Two 13-year-old boys are suspected of assault and a hate crime after they allegedly threw fireworks and shouted homophobic remarks at a crowd gathered Wednesday night for a Pride event in downtown Redwood City.
Police said one of two victims of the assault suffered minor injuries, and that part of the attack was captured on video surveillance.
Officers responded shortly before 6 p.m. to Courthouse Square at 2200 Broadway, where the event was being held.
The suspects fled before police arrived, but later that evening one of them was located. On Thursday, the second was found, police said. Both were taken to the San Mateo County Youth Services Center.
City officials said Pride Month in Redwood City is a time to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community and celebrate diversity, inclusion and equity. The city remains committed to ensuring that all community events, especially those that affirm identity and belonging, are safe, welcoming and supported, they added.
“The act of hate and violence is unacceptable and deeply troubling. Redwood City does not tolerate hate in any form,” Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos said in a press release. “We are committed to being a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community for all. What happened last night is not reflective of our values. We will continue working with law enforcement, community leaders, and residents to ensure Courthouse Square and every space in our city is a place of safety, respect and belonging.”
Anyone with additional information about the case is encouraged to contact the Redwood City Police Department at (650) 780-7100.
(2) comments
That is all nice and good but after all of these years, what exactly is this community celebrating? To be gay and lesbian, what is so significant about that? Do they need a parade for that? Why questioning that is now a hate crime?
Injuring people is not questioning. Their hate is the reason these celebrations still exist.
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