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RT @ATX4U Should Austin Be Known As A City of Violent Hatred and Intolerance? [link to post]
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I noticed how quick you noted the race (without confirming race was a factor) of what you called “crazy, cowboy white dude” and the alleged victim “black football player named Bubba”. I say alledged victim because I’ve been around enough black thugs to be wary of all blacks. On three separate incidents including a black urinating inside my vehicle for being in his neighborhood, my wife being grouped and a third time being told “you’re lucky I don’t put a cap in your head”to understand peole can get pushed only so far. What you never managed to tell us was that these 4 assailants were black.
I noted race because the guy who did they attacking did it because it was racially motivated. And I knew bubba, so I know that he was a victim.
I think you need to set aside race from the experience. If 3 white guys had done those incidents, would you and your wife be wary of white people?
It doesn’t matter what race the assailants are-hate is hate regardless. And it shouldn’t be tolerated.
Look, we are human beings, competitive by nature and motivated as much by the “wrong” emotions as we are by the “right” ones. So stop asking for an impossible existence in which no persons hurt each other — that place is a fantasy land called heaven. Instead, take responsibility for yourself, your own safety, and that of your family. Take the course, get a legal license, and carry a concealed handgun, people. NO ONE is more responsible for your safety than YOU.