Police drag naked man off gay beach in NYC, as he screams, ‘Help me’

On July 4, police made sweeps and arrests at a gay beach in New York City, much to the surprise of beachgoers.

At the far corner of Jacob Riis Park—a gay beach that has been a notorious LGBT safe haven for decades and where women can go topless without being leered at—police descended unannounced.

One beachgoer, gay Brooklyn photographer Krys Fox, found himself the primary target of the holiday police sweep. Fox told the Daily Dot on Tuesday that he was photographing someone against the fence that borders the gay section of Riis, for an Instagram photo series he’s been working on all summer.

While shooting the photos, Fox stood with a towel wrapped around his waist. His shorts had gotten sandy in the waves, and were drying in the sun. Suddenly, the towel loosened and dropped. Before Fox could refasten it around his waist, he was tackled to the ground by a squad of police.
Fox told the Daily Dot that police had dominated the gay beach all day—”on horses, in uniform, undercover”—and were “everywhere.” But he didn’t expect to be arrested, he said, because he hadn’t done anything wrong.

“I just didn’t wrap my towel around my waist tight enough and it suddenly slipped down and I literally got sent to jail for it,” Fox said.

Riis is a National Park Service area rather than a city beach, meaning the rules are different and a casual legal status allows for more freedom. Alcohol is sold on the boardwalk, and nudity is common—so common that many in the LGBT community believe that it’s legal to go naked at the gay beach.

“I’d always heard that it was a clothing-optional beach,” said Fox. “I keep running it over and over in my head, and I can’t even begin to answer why they chose me. I wasn’t causing a scene, I was just shooting a photo of someone like I always do.”

Ironically, though, Fox said he is “shy” and “would never run around naked”—the towel slipping was an accident.

On social media, those who said they were at Riis yesterday noted that police targeted the gay section of the beach specifically, stating that there were no police on the rest of the beach. Many in New York’s LGBT community were livid, comparing the sudden police sweep to past raids of gay bars and bathhouses. One friend of the person who was arrested posted that “his naked body is seen as more dangerous than a gun.”

In multiple photos and videos shared by LGBT New Yorkers, other beachgoers appear stunned by the arrest in which around six uniformed officers and several undercover plainclothes officers carried Fox off the beach as he screamed, “Help me.” On the boardwalk, LGBT witnesses huddled together and cried out to the officers as they loaded Fox into one of the approximately seven patrol cars parked there.

Fox was taken to jail, where he says he spent about three hours in a cell wearing a hospital-style paper robe issued by the police. After receiving about five tickets for public nudity, interfering with the agency function, disorderly conduct, and disobeying an order, Fox was sent home. With no clothes—just the towel that we were arrested in.
On a Facebook page for Gay Riis Beach, locals commented on increasing patrols and tickets at the beach’s gay section—noting that arrests are usually not an issue.

Facebook users, like Savi Saber, were also quick to point out Riis gay beach historically draws working-class, black, and Latino populations, as well.

“I’ve often joked that it’s the socioeconomic group that can’t afford Fire Island,” Saber wrote. “It’s historic, we need to fight for it, keep our beach gay. These arrests are homophobic, there’s no doubt there.”

In a comment on one post regarding the incident, Facebook user Tom Leger wrote: “Today’s Riis beach raids = Yesterday’s gay bar raids.”

Fox told the Daily Dot that he has a court date approaching and that more than one attorney connected to New York’s LGBT community has stepped forward and offered help.

 

 

Transgender and Cisgender Groups Demand Transparent Investigation of Transphobic Murder of Islan Nettles

On Thursday, January 30^th, 2014 at 4 p.m., over 150 transgender protestors and their supporters braved sub-zero temperatures to gather outside of NYC Police Headquarters in Downtown Manhattan to demand incoming NYC Police Commissioner William Bratton and the NYPD explain thier negligent investigation in the immediate aftermath of the brutal beating death of transgender woman Islan Nettles last summer in Harlem. The emotionally charged group also demanded a report on the current status of the case’s lagging homicide investigation by NY County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and later in the evening emailed an extensive list of questions to Bratton and Vance.  

A series of impassioned speeches by Hunter and others were punctuated by fiery chants against the NYPD, including “NYPD do your job!”  Enumerating the many errors and delays in the investigation, protestors chanted “How many more? Not one more!” and “Trans lives matter!”

