Hate Crime- Attack on Sucuzhanay Brothers

* On Sunday, December 14, 2008, Council Member James joined her fellow Members in the Council, and many Bushwick community members in mourning the senseless hate crime against Ecuadorian brothers Jose and Romel Sucuzhanay.

Jose, the owner of a real estate agency, was declared brain-dead on December 10, 2008, a day after the brothers were attacked with baseball bats and broken bottles. He passed on December 14, 2008.

Witnesses were said to overhear anti-gay as well as anti-Latino sentiments hurled at the brothers during the attack, which suggests that the attackers may have been spurred-on by an assumption that the men were together.

Council Member James is deeply saddened by these events, and hopes that they will draw the attention of all New Yorkers to the continuing work we all have to conquer hate and violence within our own communities. Tish has always acted with strong support for both the LGBT community and people of color, and her prayers and thoughts continue to be with the Sucuzhanay family.

The individuals who committed these heinous crimes are still at-large, and a flyer containing sketches may be found on the New York City Council website here: http://council.nyc.gov/html/home/home.shtml

Please call 1-800-577-TIPS(8477) if you have any further information.

*Photo courtesy of William Alatriste.