News : Shots Fired Into LGBT Center in Oklahoma
Photo Credits: Facebook
The Dennis R. Neill Equality Center—an LGBT center in Tulsa, Oklahoma—joins the growing list of LGBT centers that has been targeted by vandals this year. Around 12:22 midnight on Monday, March 6, 2017 a white four-door truck passed by and shot at the center with a pellet gun, hitting its front door and windows thirteen times. Take a look at the surveillance video footage below.
It was not the first time the center suffered from vandalism but this one marked the most serious incident ever since its inception 12 years ago, said Toby Jenkins, the LGBT center’s executive director.
“I am sickened, yet not surprised, by the bullet holes that now riddle the front of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center,” Geoffrey Brewster, Oklahomans for Equality board president, said in a statement. “They are the latest reminder of the deep-seated hatred some individuals have towards the LGBTQ community.”
Later that same day a man walked into their lobby and harassed their already shaken staff and hurled abusive language at them. He was reportedly heard yelling, “I wish you would all die.” But the man quickly left the premises when Jenkins approached him. “It was so brazen, I thought it was a joke,” Jenkins said. “I didn’t know him, but then I realized he was serious.”
Tulsa Police are seeking the public’s help for any information and tips regarding the incident.
Other groups targeted this year included the Garden State Equality in New Jersey which was vandalized Saturday, March 5, 2017. The incident happened shortly before 2p.m. when two people smashed the front door, Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said in an interview with New Jersey 101.5. Orlando’s Equality Florida office on the other hand, suffered a broken window at the hands of its vandals, Orlando Sentinel reports.
I’m in OKC and Tulsa is eons beyond us in acceptance and gay culture. This is so sad.
Violence is never the right answer.
I do think people have a right not to accept homosexuality as long as they don’t discriminate or commit violence.
Having an opinion or preference for a way of life is everyone’s right.
Just as it is everyone’s right to agree or disagree with lives other people lead when issues conflict with one’s individual belief system
“… shot at the center with a pellet gun, hitting its front door and windows thirteen times”
and then …
“I am sickened, yet not surprised, by the bullet holes that now riddle the front of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center,” Geoffrey Brewster,…”
Welcome to our world or “alternate facts”. While there is NO NO NO excuse for anyone to shoot anything at any time at a Center such as this, it’s a long long and inflammatory way from “pellet gun” shots at an empty Center just after midnight … to … a riddling of “bullet” holes.