Taking a stand against hate crimes

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - On Friday night, more than 100 Western New Yorkers took to the streets of Buffalo to take a stand against violence targeting people because of their sexuality.

"Bring it to an end. Stand up, not just tonight," stated President of Outspoken for Equality, Kitty Lambert.

Well over a hundred members of Buffalo's gay & lesbian community filled Days Park in Allentown.

They were joined by a few councilmen and state lawmakers urging an end to violence targeting homosexuals.

New York State Assemblyman, Sam Hoyt said, "It isn't about passing laws. It's about enforcing the existing laws."

Cheektowaga Police used the hate crime law to charge two women for the beating of a man at the Galleria on New Year's Eve.

But Buffalo Police haven't caught the young woman who stabbed Lindsay Harmon in the eye New Year's morning on Main Street.

A letter from her was read at this rally.

"I may never see perfectly clear again out of my right eye, but people who see the world the way that my attacker sees it are totaly blind. Amen," Kitty read.

They marched ten blocks to the front of Roxy's bar where Harmon was stabbed

Demonstrator, Leslie Silverzweig explained, "It's not right that because we're gay that we get our asses kicked. We just want it to be peaceful and be treated like everybody else."

"People need to understand that there's not a necessity for all the hate. People are people. Everybody bleeds red. We want to go out and have fun just like everybody else. We don't go mess with people so why do people have to mess with us," Shannon Harmon said.