Denver, CO, September 3, 2013 … Responding to media reports of an alleged hate crime outside a Denver hookah lounge in which a man was assaulted, reportedly because of his sexual orientation, the Anti-Defamation League’s Mountain States Region condemned hate-motivated violence and applauded law enforcement for its quick and decisive action investigating this incident as a possible hate crime.

 

Scott L. Levin, ADL Mountain States Regional Director, issued the following statement:

 

“The Anti-Defamation League is disheartened to learn of this tragic instance where a victim was allegedly targeted because of his sexual orientation.

We applaud law enforcement officials for taking quick and decisive action to investigate whether this was a bias-motivated attack, and if the evidence supports it, we urge them to prosecute this crime to the full extent permitted under Colorado’s hate crimes law.

Hate crimes have an impact far beyond the individual victim of the crime. When a victim is chosen because of his or her sexual orientation, other members of that group feel unsafe and unwelcome. Hate crimes resonate throughout the victim’s community and threaten the safety and well-being of every member of that group.

ADL calls upon the Denver community to speak out loudly against hate crimes and declare Denver no place for hate.”