David Mixner wrote from his blog "Live From Hell's Kitchen"
Jack Price, 49, simply went out of his home in Queens, New York to buy cigarettes at a local market. Most likely he hoped to be back before his favorite television show came back on from a commercial break. When he stepped out of home into his neighborhood, the last thing on his mind that within minutes he would be fighting for his life simply because he was gay.
Unlike most other hate crimes where we get a name, a date, a brief description and a photograph of the face of the victim, this one was captured for all to see on video tape. One's heart stops as we witness the plummeting of this slim unassuming gay man. His only crime? He was gay. Can't help but wonder if New York will rise in outrage? Most likely not because as we have tragically learned, he is just another name on the rapidly increasing list of brutal beatings, killings and terrorizing of the LGBT community around the country.
You morally must watch this tape and know that this is not an isolated incident.
Update: Mayer Bloomberg released the following statement today:
“There can never be true justice for Jack Price, the victim of a vicious anti-gay attack early Thursday morning near his home in College Point, Queens. Thankfully though, both suspects in the case have now been apprehended. Detectives from NYPD’s Hate Crimes Unit arrested the first suspect soon after the attack, and they tracked the second suspect to Norfolk, Virginia, where, this evening, at the request of the NYPD, U.S. Marshals and Norfolk police took him into custody at a relative’s home. It’s the latest example of the excellent work of the men and women of the NYPD under the leadership of Ray Kelly. Jack Price remains in stable condition at New York Hospital Queens, and we are all praying for his recovery. Hate crimes like this one are particularly distasteful and won't be tolerated in our City. I have the highest respect for Queens District Attorney Brown, and I know he will prosecute these offenses swiftly, sending the message that our City's commitment to tolerance will not be tarnished.”