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Hate Letter Left on Reader’s Car in Columbia Heights
A reader sends word of this very upsetting incident. He writes:
“This note was attached to my car in Columbia Heights, on 16th and Spring PL NW. Police complaint has been made, this happened on Saturday.”
Wishing the reader much strength and courage. We stand as one against such hatred. Hopefully the police are able to track down the coward who left the note.
Category: Crime
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Recent Comments
Sydney P
3:22pm
Ever read a police report, especially when you were a victim or witness?
My spouse... 
Anonymous
2:48pm
A lot has changed in this neighborhood since you lived here four years ago. Sure the area...
Anonymous
1:18pm
Just moved into my new condo in dc and it's been over two weeks and I still have not...
Anonymous
12:33pm
It's summertime, school is out and it's the weekend. Wife and I were comnig home last...
Anonymous
11:47am
murder is always scary and horrible. always.
My God, that is terrifying. I know firsthand what it’s like to be spied on and then targeted because they know you are gay. Please review and update the security on your home– make sure you have strong window/door bars, an alarm system that notifies the police, and video cameras outside. This is definitely something you should take seriously.
scary as hell.
i’d get security cameras quick.
I can recommend a set that has worked pretty well for me – 4 cameras plus a DVR for $400. If you’re interested, you can ask PoP to put us in touch.
Words fail me. That is just totally messed up.
Anybody else notice that the handwriting changes several times in the letter? Weird.
It’s the work of someone who is out of practice with handwriting. Thugs don’t have to write things down very often.
Challenge them to a spelling bee to settle the dispute. You’ll win easy!
An even more disturbing prospect is that it was written by very young kids.
interesting observation, i never would have noticed. i guess i was too focused on the threats
lmao who wrote this Sybil?
Wow, people are messed up. Don’t let it get to you. I hope they go to Chick-Fil-A and have a heart attack.
A particularly cowardly threat, as well. Proof that the thugs in this town are not man enough to face their fears.
Sounds to me like this is an individual who is having a problem dealing with his own sexuality. Seeing you everyday angers the hell out of him because you are a reminder of who he truly is inside.
Thats a leap. More like a plain and simple, uneducated, hater…
Change your patterns for while just to be safe.
Not a leap at all Frankie James. Take a look at some of the church ministers and congressmen who speak out against homosexuality and then they are exposed, for example Pastor Eddie Long and Senator Larry Craig. Those who protest the loudest…
Interesting that you assume it was a male. Could be, but I am dealing with a difficult client, a very religious female immigrant, late 50′s, and for some reason the way the letter is written reminded me of her speech.
There’s something indirect or awkward that makes me think the writer is a female.
I think we assumed it was male because of the nature of the threats. Women usually aren’t involved with smashing windows, breaking into houses, and killing people. I think a woman would be more likely to emphasize that the gay person was going to hell and is not welcome in the neighborhood, but not fantasize about destruction of property and violence.
Sounds like a few cab drivers I’ve had.
This is vile. I’m sorry you were subjected to something like that.
I put a pox on them!
It makes me really sad that there are people out there who would do something like that, and it makes me even more sad that you had to deal with it. I’m really sorry that happened to you.
That’s disgusting. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.
Considering how bad that area of town is, I would think that all the thugs and drug dealers would be far too busy with their various business among one another to worry about a few gay people.
How bad that area of town is? Hopefully you won’t bait anybody (else) to respond to that ridiculous assertion…
And if you are implying Columbia Heights is safe in every area/street, you are being very naive. Some of the roughest blocks in DC are in CH. Go visit Fairmont and 14th Street NW in the summer for an example.
Unfortunately, Columbia Heights and Petworth have some of the worst crime and robbery rates in the city. Compare us to Northeast or even Southeast, and you’ll see it’s more dangerous here.
Columbia Heights and Petworth are two entirely different neighborhoods.
