Saturday, September 22, 2007

BREAKING NEWS: More Evidence of Hate Surfaces in Provincetown

This was reported today in the Cape Cod Times:

PROVINCETOWN — Local police are investigating three incidents this summer as possible hate crimes aimed at gay men.

Off-Cape resident Richard Hall, a gay man, was allegedly assaulted at around 12:45 a.m. on Sept. 10 near Court and Commercial streets after being called a "faggot."

A second gay man, Daniel Coburn, 42, of East Hartford, Conn., has told police he and others were called "faggots" by a young man on June 30, also near Court and Commercial streets. The alleged perpetrator also pushed other people, threatened Coburn and threw rocks at others, according to Coburn.

In the third incident under police scrutiny, two gay men were allegedly hit with bikes in late August by a group of local youths, Provincetown police Sgt. Carrie Lopes said.
Click on the link above for the full story.

I think it is high time the Provincetown Police team up with the GLBT community, and start having some transparency in their actions. It is my understanding the acting Chief Tobias was not knowledged on some of the things discussed with him when talking to GLBT leaders regarding the hate crime committed against Mr. Hall on Sept. 10th. That would not have been true if he chose to work with us instead of keeping us in the dark. I openly call for a police liaison to the GLBT community, and I call for information sharing so that we have more understanding of what the police are doing to solve this and other issues. I don't think we should have to wait until someone is killed before we have swift and decisive action. The viciousness of the attack on Mr. Hall is a clear indication that things are escalating.

GLBT community be advised that there is a Travel Advisory Issued for Provincetown. If you must travel here before these crimes have been satisfactorily resolved, please make sure you travel in groups, and are aware of your surroundings. Provincetown is no place for Hate Gays.

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