Speakers angrily repeated the puzzling details of the August 17, 2013 attack, including the fact that officers from Public Service Area 6, where the crime occurred, pulled Paris Wilson, the accused assailant, off of Nettles yet failed to adequately question Nettles’ or Wilson’s companions and never checked on Nettles’ condition after her admittance to Harlem Hospital, where she later died. A failure to obtain DNA evidence from the assailant’s hands and ten broken surveillance cameras at the location were viewed as serious problems that had not been addressed in the case.  Speakers also expressed disgust over the fact that Simone Wilson, Paris Wilson’s mother, coerced another man into falsely confessing to the crime but she was never held accountable for hindering the investigation. Five months after the unsolved murder, protesters were still enraged that even a misdemeanor charge against Paris Wilson was dropped and that the D.A.’s office had produced no new charges in its homicide investigation.

Delores Nettles, mother of the victim, said the NYPD’s handling of the case was so inept that an officer called her three weeks to ask for Paris Wilson’s address.

Telling the crowd about findings published in her recent report on various statistics on transgender Americans, Jennifer Louise Lopez, of media group Everything Transgender in NYC, said that of the approximately 750,000 transgender people in the United States, 90% are likely to experience discrimination, mistreatment, or harassment. She also said that 61% of Black and Latino transgender individuals report harassment by police, and that there were 16 reported murders of transgender people in the United States in 2013.

“Islan Nettles is my fourth trans client who has been murdered in the streets of NYC in the twenty years I have worked with homeless youths,” said Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center, which houses homeless LGBT youths. “Not one of their murderers has been brought to justice. This is a disgrace that reveals a pattern of transphobic bias on the part of the NYPD,” he said.

“The murder of Islan Nettles is an unspeakable tragedy and the police and district attorney’s response has been underwhelming and disappointing,” said Melissa Sklarz, President of Stonewall Democrats of New York City. “The New York trans population is probably the biggest in America and yet, young people like Islan Nettles, and Lorena Escalera before her, are killed in cold blood and no justice is done,” she said.

Endorsers included the Transgender/Cisgender Coalition, ACT UP NY, Luz’s Daughter Cares, Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC), Harlem Pride, Lambda Legal, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent, Translatina Network, Strategic Trans Alliance for Radical Reform (STARR), Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand, Destination Tomorrow, Ali Forney Center, VOCAL-NY, ETNYC, Global Network of Black Pride, and Make the Road. 

 

 

 

Journalist Brutally Beaten in possible Midtown Hate Crime, undergoes brain surgery

The family of Randy Gener, an award-winning Filipino-American editor, writer and artist, is asking for the public’s help in finding out who attacked him on Seventh Ave. near W. 54th St. around 3 a.m. Jan. 17th. 

An award-winning journalist was brutally beaten in Midtown, officials said Saturday.Randy Gener, a Filipino-American editor, writer and artist, was attacked and left suffering from a massive head injury on Seventh Ave. near W. 54th St. as he returned home from a party at about 3 a.m. on Jan. 17, friends of the beloved, openly gay media expert said.

Paramedics rushed Gener, who lost his father to gun violence, to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he underwent brain surgery. Gener, who worked stints at the Daily News, as well as The New York Times, the Village Voice, Crain’s and National Public Radio, is speaking but has no memory of what happened,family members told Eyewitness News.

“He can’t answer the questions of what happened that night, he doesn’t really exactly know who we are or where he’s at sometimes,” said Gener’s sister, Jessica Blair Driessler. “It’s really painful to see him here the way that he is because he’s the most articulate person.”Cops were searching for the 45-year-old’s assailants but said so far there’s no evidence to indicate that the attack was a hate crime.

Two vigils are being held for Gener in Manhattan — one at 53rd St. and Seventh Ave. at 6 p.m. Sunday and one at the Philippine Center, on Fifth Ave. near 45th St. at 7 p.m. Monday — as friends collect donations for his medical expenses.

Anyone who wishes to donate can log on to his YouCaring fundraiser page.

 

Transgender Women Attacked in Astoria Queens

On January 8th, 2014 a 30 year old transwoman whom wishes to remain anonymous for now, went to the Neptune Diner in Astoria Queens, New York City to eat an early morning meal with a friend. Her friend, a 32 year old cisgender man, went to the restroom. According to Deputy Inspector Kevin Maloney of the 114th Precinct in NYC that is when three other patrons in the diner began to insult the transwoman.

