UPDATE: Hate crime in the Village – Police investigation underway and support from the community

[Original story, March 29th: Man says he was gay bashed in Manhattan’s West Village (of all places)]

[Important update, April 2nd: Attacker confesses, claims to be gay]

On Tuesday we reported the story of Damian Furtch, who was brutally attacked by two men on Sunday morning outside a McDonalds’s (W 3rd St. and 6th Ave.) in the Greenwich Village simply for being gay.

Now ABC reports that The NYPD has released a video of the attack that was caught on a police surveillance camera. You can watch it here: ABC7: NYPD releases surveillance of gay beating

According to ABC: “Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says the investigation is moving forward. ‘This is a horrendous event,’ he said. ‘We simply are not going to tolerate this in our city.’”

The Police are looking for two Hispanic men between the ages of 18 and 20. One of them sports a large tattoo of a Gothic cross under his left eye (aprox. 2 inches). At the moment the greatest hope for the investigators is that someone can provide a lead. If you can provide any information call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (1-800-577-8477). You can also text “TIP577″ (plus your message) to “CRIMES” (274637) or submit a tip online. For Spanish speakers/ para español: 1-888-57-PISTA (1-888-57-74782).

Yesterday morning various members of the Greenwich Village community were joined by NYC Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Community Affairs Police Officers to hand out fliers about the attack. The story at ABC7 (video).

A demonstration “Right to feel safe: stop hate crimes NOW!” has been organized for April 10th from 15:30 to 18:30 under the arch on Washington Square Park. The march will start at the park and will lead to the location where Damian was beaten after which it will end at the Stonewall inn; location of the historical Stonewall riots. You can confirm your assistance on the Facebook event and invite your friends.

“You attack somebody who is in a community that is not going to stand for this,” Furtch said. “We’re not going take this lightly. We’re not going to stop. And hopefully, you’ll be caught.”