There is a welcome update to the horrible anti-gay assault in Detroit mentioned two weeks ago. Twenty-three-year-old Justin Alesna has a shattered eye socket after he says witnesses "gawked and laughed" after he was brutally attacked at a gas station. Federal authorities may intervene, reports the Free Press.
The FBI is now investigating the March 7 assault, which left Alesna with facial injuries. Alesna said he has been told FBI agents have possession of surveillance video from the gas station. Sandra Berchtold, a spokeswoman for the FBI Detroit office, confirmed Wednesday that the agency, which handles hate crimes, is investigating.
Alesna said Detroit police asked him to make an identification during a lineup Tuesday night, but he was unable to do so. He said he was told later one of the men may have been a witness to the assault.
Michigan hate crimes law does not include sexual orientation or gender identity.
Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh, who made history as the first openly gay person elected to the City Council, is urging the city's police department to collar Alesna's attacker.
Alesna recorded a video and uploaded it to YouTube. Watch that video and the disturbing news report AFTER YOU JUMP ...
It never gets easier to hear these stories. They showed it on the news several times. This is a brave young man who is saving lives by being so courageous. And yes it is courageous for a young black man to speak out this way in Detroit. Detroit is like many black communities where homosexuality is a difficult subject in every sense of the word. Bravo to him. I hope there is justice and PEACE!
Posted by: Isis | 21 March 2011 at 15:01
I feel so bad for him.
Posted by: Osiris | 21 March 2011 at 15:37
Be blessed Justin. Keep telling your story until you are indeed heard. You are courageous dear one.
Posted by: Diva1961 | 21 March 2011 at 20:18