The three other patrons included two cisgender women and one cisgender male. One of the ciswoman commented loudly to her friend “She is really a man”, while referring to the transwoman. Then one of the ciswoman remarked to the transwoman “Why are you dressed like that,” referring to and discriminating about her gender identity presentation. According to Deputy Inspector Maloney at that point the cisman returned from the restroom and one of the ciswomen threw a plate at his face.

The police were called and the offenders had left the diner before they arrived. The cisman and transwoman were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in Astoria Queens. The cisman received twelve stitches to his forehead and it is unclear if the transwoman sustained any injuries. The investigating police officers referred the case to the NYPD Hate Crimes Taskforce and it is now being investigated as a hate crime.

Police need your assistance in identifying the individuals in the photograph as they are the suspects to this attack. If you have any information please contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. You can also text tips to 274637 and enter TIP577.

Statement by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office at the trial of Paris Wilson

Statement by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office at the trial of Paris Wilson, accused killer of Islan Nettles.
This was the complete statement read by the prosecutor in court yesterday:

“As the Court is aware, the defendant was originally arrested in this case on a charge of misdemeanor assault. Several days after the arrest, the victim died from her injuries. Since that time, we have been aggressively investigating the crime as a homicide.
For the reasons referenced in court on the prior two dates, however, the case has turned out to be a uniquely complex one, and we are not yet prepared to go to the grand jury. However we continue to actively investigate this case in the hopes of ultimately holding the person responsible for this crime accountable. Today, we concede that eh speedy trial time has run with only with regards to the misdemeanor with which the defendant is charged – and thus the case must be dismissed. It should be emphasized, however, that the crime we are investigating, homicide, has no statutory speedy-trial deadline. Therefore, should our ongoing investigation ultimately result in an indictment of Mr. Wilson for homicide, the case would be promptly restored to the calendar and would move forward, notwithstanding today’s dismissal of the misdemeanor charge.”

 

Suspect in Islan Nettles Slaying Dismissed

Three months after Islan Nettles, a 21-year-old transgender woman, died as the result of a brutal beating in Harlem, the only person charged in the slaying saw his case dismissed.

Paris Wilson, 20, was arrested shortly after the August 17 attack –– which took place near 148th Street and Frederick Douglas Boulevard –– and charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment. The criminal complaint filed at that time said that the victim was left “unconscious on the ground with a swollen shut eye and blood on her face.” The defendant, the complaint read, struck Nettles in the head with a “closed fist,” knocking her to the ground, according to an eyewitness. Nettles, who remained in a coma until she was taken off life support on August 22, suffered blunt force trauma, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Nettles’ slaying has been investigated as a possible hate crime –– Detective Cheryl Crispin, an NYPD spokeswoman, telling Gay City News that police determined that “derogatory language” was used in the attack. In the wake of her death, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office spoke of “possible grand jury action” and a homicide indictment in advance of an October 4 hearing.

Would-be confession by a second man keeps Manhattan DA from pressing misdemeanor prosecution, upgrading charges against Paris Wilson

But prosecutors have also consistently indicated they are hamstrung by the fact that another young man came forward shortly after the attack to say that he was the perpetrator.

Wilson’s October 4 hearing was adjourned with no additional charges brought against him, and in New York County criminal court on November 19, Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Viorst told Judge Steven Statsinger that while prosecutors and police are “aggressively investigating” the case with an eye toward a homicide charge, he was not prepared to move forward on the existing charges against the defendant, who he said was apprehended several blocks from the scene of the crime. Viorst acknowledged that any homicide charge brought in the case could be made against “Mr. Wilson or someone else.”

In a misdemeanor prosecution, the state must be ready to go to trial within 90 days of arrest.

The dismissal came on the eve of the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, held in recognition to the lethal violence aimed at gender-nonconforming people.

The effort by a suspect other than Wilson to confess to the crime was first reported by the New York Post on August 26 in a story that had a law enforcement source saying Wilson’s mother put the man up to it. According to that account, the man told police he was too drunk to remember what happened. That report cast doubt on the veracity of the man’s account.

