New York, NY, March 9, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the conviction of Elliot Morales in the May 2013 bias-motivated fatal shooting of Mark Carson in Manhattan.

During the trial, witnesses testified that Mr. Morales used anti-gay slurs against Mr. Carson and his friend before shooting him in the face.

Evan R. Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director, and Andrew Frackman, ADL New York Regional Board Chair, issued the following statement:

We welcome the conviction of Mr. Morales for this vicious hate crime. Mark Carson’s murder sent a chilling message to the gay community in Manhattan’s West Village.

The prosecution under New York State’s hate crime law sends a powerful message to those who target their victims because of their sexual orientation – or perceived sexual orientation: they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The effect of hate crimes go beyond the assault victim, the crime terrorizes an entire group of people. The penalty should fit the crime.

By choosing to use the statutory tools available to them to investigate and prosecute this case as a hate crime, New York officials made clear that all people, regardless of their identity, should feel protected.

In the wake of the 2013 incident, ADL said that the community must not stand for such “brutal and senseless violence” and reiterated that hate crimes not only affect the victim, but reverberate throughout the community.

ADL recently announced #50StatesAgainstHate, a new initiative to expand and strengthen hate crimes laws in New York State and around the country in partnership with more than three dozen national civil rights, civic, religious and cultural organizations.

 

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.  Follow us on Twitter: @ADL_NY