October 21, 2011

Police Punch HIV-Positive Occupy Wall Street Protester

Homophobia may be a possible motive behind a police officer who punched a gay and HIV-positive Occupy Wall Street protester, Gay City News (GCN) reports. In published reports, the police have said that protester Felix Rivera-Pitre tried to elbow New York Police Department Deputy Inspector Johnny Cardona—and that the officer punched him as a result. However, none of the three videos taken of the incident, which are available online, shows Rivera-Pitre striking Cardona. Rivera-Pitre says that his appearance may have set Cardona off. In support of that claim, GCN reports that Cardona oversaw a six-month-long public sex sting operation that targeted gay and bisexual men in 2006.

To read the GCN article, click here.

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