A terrifying video obtained by NBC South Florida shows a group of men attacking a group of queer women and their male friend. Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
The altercation occurred in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood on November 26. In the video, the victims can be heard pleading with the attackers to stop and letting them know that they’ve already called the police. The male friend in the group reportedly tried to intervene but the attack continued.
“This group of guys, basically, they just started screaming stuff at us, anti-lesbian comments, like, ‘You’re only lesbians because you haven’t received actual,’ and he used a profanity word,” one of the victims, who wished to remain anonymous, told NBC South Florida in a video interview. She said that she was punched in the face three times and may need surgery to rectify the damage. She will not go public with her identity for fear of retaliation from the attackers. Another victim, who wished to remain anonymous for the same reason, told NBC South Florida that she was beaten until she lost consciousness.
“I definitely felt targeted for sure; I mean they were definitely trying to hate on the fact that we were gay,” she said in a video interview. “I don’t understand to this day why. […] It’s very concerning to see that they are still out and about and free and nothing has happened to them yet,” she continued.
Currently, no arrests have been made.
“We are actively working on the case. Like any investigation, we have to dot the I’s and cross the T’s,” a spokesperson for the Miami police department said in a statement. “We are working with our LGBTQ+ liaison and [State Attorney’s Office] hate crime task force. We have to make sure we have everything lined up before we initiate our arrest(s).”
