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Threats, vandalism

confront some marchers

Melbourne, Iowa Mayor Bill Crews returned from the March on Washington to find his house vandalized. He wasn't alone. An activist in Tampa, Fla., found her mobile home had been torched. Other reports include a group of lesbians taunted by a gun-wielding man in a Washington subway after the Saturday night Dyke March, feces thrown at marchers on Pennsylvania Ave., and an Akron bus threatened at gunpoint on the highway.

Crews, mayor for nine years, returned home with his partner from the March to find MELBOURNE HATES GAYS and NO FAGGOTS spray-painted on the outside walls of his house. A basement window had been shattered and a fire extinguisher set off.

Most people in the town of 730 knew Crews was gay, even before he decided to come out publicly at the March. But, as in many towns the size of Melbourne, they just didn't talk about it.

The Des Moines Register had also published a column by Crews on being gay that weekend.

Crews said if he has a regret about his decision to come out, it's that he didn't

have someone stay at the house. 'Your house will parch'

Tampa, Florida fire officials have ruled. as arson a fire the day before the march at the home of Darlena DeBerry, a 28-yearold ACT UP member and an outspoken proponent of AIDS prevention.

Police investigators said the mobile home also was burglarized, but they said they so far don't have enough evidence to deem the incident a hate crime.

"For all we know somebody could have burglarized the house and started a fire and have no idea who lived there," said police spokesman Steve Cole. "If we can find evidence that somebody did it and it is a hate crime, then we will classify it as such,"

But DeBerry said she began receiving threatening, obscenity-laced telephone calls several weeks before the fire. She reported the calls to police April 13 and quoted one caller saying, "If you do the march, your house will parch."

But DeBerry said the threats will not silence her. "I am not shutting up," she said. "If anything, I'll speak out louder."

Gunman threatens Akron bus

Continued from Page 1

saw a male passenger in the front seat of the Bronco shouting anti-gay curses as the car rode alongside the bus. The next thing that startled the marchers was the profile of a handgun, being held by the name-calling man. According to DeLong, the profile of the gun was clearly visible and the man raised it at a 45 degree angle, aiming it at the windows of the bus.

By this time the lead bus driver saw the activity and slowed his vehicle's speed. The Bronco passed the bus and continued ahead at a high rate of speed, but DeLong and the driver were able to note its license plate number. The second, smaller bus had not been threatened.

The two buses got off at the next exit and DeLong called the police who promised a five-minute response. As the wait time stretched to 20 minutes, the passengers found themselves debating the action. A number of people did not want to stop, feeling that the bus was already late and the March was starting soon. Others, including DeLong, argued that the whole purpose of the March was to stand up against threats and bigotry, such as what had just been displayed.

The passengers felt vulnerable, waiting at a rural exit, deserted except for one gas station attendant. Placing a call again, the Highway Patrol advised the group to resume its trip and expect to be intercepted by an officer, which happened a short time later.

By now the travelers had crossed a county line. The incident occurred in Washington County; the Highway Patrol, which was

receptive and courteous, was from Frederick County. The police took the report and forwarded it to the previous jurisdiction. Based on the similar description of the incident from many witnesses, the police indicated that the man, when found, would be charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Most in the group remembered seeing him at the rest stop's restaurant. Many witnesses willingly provided their names and addresses.

The buses got to the Pentagon lots without further incident at about noon. However DeLong was still worried: the front windows of the buses had the parking permits prominently displayed which included the scheduled 10 pm departure time from the Pentagon. It was possible that the assailant saw the permits and could be planning to ambush the bus on its return trip that night. "I was uneasy coming back, we were the last two buses in the Pentagon lot. But as luck would have it the driver had never been to D.C. We got lost leaving and drove through Arlington for an hour," he said. Even running behind schedule did not calm DeLong's fears as the bus passed through that part of the state, but there were no further incidents. The marchers got back home safely with the last of them reaching Akron at 8 am on Monday.

While in Washington, the Committee '93 leaders reported the incident to the March on Washington Committee and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force which promised follow up action. In a recent conversation with the Hagerstown based Highway Patrol, DeLong reports that the Bronco, its driver, and gun-toting passenger have yet to be located.

HATE CRIME UPDATE

Compiled by the Maryann Finegan Project

The following incidents were reported to the Maryann Finegan Project in the last four weeks:

March 10-A Mentor church hosting a gay conference received a threatening phone message from the Ku Klux Klan requesting 50 tickets for the purpose of gay bashing. Gay organization feared that conference attendance would be adversely affected.

April 20-Employee of Center verbally harassed by three young white males in passing car. Police report made; good response by officer.

April 25 Busload of 47 from Akron en route to March on Washington were threatened and verbally harassed by a passing

motorist in Hagerstown, Maryland. Motorist aimed large handgun at bus; driver slowed, got license number of car, stopped and reported incident to police. Police were courteous and helpful.

If you would like to report an incident of harassment or violence based on sexual orientation, HIV status, perceived HIV status, or domestic violence, please call the Mary Ann Finegan Project at 522-1999, or the Hotline at 781-6736.

The project is in need of volunteers who can work five or more hours a week with a 2-3 year commitment. If you are interested please call the Center for more information.