Actually, per capita, the robbery rates in Columbia Heights and Petworth are relatively low compared to other neighborhoods of the city.
http://www.google.com/fusiontables/embedviz?viz=MAP&q=select+col0%2C+col1%2C+col2%2C+col3%2C+col4%2C+col5%2C+col6%2C+col7%2C+col8%2C+col9%2C+col10%2C+col11%2C+col12%2C+col13%2C+col14%2C+col15%2C+col16%2C+col17%2C+col18%2C+col19%2C+col20%2C+col21+from+951331+&h=true&lat=38.89343778664929&lng=-76.99390411376953&z=12&t=4&l=col8
If you adjust per capita, it’s pretty obvious CH and Petworth are more dangerous than other areas
That map does not indicate such. There is a hot spot in CH, and a couple lesser hot spots on Ga. Ave. But the entire Petworth residential neighborhood is almost completely free of anything except for right on Ga. Ave.. Check out the H St. and Eastern Market areas – same thing. You are just being silly.
Don’t forget about that spot on M st. in Georgetown
Once again, that is per capita. Of course there will be more crime in areas of high density.
Try this on for size: http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2012/07/crime-map-of-washington-dc/
Worst area in CH had 548 reports and average well over 200. Worst area in NE had 340 and averaged closer to 125
You are simply wrong.
What a compelling argument… I especially like how you used facts and examples to back up your claim! You must have been the star of the Keith Olbermann School of Forensics.
I don’t understand the juxtaposition (besides their physical juxtaposition). They don’t have similar crime rates; or similar anything else in character.
I don’t have the stats, but gay hate crimes also seem to be especially prevalent in Columbia Heights.
Excuse me, I’ve lived right at 16th & Spring for 4 years and it’s just as fine as any other area of town.
However this is some serious messed up bull shit. I will take extra steps to have my neighbors back.
Oh where are all the people who defended Chick-fil-a on this board?? Still think it’s okay that stuff like this happens based solely on sexual orientation?? We are (still) a nation of savages. Shame, shame, shame.
What does Chick-Fila-A have to do with this? Supporting anti-gay marriage legislation through legitimate organizations isn’t even in the same ball park as threatening to kill someone.
FYI I don’t support Chick-Fil-A’s stance on gay marriage, but I don’t support a lot of positions corporations take and I still use their products.
Chik-effna does far more than support anti gay marriage actions. It supports efforts to make being gay a capital offense in some African nations. It supports criminalizing gays in some states in the US.
Don’t forget they are hating on Divorced Couples too… Just like the bible tells them so.
“Married to our first wives…”
Sources?
sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-badash/chick-fil-a-5-reasons-it-isnt-what-you-think_b_1725237.html
That source doesn’t say anything about Chik wanting to make being gay a capital offense in African countries.
Anonymous must have made that gigantic logical leap on the evidence that the letter writer shows the same command of the English language as the Chik-fil-A cows. To my knowledge, there are no Chik-fil-A restaurants in CH, so these comments are a red herring.
That is bs and a pretty big leap. If that is the case, you open yourself up to all kinds of arguments one of which being that all LGBT and/or friends of support what Floyd Lee Corkins II did a couple weeks ago.
To the reader, I am really sorry that happened to you and anyone else this kind of stuff happens to. It is very sick and demented. Be safe out there.
It is no stretch at all. That horrid restaurant systematically gives money to an organization that supports the killing of gay people, all based on their misreading of an ancient book. They explicitly threaten the death of specific people. Floyd was one loser whose grip on reality was cracked. Enjoy your hate chicken and the strengthening of the mindset that leads to notes like this one.
I’m sorry buddy but it seems you have the same hatred consuming you just like Mr. Corkins. Hate is hate no matter what side you are on.
This.
I have to say that I don’t get this attitude. It seems culturally acceptable to hate the KKK, i.e. groups that focus their hate on people’s race, but it’s not acceptable to hate groups that hate people’s sexuality. I don’t know why there’s a difference. Hating someone because of the way they were born can’t be tolerated.
Anonymous at 1:33pm, Hate begets hate. It is very simple. Only love can conquer hate. Nevermind cultural acceptance, do what you think is right, and I hope that is not shooting up people because you think they lynch and burn innocent individuals to death. I’m pretty sure the FRC has not bombed churches or participated in terrorizing people through murder.
So by the same “logic” Corkins might have been spurred into action by the anti-Chik-fil-A rhetoric on several PoP threads? I doubt anyone would agree with that, so why make similarly unsupported claims?
I think there’s at least a 50% chance that this is fake. Time will tell.
