WASHINGTON -
Supporters of a gay couple brutally beaten last month in Northeast D.C. rallied against hate and violence in Ward 5.
Organizers of the event say there has been a dangerous spike in crimes related to sexual orientation. There have been 22 attacks so far this year, compared with 15 at the same time last year.
"Washington D.C. has the highest rate of LGBT crime in the nation. It's up 67 percent this year," say A.J. Singletary of GLOV (Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence).
Police are still looking for the three guys who beat yoga instructor Mike Hall and his boyfriend Mike Roike on July 22 as they got out of a cab in the 1300 block of Third Street, NE. It is being investigated as a possible hate crime, but there has been no official determination yet.
Cindy Trogisch came out for the walk to support her son and his partner who just moved near where the couple was attacked.
"I care for the safety of my child who just moved into D.C. with his partner two months ago," Trogisch says. "When I heard about this attack, I was afraid."
Rather than give in to the rising fear, the marchers decided to take to the streets.
"What happened was horrible and it thrust a lot of mistrust and fear into this community," says Nick McCoy. "We had to find away to get rid of the fear, push it back out again."
D.C. Police were out in force for the march. They walked shoulder to shoulder with the participants to let the community know they are ramping up efforts to solve every vicious attack and unsolved homicide.
"We sympathize with every victim that's out there," says Commander Andy Solberg of Ward 5.
Hall is still recovering from facial surgery and couldn't attend. His friends are trying to raise money to pay his medical bills. He did not have health insurance.
