Posted on 08/12/2015 10:55:51 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
On Facebook, James Melanson reported that he was assaulted, called “faggot,” and claims he was not taken seriously by a police officer at the scene. “If you’re queer,” he wrote, “Get a tazer. It’s the only protection you have here… Queer people are not safe in Portland. We’re not.”
The following is sourced from Melanson’s origin message. He gave me permission to repost it here.
So, long story short, but I was physically assaulted by a homophobe from Maryland today. I’m fine. My chest still hurts from where he punched me (also punched me in the face, but my face takes a punch better. :)). Here’s the worst part…the police officer did NOTHING. Apparently calling someone “faggot” is “freedom of speech”, and if you ask the person what they’re damage is, that’s “disorderly conduct”. The cop completely sympathized with the psycho, and I was tempted to ask the cop how often HE used that word.
Interesting side aspect…the cop’s partner, who is African-American, identified with me. He said he got called the N word all thew time here, and when the white cop wasn’t around, he said that he got it. And I think HE did.
But the cop ‘handling it’, just kept saying nothing would be done by the DA, and basically just kept trying to get me to drop it. When I pressed him that I wanted the guy written up, he brought up the “disorderly conduct” thing (because I was just sitting in a coffee shop minding my own business, so you can see how I was a part of it. Oh, the guy admitted calling me a faggot, and that he had instigated everything, but claimed he ‘pushed’ me… apparently that’s not assault. I had a witness who told the cop the guy had twice said “faggot” to me… [My significant other] mentioned that we have a human rights ordinance in Portland, and the cop said, “oh yeah, that’s just a civil thing”.
Queer people are not safe in Portland. We’re not. There’s this whole veneer of Portland being so liberal, blah, blah,blah. But I’ve known many people who’ve been verbally and/or physically assaulted, chased, and even propositioned in a threatening matter. Which would be one thing if the cops here cared at all and were willing to do something about this sort of assault. But most of them don’t.
honestly, I almost asked the cop how often he used that word, since he seemed pretty comfortable with it, and didn’t seem to think it was a big deal.
Again, it was interesting to see his partner step up at one point to try to mediate things. It felt like my main confrontation was with this white cop.
Oh, did I mention that the psycho did this in front of his kids, then went into the Children’s Museum? Yup.
If you’re queer, get a tazer. It’s the only protection you have here. And keep in mind that I had a witness. And it still did no good at all.
If my chest still hurts tomorrow I’ll go to Quick Care. But I’m mostly fuming about how I was treated by [the officer].
UPDATE [Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 5:13 PM]: I received the following message from Melanson at 4:30 — “Your blog found its way to the chief of police, and I was contacted this morning by a very nice officer. A detective will be contacting me at some point so I can finally fill out a police report. I’ll let you know how that progresses…”
Guess he is more upset at the officer than the guy who allegedly assaulted him or about his injuries. This seems very odd if he was seriously assaulted. Story has a funny smell. Perhaps it was just a shoving match and maybe he provoked the other guy or even shoved him first...and had the idea that "aha, I am a protected class, and you are not, the police will take my side and see you as sub-human vermin, so I will call them"...just speculating here. But it does have a funny smell, and I doubt this guy is being fully honest in his characterization or inclusion of all parts of the story.
What’s next? A “Queer Lives Matter” movement?
This post was passing around on FB last night. Trying to figure out what happened...
Apparently, this incident occurred near a children’s museum, and the dad had his children with him. I don’t know what the dad’s story is, but maybe there was some kind of public affection (?) that the father wasn’t comfortable with his children seeing.
That doesn’t justify anything, of course. Just trying to figure out what led to the confrontation because, if this guy was just sitting there, how would the dad even know anything about him?
Yet no one caught this?
“So, long story short, but I was physically assaulted by a homophobe from Maryland today.”
The Freak State.
You’re welcome.
:)
They use TENS units.
Same thing, only smaller.
Yep...some kind of Bangor, Maine link in the OP....
Get a taser? Those pervs would probably find some way to make it a sex toy.
I would be surprised if there are not more than a few “gay men” who already have tasers for their S&M rituals.
More likely a common mugger or another queer acting on a fantasy.
Homosexuals use those terms to each other as a matter of course. It’s like “nigger.” The people for whom use of the word would supposedly induce heart attacks or at least the vapors use it with each other in normal conversation.
Are you new to English?
If in the same situation I would get my wallet out and show him my Chick-fil-a gift card.
“Of COURSE it happened, you can’t put anything on the Internet if it isn’t true!”
Just another attention whore thinking she can do her bit for The Glorious Cause (remember Alinsky’s “A good tactic is one your people enjoy”) and start a Facebood meme.
Actually no. I just enjoy trolling the hell out of Grammar cops at 11:30 at night.
Heh, my cousin’s son moved to Portland because it was more “gay friendly”.
Have often wanted to ask him what that means....
Good catch..
It is Maine...
Cousin’s kid went to Portland, OR....
How about this, Mr. Queer? Why don’t you keep you mental illness to yourself and indulge in it in the privacy of your own bedroom? Did you try to grope a straight guy’s crotch, or were you giving him eyes and making those nasty little sucking sounds? Knock it off!
Version 2 of this story went up on Facebook today...and it looks like things are starting to get complicated...
“The detective says that because no one witnessed him punch me, it makes the assault charge difficult to prosecute. I get it...
I was also interviewed by David Harry for the Forecaster, and the online version of the story is supposed to go up today. He said there are things in the article I ‘might not like’, which I assume refers to his interview with the Chief of Police...”
https://www.facebook.com/james.melanson1?ref=br_rs
At this rate, Mr Melanson may end up being the one that gets arrested. I’ll be interested to see if Mr Steed, the author of your original article, follows up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.