Indictment In Anti-Gay Burger King Beating -- Rally against hate in Jersey CityA Hudson County grand jury drew up an indictment against two Burger King employees accused of an anti-gay hate crime. Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein provides the details after the jump…A grand jury in Hudson County has just handed down an indictment of two men then employees of the Burger King on 3501 Bergenline Avenue in Union City charging that the employees committed a vicious anti-gay beating of a same-sex male couple on July 22. 2007. The indictment. State of New Jersey v. Angel Caraballo and Christopher Soto charges the employees in six counts the most serious being a first-degree hate crime. The other counts include second- and third-degree aggravated assault. When the couple asked for a refund for a menu item that the counter person discovered was not available another counter person then asked who wanted the refund – “The faggots over there?” The couple left the restaurant. A group of Burger King employees followed them to a side street and beat them mercilessly though not fatally. The employees made repeated anti-gay slurs during the beating. Garden State Equality has also learned that the defendants were named in a police report for an alleged stabbing in November 2006 though the charges emanating from that police report were ultimately dismissed. “Even in New Jersey arguably the most progressive state in the country a state we call the state that doesn’t hate too many lesbian gay bisexual and transgender people live in fear,” said Steven Goldstein chair of Garden State Equality. “Part of the problem is the law,” said Goldstein. “for even though New Jersey’s hate crimes law is one of the oldest in the country it’s now been surpassed in its scope,” said Goldstein. “We expect that state legislators with whom Garden State Equality has been working closely will shortly introduce a bill to remedy the problem.”Walt Boraczek co-chair of Hudson Diversity Action Council said: “Hudson Diversity Action Council is shocked that a tragedy such as this could happen in Hudson County where the embrace of diverse communities has always been a hallmark of what makes our county great.”“We look forward to working with the people of Union City and across Hudson County,” Boraczek said. “to demonstrate that we won’t tolerate this type of criminal behavior.” Garden State Equality and Hudson Diversity Action Council will hold a rally against hate next Wednesday. November 7. 2007 at 6:00 pm. Pride Connections Center of New Jersey. 32 Jones Street. Jersey City.
Indicted in beating of gay coupleSaturday. November 03. 2007By MICHAELANGELO CONTEJOURNAL STAFF WRITERUNION CITY - Two former employees of a Burger King on Bergenline Avenue have been indicted on hate crime charges in connection with the vicious beating of a same-sex couple outside the restaurant earlier this year officials said yesterday. Angel Caraballo. 28 of Duncan Avenue and Christopher Soto of Prospect Street both of Jersey City were charged with aggravated assault and a first-degree hate crime in connection with the July 22 beating officials said. The hate crime offense carries a possible sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison. The two victims. Union City men in their early 40s were in the Burger King on the 3500 block of Bergenline when they asked someone behind the counter for a refund for an item that was not available officials said. One employee allegedly asked the other who was asking for the refund and he replied with a derogatory term for a homosexual according to a news release issued by the gay rights advocacy group Garden State Equality. The couple left the restaurant but a group of Burger King employees followed them outside where "they beat them mercilessly," while repeating anti-gay slurs the news release says."Even in New Jersey arguably the most progressive state in the country a state we call the state that doesn't hate too many lesbian gay bisexual and transgender people live in fear," said Steven Goldstein chairman of Garden State Equality. The victims are represented by Nutley lawyer James F. Fine and River Edge lawyer Joseph Donahue. Burger King officials could not immediately be reached for comment last night nor could the defendants' attorneys. Garden State Equality and Hudson Diversity Action Council will hold a rally against hate on Wednesday at 6 p m at the Pride Connections Center. 32 Jones St.. Jersey City.
THEIR VERSIONIndicted workers: No 'gay bashing'Thursday. November 08. 2007By MICHAELANGELO CONTEJOURNAL STAFF WRITERUNION CITY - A melee at a city Burger King resulted in indictments on hate crime charges and has become a rallying point for a gay rights advocacy group. But the men charged however have a different explanation of the incident. Angel Caraballo. 28 and Christopher Soto. 19 both of Jersey City were charged with aggravated assault and a first-degree hate crime in connection with the July 22 beating officials said. Conviction on the hate crime charge could carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison. But the alleged victims. Peter J. Casbar. 39 and Noel E. Robichaux. 40 were the only ones arrested that night and they face harassment charges in Jersey City Municipal Court. Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Debra Simon said. Following the recent indictment. Garden State Equality has taken up the cause of Casbar and Robichaux."They beat us they spit on us and they threw us around like rag dolls," Robichaux said at a news conference last night organized by Garden State Equality. "It was insane. We were astounded by the words they used. I was floored by the amount of anger and hate."An emotional Casbar said no patrons in the Burger King came to their aid or said anything. "It was as if they thought it was OK," Casbar said. Yesterday. Soto said the couple ordered food at the Burger King at 3501 Bergenline Ave. but returned to the counter saying they were given only one cup. A 17-year-old female employee told them the second cup was inside the other cup and one of the men said "Oh you are a little bitch aren't you?" according to Soto. The couple left and the girl ran out the side door to ask them why they called her a bitch. Soto said adding that other store employees followed her out and found her bleeding from the mouth. She said one of the men punched her and Soto called police. Soto said. Burger King workers told the couple to wait until police arrived but they attempted to leave so Soto held one of them down and Caraballo held the other one after he tried to kick and punch Soto. Soto said. When police arrived the couple was arrested reports say. The Prosecutor's Office offered a different story. Simon said the couple went to the counter to get a refund for grilled chicken salad because there was no chicken and an argument ensued with the girl. After it was settled one of the alleged victims asked the other. "Why is she being so bitchy?" Simon said adding that they then left. The girl. Soto. Caraballo and other employees followed the men outside and the girl hit one of the men. Simon said. One of the men threw a soda at her and that's when the fight started. Soto and Caraballo used a derogatory term for the gay men during the assault. Simon said. Simon said the couple suffered cuts and one of them was bruised by repeated kicks. Soto and Caraballo will now be arraigned on the charges. The charges pending against the couple will be addressed after the criminal prosecution is resolved. Simon said.
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