What do you mean by “fake”? That the OP is going to find a piece of paper on his/her car tomorrow saying, “Just kidding”? Or that the original note-writer isn’t going to follow through on those threats?
There’s no way of knowing, and the OP is wise to take the threats at face value and to have reported them to the police.
I agree with others who’ve recommended getting a security system (if the OP doesn’t have one already). And maybe looking into off-street parking (assuming the car was parked on the street)?
words cannot express how disgusted i am over this. i hope the police are taking this seriously.
We have a police officer on a bike that patrol that block of Spring between 14th and 16th, unfortunately he is always sitting inside Carolina Restaurant doing nothing.
Hey Mayra, I think you’re in love with that officer, Lol. You should be a reporter in the gossip section. You’re paying more attention to him/her than yourself. Focus on the topics and not gossip. Change your name to Ms. Gossip. LMFAO
I agree. Hate crimes are one of the most dangerous crimes out there.
Call the police, sexual orientation-based hate crimes are serious in DC, this is a threat of both violence and breaking and entering.
That is severly messed up.
FWIW, I use N&D Home Security for my alarm: http://ndsecurity.com/
I’m not sure if I’m more offended by the bigotry, or grammar.
I am pretty sure that I am more offended by the bigotry.
Glad we cleared that up.
/thread
I am gay. You need to move before you get priced out. I am am already here. I can afford to replace my windows. I’ll shoot you if you come in my house. I pity you.
+1
Seriously, get a security system if you don’t have one. Get the home defense weapon of your choice. I recommend a shotgun but choose something you are comfortable (i.e. both willing and able) to use. Even a baseball bat helps – if it’s good enough for NY bodega owners, it’s effective.
True. I’m afraid to have a gun in the house, but behind my security system I have two strategically place baseball bats along with two pepper sprays.
I agree – get a shotgun – a single bullet discharge goes to a single small target area – a shotgun makes for a nice wide range so you’re sure to hit the person who invades your home.
i’m not a fan of pets, but i once read somewhere that the most effective deterrent of a home invasion is a dog. no one wants to eff with a dog that’s guarding his master’s abode.
It looks like some kids wrote it. Really.
OK, I think you need to leave the neighborhood. It’s clearly making you paranoid. Well-dressed people canvassing the neighborhood on a Sunday are Jehovah Witnesses. I’m not trying to be mean but if you really think that everyone coming to the door is out to get you, you should really do what is necessary to find somewhere where you will feel safe.
This was in response to a comment that has since disappeared. I am no way saying this to the OP.
The purpose of this message is not to persuade you to move out or not to move out, but I don’t get the “if I could afford it” part, unless you own your home and already have a substantial proportion of it paid off. These days, most neighborhoods are significantly less expensive than Columbia Heights.
I had a similar note show up on my car many many years back in high school while I was in the school parking lot. I got an NRA bumper sticker similar to the “If you can read this, you’re in range” one here ( http://www.zazzle.com/nra+bumperstickers ) and never heard anything else about being gay after I put it on the car.
But, I second whoever above said to get a dog. I live in a “transitioning” area, and having a doberman mix and a german shepherd mix sure is handy. The punk kids who called me a faggot from their doorstep a few doors down as I moved in are the very same kids who don’t walk, they RUN inside when I come by with my two boys on the leashes now. I know the guys wouldn’t actually do anything but lick someone raw no matter what you did to them (they’re both big furry softies – plenty of little kids have tugged tails and ears and paws and only gotten kisses), but they sure look like they *could* do some damage, and the perception is enough to deter anyone. The stickers on the doors that say “Fireman, please rescue both dogs” also helps for anyone who doesn’t see me walk them.
And, they’re just great dogs
And many of them need forever homes! Check out the local shelters!
And just to be safe, I’d drop my deductible down to the lowest it can go for the next two or three months, so IF they bust the windows, it’s not bad.
Know that you have ALL OF OUR SUPPORT! DON’T BACK DOWN!
I have never left a comment on PoP before, but just wanted to say thank you for spinning such hatred into positive social action by adopting these dogs!
This is so screwed up. And so cowardly. Be careful and be safe.
I hope that someone can come up with any type of video from that day. Hate crime are very serious and dangerous for those that are being targeted. God bless that person.
People that leave notes are pussies. If I have something to say, I say it to your face.