Gay Street Attacks Prompt Unity Meeting Tonight

Long Beach police consider two and possibly three of the attacks on gay men to be hate crimes and arrested one suspect. Nearest to Belmont Shore was an attack near Fourth Street and Cherry.

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and other city leaders will attend as a public show of support for the Long Beach area's sizable gay and lesbian population. Patch's Cynthia de la Torre will be at the 6 p.m. gathering.

There is also a fundraiser and support event Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.for the only identified victim of an attack, in which a suspect was arrested. Details of the event on Pine Avenue at were just posted by restaurant publicist Frank Groff are here: 

Here is the press release from Councilman Garcia, one of two gay Long Beach City Council members, followed by a statement released at 5:40 p.m. by Mayor Foster:

Councilmember Garcia and The Center Call Unity Gathering Tonight at 6 at Broadway and Junipero 

LGBT community and allies, local leaders, respond to recent Hate Crime 
 
Long Beach, CA:   In response to three recent attacks on gay men on or near the gay-friendly Broadway corridor, Councilmember Robert Garcia  and The Center have organized a Unity Gathering, tonight, Thursday, August 4 at 6pm, at the corner of Junipero and Broadway in Long Beach. 

Several local officials will also attend and offer remarks. Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Mayor Bob Foster, Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, and Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell will participate.
 
"Long Beach is standing up for the victims, and rejecting violence and hate in our community,” said Councilmember Garcia.

" As one community made up of many, we are stronger than the few cowardly individuals working against us,” said Ron Sylvester, Chairman of The Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Center. The Center Long Beach provides a free 24 hour hate crime hotline anyone can call for assistance at (562) 433-8595, as well as many other services to the LGBT community. The Center can be reached during regular business hours at (562) 434-4455. 

“Our Police Department and Human Relations Commission are doing everything possible to ensure that the victims get the support they need, and to ensure that our streets are safe for everyone,” Garcia said in a statement. 

  Below is Mayor Foster's statement on tonight's unity gathering at Hot Java/Bixby Park in reaction to the recent Long Beach hate crimes: 

"Tonight, we stand together to show we consider our diversity a strength, and no matter how rarely they may happen, this city has zero tolerance for such incidents." - Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster.