Gay victims of Stapleton hate crime denounce brutal beating as supporters call for vigilance

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two gay men from Stapleton put the community and their assailants on notice last night: They are not afraid, and justice will be served.

Luis Vieira, 47, and his partner, Richard Vieira, 39, addressed a meeting organized by the Staten Island LGBT Center, Tompkinsville, in response to the brutal beating to which they were subjected last week by a large group of African Americans at the White Castle restaurant on Bay Street.

Among those attending or speaking last night were: State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) and representatives of City Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore, Rep. Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn), the NYPD, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the city Anti-Violence Project.