Gas Station Beating Getting More Exposure
DETROIT (WWJ) - A young Detroit man is using the Internet to bring attention to a possible hate crime at a gas station on the city's west side. Twenty-three-year old Justin Alesna is featured on You Tube with a black eye talking about being attacked because he is gay.
Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh says he called Police Chief Ralph Godbee once the assault was brought to his attention.
"The Police Chief called the young man personally, to express his regrets on the incident but also that the police department would take it very seriously, and do what it could to catch the perpetrator and bring him to justice and perhaps look at any collaboration with the U.S. Attorney to see if there could be any additional charges for hate crimes," says Pugh.
According to Alesna's account on You Tube, the clerk at the gas station not only refused to call police but he encouraged the attacker to kill him.
WWJ spoke with Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins who says this is why she is pushing for anti-bullying ordinance.
"I was horrified by the fact that the gas station owner not only did they not do anything to help the young man but they didn't even bother to call the police," says Jenkins .
