The K Rd and Hereford Street corner As a meeting is about to be held about concerns about the safety of our community in Auckland’s K’ Road area, another gay man has been attacked. Friends are venting their anger on Facebook at the attack on a gay man in his 30s by “four thugs” on the corner of the Ponsonby end of Karangahape Rd and Hereford St just after 2 o'clock this morning. Street workers stepped in to help the man, who fought back against the four attackers. It's understood from a GayNZ.com Daily News source that police were quick to act and the victim was able to pick the alleged offenders out from a line-up. All four arrested are teenagers and are now facing assault-related charges. It comes as “mother of K’ Rd” Karen Ritchie is tonight going for a ride along with police patrolling the area, where there has been a string of random attacks on gay men in recent weeks. On Tuesday night a meeting is being held, arranged by Ritchie and Rainbow Youth’s Tom Hamilton, and facilitated by Human Rights Commissioner Richard Tankersley. It will give people a chance to share stories of their experiences, and express how they feel. “We would love to see as many as possible there, the violence is getting out of hand,” Ritchie says. “Let’s work together with the police and see how we can make changes.” Find more on the meeting here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 22nd February 2013 - 12:36pm