The Daily News has since reported, however, that a source familiar with the investigation said two “reliable” witnesses had corroborated the account of the man who came forward.

The man’s name has not been identified in court records.

Viorst’s pledge to press forward to win a homicide indictment in the case is predicated on sorting out the contradictions between the initial identification of Wilson as the perpetrator and the other man’s effort to confess.

After the hearing, Xavier Donaldson, Wilson’s attorney, said that his client and the other man are roughly the same height and weight and “may have been wearing similar clothes.” 

Nettles’ family and other advocates for the slain woman seized on the district attorney’s commitment to bring homicide charges as progress of sorts on a day when the effort to win justice appeared to have derailed.

“They will be upgraded,” Dolores Nettles, Islan’s mother, said of the charges dropped against Wilson. “I’m upset, but I’m dealing… Hopefully the charges will be upgraded so that the next time he comes to court, he won’t walk out.”

Asked if she had faith in prosecutors and the police, she said, “I have to have faith.”

In an email to Gay City News, Sharon Stapel, executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, said, “AVP, working with transgender leaders and activists, is paying close attention to this case, and we understand that the District Attorney’s Office is now pursuing homicide charges instead of the original misdemeanor charges. Homicide charges would be progress, but the LGBTQ communities need a clear and thorough explanation of what the NYPD and DA’s office is doing to investigate and respond to the tragic death of Islan Nettles.”

The group is calling on District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.’s office to convene a meeting with AVP and community members “to discuss the most recent developments in this case, and to assure that those most affected by this violence have the opportunity to talk directly to the DA’s office.” 

Paul Schindler at Gay City News

 

 

 

NYC Communities for Crisis Intervention Teams

 Today on the Steps of City Hall in NYC, CCIT NYC was joined by members of the New York City Council members, community activists, mental health services providers and others to discuss the need for the NYPD to receive CIT training to be able to handle issue of a person with a mental illness in a manner than is safe for them and the person going through a crisis.

The group CCIT NYC has drafted a NYC Council Resolution on Emotional Disturbed Person Calls and the need for Crisis Intervention Teams it reads, 

“WHEREAS, the New York City Police Department is currently the most used intervention for people in crisis in New York City; and

WHEREAS, the New York City Police Department responds to 100,000  crises or so called “Emotional Disturbed Person (EDP)” calls a year; and

WHEREAS, these calls often result in the unwarranted arrest, emotional and physical abuse and death of those in crisis; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the New York City Police Department to enhance the quality of life in our City by working in partnership with the community and in accordance with constitutional rights to preserve the peace, reduce fear, and provide for a safe environment; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Office of the Mayor to protect the safety, welfare, and rights of all New Yorkers;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor should instruct the Police Department to repair damaged relationships with communities and individuals in crisis affected by unwarranted abuse; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor should instruct the Police Department to reduce unwarranted abuse and death by expanding officer and cadet training to include a Crisis Intervention Team training model, currently the national standard in police crisis training; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor should instruct the Police Department to work along aside peer specialist and crisis intervention workers when responding to crisis/EDP calls; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor should instruct the Police Department to appoint a community oversight committee to measure the efficacy of the Crisis Intervention Teams as they are being implemented and to hold precinct commanders accountable for reducing unwarranted arrests, abuse and deaths in their precincts.”

The way we handle people with mental disorders and disabled has come along way from the horror stories of Willowbrook State School, which would later become the College of Staten Island.

 I think of the movement that is the Mental Health Movement in New York City, it shows we have come a long way.  We haven’t fixed all those problems and we are far from perfect but we do need more oversight for people who can’t always speak for themselves.

CCIT NYC wants to work with the NYPD and local mental health providers to improve police response to crisis situations involving the mentally ill. The goal is to have response to mental health crises be appropriate, so that mental health recipients are not automatically thrown into the criminal justice system, and to reduce possible injury to police and mental health recipients.

I went to this press conference today to show support to the CCIT, because I know what they are capable of and the good they have for the people of New York City. In my opinion the NYPD could do nothing but learn to be better prepared for these situations and possibly save the lives of person in crisis and in need of help.

As people continue to come out in the LGBT community at a younger age, some have faced periods of depression and even attempted suicide. When this happens and 911 is called these training and procedures become important to being able to talk to a person in crisis and not treat them like a criminal (if they are acting out)