Office of Asbury Park Gay rights group vandalized

ASBURY PARK — A gay rights group said its office was attacked on Saturday leaving a glass door cracked.

Garden State Equality executive director Christian Fuscarino said he was getting ready for an event just before 2 p.m.when two individuals at the front door smashed the glass  where the rainbow flag is affixed.

Fuscarino told New Jersey 101.5 that the door is double-paned which keeps sound out so he did not hear if anything was said beforehand. He also believes this is connected to a a similar attack on the headquarters of Equality Florida.

The Orlando Sentinel reported a brick was thrown through the group's office in Orlando last Thursday. The Florida city was the scene of a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub last July.

“We have surveillance footage and fully expect the police to investigate it as an attack on all LGBT people," Fuscarino said. He added that his group will not be deterred by the incident. "We will continue to fight for equality for all our members, and for any individual or group who finds themselves the victim of a similar hateful and dangerous act," said Fuscarino.

Sen. Cory Booker condemned the attack as being against every community. "I condemn acts of hate against all communities, whether Jewish, Muslim or LGBT, in the strongest possible terms. We must stand united with love against the ‎shadow of hate that has been cast over our great nation‎" Booker said in a statement.

"Asbury Park has been a haven for the LGBT community for decades. That vandalism does not represent the town as a whole & strengthens our resolve to stand with our gay, lesbian, bi, and trans brothers and sister." Asbury Park Councilwoman Amy Quinn wrote.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Asbury Park Police at 732- 774-1300.

Mark Anthony contributed to this report

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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