Protesters vandalized the office of a New York City council member on Monday, following clashes this weekend over a Drag Queen Story Hour event.
Erik Bottcher, the representative of New York City’s District 3, wrote on social media that a number of individuals showed up at his office on Monday and proceeded to vandalize the premises.
“Today, people who call themselves ‘gays against groomers’ vandalized the hallway outside our district office,” Bottcher wrote on social media. “We will not be cowed. We will not be silenced. We will continue to stand up against hate.”
Today people who call themselves “gays against groomers” vandalized the hallway outside our district office. We will not be cowed. We will not be silenced. We will continue to stand up against hate. pic.twitter.com/WaUEjhWc2Z
— NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) December 19, 2022
In another post, the council member claimed that protesters also showed up at his apartment building, where “two of them were arrested for trespassing.”
He continued, “This is pure hate, unmasked. If they think this is going to intimidate us, they’re mistaken. Our resolve is strengthened.”
Tonight the Drag Story Hour protesters came to my apartment building and gained entry. My super called the cops and two of them were arrested for trespassing. This is pure hate, unmasked. If they think this is going to intimidate us, they’re mistaken. Our resolve is strengthened. pic.twitter.com/i45eyGg1AS
— NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) December 20, 2022
Bottcher alleges that the individuals who showed up at his office and apartment were part of the same contingent that protested a Drag Queen Story Hour event at a Chelsea library on Saturday, which he attended. The protesters were met by a wall of counter protesters who kept them from entering the library, according to a local news affiliate.
On Saturday, Bottcher had posted a video on Twitter, in which he attempted to talk to the anti-drag protesters. The protesters engaged by referring to the council member with derogatory slurs, and brandishing signs with anti-grooming slogans.
This is NYC. We accept everyone. The bigotry displayed here today is in no way indicative of who we are. @ebottcher handled this horrific situation with grace & dignity; he’s a true leader. Thank you Erik, keep shining my friend 🌹❤️🌹 https://t.co/TG8cdZuLaa
— IamMeNYC 💙 (@TriciaONeil17) December 17, 2022
Drag Queen Story Hour and other drag-themed events have become the targets of anti-LGBTQ+ protesters in the past few years, coinciding with a rise in anti-gay and transgender rhetoric. The LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization GLAAD has recorded at least 141 known anti-LGBTQ+ events targeting drag events this year, reported across 47 states.
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