Staten Islanders demand an end to hate crimes

The spate of bias attacks against gays and immigrants on Staten Island have attracted the attention of the media and elected officials, but will they provoke change?

Although Luis and Richard Vieira are heartened by the support given to their plight by elected officials and LGBT Staten Islanders during a series of actions held on Aug. 7, they remain skeptical the climate of intolerance in their borough will end in the foreseeable future.

"You hear about these things but you never think it will happen to you," said Luis Vieira. "We have lived here for 13 years and were never very active in the gay community, but after this happened we made a lot of ties with people here in the community, who were very forthcoming in being supportive. It really overwhelmed Richard and me."

As EDGE previously reported, the two men had stopped at a White Castle near from their home around 2:20 a.m. on July 7 when they noticed a group of 40 young black men and women walking down the street. Luis Vieira said one of the young men approached them and leveled an anti-gay slur at them. As they were leaving the restaurant, he felt something hit the back of his head. He grabbed his phone to call 911, but then realized his partner was not with him. He found him bleeding and semiconscious in the parking lot.

The attack against the Vieiras came less than two weeks after three men shouted anti-Mexican epithets at Alejandro Galindo before they brutally beat him in Port Richmond. Luis Vieira believes the climate of violence against perceived outsiders in his borough is fostered in part by the lack of police presence and appropriate response.

"To this day I'm baffled by what transpired that early morning at the restaurant," said Luis Vieira, who took issue with the response of both the New York Police Department and White Castle employees. "The 120th Precinct was absolutely useless from the get-go. There was a lack of urgency and professionalism; the officer who took my info didn't even get a detailed report of happen. There were two other witnesses there, and we found out that the police didn't even question them. Thank God there was a video camera that documented it."

Paramedics brought Richard Vieira to Richmond University Medical Center, where he received 15 stitches to close a gash above his eyebrow and additional sutures for a cut on his cheek. Luis Vieira said his partner still suffers from headaches and vertigo, and is scheduled for a second MRI to examine some additional abnormalities.

Luis Vieira said that after they were released from the hospital, he brought his partner to the 120th Precinct "to see the aftermath of the attack on Richard and myself. I wanted him to physically see what we looked like." Luis Vieira said the officer on duty said that the responding officers had reported that he was uncooperative, and had refused to help them identify their attackers. "Why would I give up the opportunity to identify someone who beat up my partner?" asked Luis Vieira.

The men ended up contacting the Manhattan District Attorney's office and were referred to the NYPD's Hate Crime Task Force, which is investigating the attack. The Vieira's cause was also taken up by the Staten Island Pride Events, who teamed up with Staten Island Councilmember Deborah Rose and openly gay state Assemblymember Matt Titone to hold a day of solidarity against hate crimes.

The group gathered at the White Castle at 10 a.m. on Aug. 7 to plant a healing garden at the White Castle. Later that evening, they met at the Staten Island Ferry for a candlelight vigil and march to the White Castle, where at 2 a.m., they held a Take Back Your Right eat-in at the restaurant. Several elected officials, members of the Latino and African-American communities and the Guardian Angels joined in solidarity.

"The event was extremely successful," said organizer Gerard Mawn. "The media followed us for a mile and asked us if they could broadcast live for the 11 o'clock news. It was unexpected; but I wanted to bring attention to the fact that the villains had not been caught, and to show that Staten Island was unified against these attacks."

Titone led the march that evening.

"I think any time you have a hate crime it is important to respond swiftly and in a big way to show solidarity and really show that community as a whole, particularly in Staten Island, won't tolerate any type of violence, whether anti-immigrant, -gay, or -black," he told EDGE.

Rose, who has spearheaded the, "I am Staten Island" campaign, also spoke. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was unable to attend, but sent a statement to be read.

"I want to commend the efforts of the LGBT community leaders and activists gathering today in Staten Island to commemorate the senseless beating of Richard Vieira and the harassment of his partner of Luis Vieira that took place at this very spot on July 7," it read. "When it comes to fighting ignorance and hate-based crime, there is no more of an effective catalyst than the committed vision and efforts of community members. It is now time to strive for much needed change and new beginnings, and it is with this in mind that these flowers are planted today as a symbol of community renewal and growth."

Titone and Rose took issue with the presence of state Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr., [D-Bronx], who showed up on Staten Island to declare his "outrage of the racial abuse against Mexicans and immigrants." During the press conference, Titone pulled out a wig and a high-heeled shoe, and said, "If you're going to come to Staten Island to exploit Staten Islanders simply for political purposes, if you're going to act like a media whore on Staten Island, please have the courtesy to dress like one."

"I know the stunt was over the top and had a cringe factor, but you have to meet crazy with crazier, so mission accomplished," added Titone. "The most frustrating thing with Diaz coming here is that he never once bothered to talk to myself or [state Sen. Diane] Savino, the ministers, or local community leaders. He just decided for some reason that Staten Islanders needed to be saved by him. And when the gay leaders contacted his office to participate, they were told that 'The participation of the gay community will not be required, nor is it welcome.' Who the hell is Ruben Diaz from the Bronx to tell Staten Island when, where, and how they can protest?"

Mawn agreed.

"You are coming over to Staten Island saying you are going to fix the problems? Why don't you focus on the numerous problems in the Bronx?" he added, noting even local ministers refused to meet with Diaz. "The problem with Ruben Diaz is he has no basis for being there. He's not doing this for the immigrants; he's doing it for himself."

Luis Vieira said although it was nice to get the media attention and the support of elected officials, he believes they were all guilty of seizing upon the assaults to promote their own visibility.

"They are all media whores who just want to go out there and sensationalize what happened to boost ratings," said Luis Vieira as he expressed further reservations about Rose in particular. "She did extend her comments welcoming the LGBT community, which was nice, but lots of times she just showed up for a 10-minute photo op. She needs to get out of her Mercedes and talk to these families in Staten Island about the violence."

For their part, it appears Quinn and Rose are genuinely concerned about the violence. They released their 10-point plan on Aug. 3 that "seeks to raise awareness, and foster a dialogue in Staten Island aimed at ceasing bias-related crime."

Components of the plan include a series of educational PSAs on the Staten Island Ferry, an Interfaith Weekend Against Hate planned for Sept. 18, a Respect for All anti-bias curriculum to be taught to high school students through the upcoming school year, improved lighting and surveillance by local businesses, increasing monitoring of public parks, and training for social service groups to assist attack victims.

"I applaud the community's immediate response to the vicious bias crimes plaguing the North Shore community," said Rose.

Quinn agreed.

"This plan, by incorporating the influence and expertise of broad and diverse sectors, religious leaders and elected officials, provides the multi-pronged approach we need in order to galvanize the Staten Island community to action and eradicate this trend of senseless bias-related crime," she said.

Although Luis Vieira is skeptical the efforts will continue once media attention around the case wanes, he hopes they will be able to enact some change. During the early-morning protest at the White Castle, he said, three young girls from the group of teens approached them, curious about what was happening. When he told them about the attack, he said, "They were apologetic...but I wondered what in the world kids that age were doing out at three in the morning?"