Anti-hate crime rally held in Love Park
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Two weeks after a gay couple was attacked in Center City allegedly because of their sexual orientation, a rally was held in Love Park to draw attention to the issue.
The suspects allegedly hurled anti-gay slurs at the victims in the attack that happened on Thursday, September 11th on the 1600 block of Chancellor Street.
Those who gathered at Thursday's rally say they want the passage of hate crime legislation at the state level.
As it stands, there is no special anti-violence hate crime protection for members of the gay community in Philadelphia or in Pennsylvania.
"We need to make equality a priority. We talk about doing a special session in Harrisburg on booze and on pensions, why can't we do a special session on equality," said State Senator Larry Farnese.
"We support this legislation because we believe it's important, we believe it will protect all the members of our community and our Commonwealth," said Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross.
Overnight, the three suspects in the recent Chancellor Street attack, 26-year-old Kevin J. Harrigan, 24-year-old Kathryn G. Knott, and 24-year-old Phillip Williams, all from Bucks County, were arraigned and released on bail.
All three are charged with aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
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Also Thursday, two city council members introduced a bill to close loopholes in the Philadelphia law which does not include specific measures for anti-gay hate crime violence.
"The recent attack in Center City was not an isolated incident. The only thing that makes this different is that the demographics of the assailants shocked us," said Councilman Jim Kenney.
"Philadelphia is a city known all over the world as a city that celebrates and values diversity," said Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown.
City council will call for 90 days in jail and/or a $2,000 fine on top of the standard punishment for assault. The hope is to have these penalties implemented by November.
