Late last night, I posted the news about Jack Price, an openly gay man from Queens, New York who was brutally beaten by two men Friday night. One of his attackers, Daniel Aleman, has been arrested and charged with assault, aggravated assault as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment. The police are now looking for the second suspect, 21-year old Daniel Rodriguez. Today, New York City and state officials condemned this as a hate crime. Jack Price is still in the hospital and remains in a coma.

New York Times reports:
Led by the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, a Manhattan Democrat who is openly gay, city and state officials gathered in front of Booth Memorial Hospital on Monday to denounce the attack, which they called a hate crime. “You grow tired of doing these press conferences,” said Ms. Quinn. She added that “crimes like this are very sad” and that “these two hateful, ignorant individuals represent a minority of New Yorkers.”

Council member John C. Liu of Queens, who is the Democratic candidate for city comptroller, called for witnesses to step up to help authorities solve this “absolutely atrocious” crime.

The victim, Jack Price, 49, had left a deli after buying cigarettes in College Point, Queens, early Friday morning when he received a number of antigay comments and was attacked. He is in fair condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman, and police said he is undergoing treatment for a fractured jaw, rib fractures and a lacerated spleen.

Daniel Aleman, 26, was arrested over the weekend and faces two charges: assault and aggravated assault as a hate crime. Police said they were looking for a second suspect, Daniel Rodriguez, 21, on Monday evening. READ MORE

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