Police Investigate Hate Crime And Department Response To Attack In Newburgh New York

According to a report by The Times Herald-Record, what began as a celebration for David Ludwig and John Delk, a gay couple who had finally closed on their house, and who looked forward to spending Friday night together in their new city of Newburgh, New York, ended with an attack being investigated as a hate crime. "We were happy," Ludwig said. "I said, 'Let's go have a drink and listen to that cool band at the Terrace.'" The two spent much of the night at the Terrace Tavern, a Liberty Street bar. The music was terrific, and Ludwig and Delk danced and relaxed. It was after 1:00 am when another patron noticed Ludwig's hand on Delk's wrist. Ludwig said the man told them it was not a gay bar and they should leave. They refused, but finished their drinks and decided to go. Newburgh had seemed so much friendlier than their old neighbourhood in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Ludwig thinks he probably touched Delk's wrist as they walked from the Terrace, and maybe that is what drew the attention of a group of young women. "You're gay," the women called, according to Ludwig. The women closed in. The first punch slammed into Ludwig's cheekbone. He remembers a whirlwind of fists. He swung wildly. Delk covered his head, and the women pinned him against a car until Ludwig could fight them off. Delk was bloody and, Ludwig said, in shock. He ran as Ludwig called the police. Two officers arrived at 1:30 am. Ludwig said one mocked him when he said women had attacked them, so he walked off to find Delk. The cops followed in their car but then drove away. Police Lt. Bruce Campbell said it is clear from the radio calls the officers were still searching for Delk, but Ludwig saw it as the police abandoning them. He found Delk hiding behind bushes. Delk's knees and elbows were skinned and swollen. His glasses were broken. Blood dripped from a cut above one eye and a dark circle formed around the other. Neither sought medical attention. Ludwig called police that night and filed a report later Saturday. He spoke with police again on Monday. Campbell said they were investigating the attack as a hate crime. He also promised to look into the actions of responding officers. Ludwig wondered how Newburgh could have become so broken."We shouldn't have to be scared, no matter where we are," he said. "Nobody should be scared to walk down the street."