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March 25, 2011

Vigil for New York teen killed in anti-gay attack

By  Jessica Green / Pink News


A vigil [organized by Make the Road New York] has been held for a New York teenager who was allegedly killed in a homophobic attack.

Anthony Collao, 18, was attacked at a party last Saturday by a gang who allegedly shouted anti-gay slurs before kicking, punching and beating him with a metal pipe.

The college graduate, who is understood to have had a girlfriend, died in hospital last Monday.

A vigil for Mr Collao was held on 90th Street in Woodhaven on Thursday night.

Mourners held candles while the teenager’s 14-year-old sister Karen remembered her brother.

“It just broke my heart completely because losing your older brother, blood running through, it just hurt. It’s a pain you can’t imagine,” she said, according to NBC News.

“If he was gay or if he wasn’t why does it matter to you? Let him be,” she added.

Other speakers included City Council speaker Christine Quinn and Diego Sucuzhanay, whose brother Jose died in an anti-gay attack in the city in 2008.

Five youths – one of whom is a juvenile – have been arrested and charged with manslaughter as a hate crime.

Mr Collao was at a warehouse party in Queens thrown by a pair of gay men when a gang allegedly burst in and began verbally abusing guests.

Witnesses said he was attacked when he tried to leave with a friend.


For the original article, please click here.


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Victory for Immigrant Families: Preventing Unjust Deportations in NYC

On March 18, 2013, Mayor Bloomberg signed new legislation to stop federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using NYC’s criminal justice system to deport thousands of New Yorkers.

Building on legislation we helped to win just over a year ago, Local Laws 21 and 22 prohibit not only the Department of Correction but now also the NYPD from spending millions of city taxpayer dollars to hold individuals on behalf of ICE agents for detention and deportation. Each year, thousands of New York families will stay together who would otherwise have been torn apart by overly aggressive, indiscriminate immigration enforcement.

At a moment when the country is debating immigration reform, with these laws, New York City sends a clear message to Washington that tearing apart thousands of immigrant families is bad policy.

With your support, we look forward to winning national reform that keeps families together. We thank our partners at the Center for Popular Democracy, the Cardozo Immigration Justice Clinic and the bills’ sponsors, NYC Council Speaker Quinn and Council Member Mark-Viverito, for their courageous leadership.


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