2006 Greenwich Village assault case
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Greenwich Village assault case was an altercation on August 18, 2006 between Dwayne Buckle
and a group of seven young black lesbian friends from Newark, New Jersey
, outside of the IFC Center
movie theater in Greenwich Village
. During the altercation, Buckle was cut, requiring 5 days hospitalization.
The women claim they were acting in self-defense , while Buckle claims the women initiated the attack motivated to commit "a hate crime against a straight man" .
The case sparked sensational media attention. Four members of the group of seven women were subsequently tried and convicted. Two of the convictions were overturned on appeal, the other two convictions have appeals pending.
All the women were acquainted with Sakia Gunn
, a black lesbian murdered in a hate crime.
Buckle claims he was merely trying to sell some of his DVDs on the street in Manhattan's West Village, and he innocently greeted one of the women in the group who he admired. Buckle said she smiled back, but another woman in the group responded by mocking his jeans and sneakers as "cheap." Buckle says he responded to the insult in kind, an argument ensued, whereupon one woman slapped him and another spat on him. Buckle says he spat back, then he was attacked by the group, clawed and ultimately severely cut on the abdomen.
Patreese Johnson testified that Buckle initiated the altercation by pointing to her crotch and demanding, "Let me get some of that!" as her group walked past him. She claimed she replied, "no thank you, I'm not interested in that," whereupon Buckle began following them, making more crude comments and gestures. After proclaiming themselves lesbians, Buckle threw a cigarette at them and became even more insulting, calling the group "fucking dykes" and yelled, "I'll fuck you straight, sweetheart" . The group stopped and confronted him. More harsh words were exchanged, then Buckle began shoving the women, ultimately tackling and choking Renata Hill. Johnson, afraid for Hill's life, cut Buckle using a steak knife she kept in her purse for personal protection.
Two or three male bystanders, whose identities were never ascertained, intervened in the fight. The women claimed they were "Good Samaritans" acting of their own volition to assist them against their attacker. Buckle claimed the women recruited the men to attack him. One defense attorney advanced the theory that one of the intervenors, not Johnson, was the individual who actually cut Buckle.
Three of the seven women pled guilty to attempted assault and were sentenced to six months. The other four went to trial and were convicted. Two of the four convictions were overturned, the other two convictions are still pending appeal.
The prosecutor's case was based on video that showed Johnson calmly stepping out of the fray, removing her knife from her bag, then stepping back into the group attack. Johnson alone was charged with attempted murder.
The trial itself was lengthy, lasting nearly a year. The all-white jury of 10 women and 2 men deliberated only 5 hours, finding all four women, New Jersey residents, guilty of second-degree gang assault. Johnson was found not guilty of attempted murder. New York Supreme Court Justice Edward McLaughlin pronounced sentences ranging from 3½ to 11 years. The judge cited as "damning" evidence video surveillance depicting Venice Brown chasing Buckle down. At the conclusion, Buckle told the Daily News "I'm stabbed and I have a scar that will be with me for the rest of my life...They have their jail sentences, but they'll be out soon. This is what I get for being a nice guy."
Two of the women's convictions were overturned. Terrain Dandridge's appeal succeeded on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to support her conviction; Renata Hill's conviction was reversed on the basis that the trial judge gave the jury faulty instructions. As of June 2008, Patreese Johnson and Venice Brown's convictions are still pending appeal.
The O'Reilly Factor
ran a segment entitled "Violent Lesbian Gangs a Growing Problem." The story described the incident from a point of view sympathetic to Buckle, and described a "national underground network... that's actually recruiting kids as young as 10 years old" and engaging in homosexual recruitment
. The story described these gangs as groups that "just want to hurt people."
The Southern Poverty Law Center
criticized O'Reilly's story as inaccurate, and criticized the segment's commentator, Rod Wheeler, as unqualified. The SPLC's Hatewatch website sarcastically awarded O'Reilly their "Most Gullible Broadcaster Award."
The Gay City News
criticized the sensationalistic coverage, pointing to elements the mainstream press ignored, such as allegations that Buckle tore a chunk of hair from one a woman's scalp.
A New-York based LGBT youth advocacy group, FIERCE, claimed the women's prosecution was motivated by attempts to "gentrify" the West Village area, noting the judge's comments about "how New York welcomes tourists." FIERCE also complained that "every possible racist, anti-woman, anti-LGBT and anti-youth tactic" was used by the prosecution against the women.
Dwayne Buckle
Dwayne Buckle is an African American independent film maker, screenwriter, editor and sound recording artist from Queens, New York.His first feature length film as writer, director, and producer, The Minority, won an Executive Director's Choice Award - Honorable Mention at the 15th Annual Pan...
and a group of seven young black lesbian friends from Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, outside of the IFC Center
IFC Center
IFC Center is an art house movie theater in Greenwich Village, New York City in the United States of America. It is located at 323 Sixth Avenue, on the former site of the Waverly Theater, which was itself a well known art house movie theater...
movie theater in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. During the altercation, Buckle was cut, requiring 5 days hospitalization.
The women claim they were acting in self-defense , while Buckle claims the women initiated the attack motivated to commit "a hate crime against a straight man" .
The case sparked sensational media attention. Four members of the group of seven women were subsequently tried and convicted. Two of the convictions were overturned on appeal, the other two convictions have appeals pending.
