Dec 8, 2008 8:02 pm US/Eastern
Bushwick Bias Attack Draws Ire Of Speaker Quinn
Weekend Anti-Gay, Anti-Latino Attack On 2 Ecuadorean Brothers Has Circled The Wagons Throughout NYC
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Diego Sucuzhanay describes to CBS 2 HD's Pablo Guzman what happened to his brother during a vicious bias attack on Dec. 7.
CBS
A violent act of hate has united the city to catch the suspects responsible.
Two brothers from Ecuador were attacked over the weekend in Bushwick, in what police are calling a bias crime.
One of the brothers, Oswaldo Sucuzhanay, is in extremely critical condition at the hospital. Another family member spoke to CBS 2 HD about the violence and how -- despite the violence -- they still believe in America and the American dream.
Diego Sucuzhanay and his brother, Oswaldo, who is 31, run a realty company in Brooklyn that they started after arriving in the country seven years ago. To them, that's what makes America great; not what happened to Oswaldo and another brother on Sunday, when, as they walked on the street, four men got out of a burgundy Ford Explorer.
"They hit him with a bottle first and the bottle of beer was broken on my brother, who is in the hospital right now," Diego said. "And tried to attack with a piece of glass that was left on to him. And trying to kill my other brother, but he was able to jump over a car, and was able to escape."
Police said the men yelled anti-gay slurs at the two brothers. Diego's other brother ran to get help. When he returned, police said his brother was being beaten with a bat by black men cursing Latinos.
"My brother could be the victim now; but in the future, maybe your brother, your sister, your father, your mother, or it could be yourself. Please help us find them," Diego said.
On Monday, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn blasted the attackers for their anti-gay and anti-Latino slurs.
"Let me be clear: the four individuals who committed this crime … you will be apprehended. You will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Quinn said.
"My brother is in critical condition, but we want to be positive," Diego said. "We're very happy that this country gives us the chance to live here."
Police need your help. They are asking anyone who knows anything, no matter how small you think it may be, to please call 1-800-577-TIPS. no one will know you made that call.
Oswaldo Sucuzhanay supports two young children and his parents back home in their native Ecuador.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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