Protesters opposed to drag events for children have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing a Manhattan council member’s home and district office on Monday.
The protesters allegedly trespassed at Council Member Erik Bottcher’s apartment and vandalized the hallway outside his district office, Bottcher wrote in a series of tweets. (RELATED: ‘All Ages’ Drag Show Featured Partial Nudity, Simulated Sex Acts And Other Graphic Content)
Tonight the Drag Story Hour protesters came to my apartment building and gained entry. My super called the cops and two of them were arrested for trespassing. This is pure hate, unmasked. If they think this is going to intimidate us, they’re mistaken. Our resolve is strengthened. pic.twitter.com/i45eyGg1AS
— NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) December 20, 2022
The protesters reportedly wrote “Bitcher” on the wall of the hallway outside the official’s West 30th Street office, photos posted by Bottcher show. On the sidewalk in chalk in front of his apartment building, they wrote ‘OK groomer,” “Erik Boccher [sic] is a pedo child groomer” and “We want Erik,” according to other photos the council member posted to Twitter.
Today people who call themselves “gays against groomers” vandalized the hallway outside our district office. We will not be cowed. We will not be silenced. We will continue to stand up against hate. pic.twitter.com/WaUEjhWc2Z
— NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) December 19, 2022
“This is pure hate, unmasked. If they think this is going to intimidate us, they’re mistaken,” Botcher tweeted about the incident. “Our resolve is strengthened.”
Two women — Erica Sanchez, 44, and Anna Morgan, 27 — were arrested at the home address and charged with criminal trespassing, police sources said, according to the New York Post.
Video of the Drag Story Hour protesters physically attacking one of my neighbors last night. pic.twitter.com/sqoGc8dWyZ
— NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) December 20, 2022
Bottcher had attended a Drag Queen Story Hour event for neurodiverse children at the Andrew Heiskell Library in Chelsea over the weekend. At that event, protesters yelled insults at Bottcher outside the library, according to video Bottcher shared on Twitter.