All the women were acquainted with Sakia Gunn
Sakia Gunn
Sakia Gunn was a 15-year old African American lesbian who was murdered as a hate crime in Newark, New Jersey. Richard McCullough was charged with her death and sentenced to 20 years in prison.-The murder:...
, a black lesbian murdered in a hate crime.
The assault
Accounts of the assault differ markedly.Buckle claims he was merely trying to sell some of his DVDs on the street in Manhattan's West Village, and he innocently greeted one of the women in the group who he admired. Buckle said she smiled back, but another woman in the group responded by mocking his jeans and sneakers as "cheap." Buckle says he responded to the insult in kind, an argument ensued, whereupon one woman slapped him and another spat on him. Buckle says he spat back, then he was attacked by the group, clawed and ultimately severely cut on the abdomen.
Patreese Johnson testified that Buckle initiated the altercation by pointing to her crotch and demanding, "Let me get some of that!" as her group walked past him. She claimed she replied, "no thank you, I'm not interested in that," whereupon Buckle began following them, making more crude comments and gestures. After proclaiming themselves lesbians, Buckle threw a cigarette at them and became even more insulting, calling the group "fucking dykes" and yelled, "I'll fuck you straight, sweetheart" . The group stopped and confronted him. More harsh words were exchanged, then Buckle began shoving the women, ultimately tackling and choking Renata Hill. Johnson, afraid for Hill's life, cut Buckle using a steak knife she kept in her purse for personal protection.
Two or three male bystanders, whose identities were never ascertained, intervened in the fight. The women claimed they were "Good Samaritans" acting of their own volition to assist them against their attacker. Buckle claimed the women recruited the men to attack him. One defense attorney advanced the theory that one of the intervenors, not Johnson, was the individual who actually cut Buckle.
Three of the seven women pled guilty to attempted assault and were sentenced to six months. The other four went to trial and were convicted. Two of the four convictions were overturned, the other two convictions are still pending appeal.
Trial
Buckle, a New York resident, testified that he couldn't remember which of the women he thought was pretty. He testified that before the attack he told one woman she looked like an elephant, and another that she looked like a man. He also testified that his only physical response to the attack was to put his hands in front of his face. The defense presented surveillance footage of Buckle on top of a woman with his hands on her throat. At trial, a police officer who recovered Johnson's knife at the scene testified that he saw no blood on it. No forensic testing was done on the knife. Law enforcement never attempted to find the men who intervened in the melee. The defense claimed the video footage showed Buckle initiating the altercation.The prosecutor's case was based on video that showed Johnson calmly stepping out of the fray, removing her knife from her bag, then stepping back into the group attack. Johnson alone was charged with attempted murder.
The trial itself was lengthy, lasting nearly a year. The all-white jury of 10 women and 2 men deliberated only 5 hours, finding all four women, New Jersey residents, guilty of second-degree gang assault. Johnson was found not guilty of attempted murder. New York Supreme Court Justice Edward McLaughlin pronounced sentences ranging from 3½ to 11 years. The judge cited as "damning" evidence video surveillance depicting Venice Brown chasing Buckle down. At the conclusion, Buckle told the Daily News "I'm stabbed and I have a scar that will be with me for the rest of my life...They have their jail sentences, but they'll be out soon. This is what I get for being a nice guy."
Two of the women's convictions were overturned. Terrain Dandridge's appeal succeeded on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to support her conviction; Renata Hill's conviction was reversed on the basis that the trial judge gave the jury faulty instructions. As of June 2008, Patreese Johnson and Venice Brown's convictions are still pending appeal.
Media coverage
Much of the media coverage was sensational, referring to the incident as the "attack of the killer lesbians," and to the group as a "seething sapphic septet" . The case was also cited in a Village Voice article about rap culture and young black lesbians.The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
ran a segment entitled "Violent Lesbian Gangs a Growing Problem." The story described the incident from a point of view sympathetic to Buckle, and described a "national underground network... that's actually recruiting kids as young as 10 years old" and engaging in homosexual recruitment
Homosexual recruitment
Homosexual recruitment is a term used, primarily in the U.S., to describe alleged attempts by homosexuals to actively "recruit" otherwise heterosexual youths into the 'gay lifestyle'. Allegations of gay recruitment are sometimes leveled at efforts by gay activists to encourage homosexuals to "come...
. The story described these gangs as groups that "just want to hurt people."
The Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
criticized O'Reilly's story as inaccurate, and criticized the segment's commentator, Rod Wheeler, as unqualified. The SPLC's Hatewatch website sarcastically awarded O'Reilly their "Most Gullible Broadcaster Award."
The Gay City News
Gay City News
Gay City News is an award-winning, free weekly newspaper based in New York City that focuses on local and national issues relating to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. It was founded in 1994 as Lesbian Gay New York, later LGNY, and was sold to Community Media LLC in 2002,...
criticized the sensationalistic coverage, pointing to elements the mainstream press ignored, such as allegations that Buckle tore a chunk of hair from one a woman's scalp.
A New-York based LGBT youth advocacy group, FIERCE, claimed the women's prosecution was motivated by attempts to "gentrify" the West Village area, noting the judge's comments about "how New York welcomes tourists." FIERCE also complained that "every possible racist, anti-woman, anti-LGBT and anti-youth tactic" was used by the prosecution against the women.