Montauk: Witnesses to Alleged Hate Crime Confirm Victim's Story

At a press conference Monday night in Montauk witnesses to what the police have described as a hate crime confirmed that racial slurs were used by Mark Dombrowski as he beat Luis Ochoa an immigrant from Colombia. Both men are Montauk residents.

On April 18 Luis Ochoa, a eucharistic minister at Montauk's St. Teresa Church and leader of the Latino support group SoLA , reported being beaten by Mark Dombrowski a former New York City firefighter. Ochoa and others said Dombrowski uttered several racial epithets as he attacked Ochoa. After a week long investigation the East Hampton Town Police charged Dombrowski with third degree assault as a hate crime.

Since that time in letters to the editor and an interview in local papers Dombrowski denied beating Ochoa and he denied using racial slurs. He said that Ochoa had picked up a rock in order to to attack him. He spoke of being persecuted.

In response to the denials Ochoa and five witnesses told their stories onMonday evening in Montauk.

On April 18 a group of church members gathered for a choir practice at one member's home. Ochoa arrived by car after being nearly forced off the road by Mr. Dombrowski who followed and attacked him. The witnesses said that Ochoa was punched in the mouth, knocked to the ground and kicked in the head by the attacker who used racial slurs while hitting him. They said that Ochoa did NOT pick up a rock to throw at his assailant.

Two witnesses said they tried to stop the attacker. One of these, Luis Quichimbo, who is about 5 feet tall said he jumped in between the other men, even though he was fearful. Another of the witnesses pulled the attacker off Ochoa. They said that after the attack the victim shook so much he could not hold a glass of water brought by a witness.

A court date in the assault case is set for July 21 in East Hampton. If convicted Dombrowski could face up to 4 years in jail.

While some have called for dropping the charges in an effort to heal the community, Michael O'Neill, chairman of the East Hampton Anti-Bias Task Force, said "Hate crime hurts and this arrest shows the value of hate crime law to reduce harm against minorities some people might not like. The whole community sees clearly that it is not permissible to act out that dislike."


Week of June 9, 2005 UPDATED

In this week's report:



The complete East End Report is now at www.eastendrep.blogspot.com

Also see
www dot spv dot active dot ws
for links to the
Suffolk Peace Network Counter Military Recruiting Committee
and much more.

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Demand an Exit Strategy for Iraq

Tell Your Congressman to Support HR. Con. Res 35
See www dot demaction dot org
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The East End Report is heard on Bill McNulty's"Lunch on Thursday" 12N, Thursday WUSB
Stony Brook 90.1 FM and WUSB.org

East End Report excerpts on Jim Krivo's Long Island Report Thursday 6:45am on 'Wake Up Call' WBAI 99.5 FM NYC and WBAI.org

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The East End Report is compiled by Tony Ernst.
Comments and corrections should be sent to eastendreport@optonline.net

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Peace & Justice Calendar - Starting June 9

* June 10(Friday): RePlant Haiti - Concert for Reforestation of Haiti in NYC at 8pm

* June 11(Saturday): NAACP Sponsors a Fitness Walk in Southampton Starting at Noon

* June 12(Sunday): Benefit Concert for WPKM/Montauk & WPKN/Bridgeport at Riverhead 1 to 7pm

* June 14(Tuesday): South Fork Chapter - LI Progressive Coalition Meets in Bridgehampton 6:30pm

* June 15(Wednesday): Religion and Ethics Series - in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

* June 16(Thursday): Bill of Rights Defense Committee Meets in Southampton at 7pm

* June 29(Wednesday): Religion and Ethics Series - Talk By Peter Maniscalco in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

* Repeating Events: "Herstory" Writing Workshops in English and Spanish: Thursdays in East Hampton at 7 pm

Details follow:

June 10(Friday): RePlant Haiti - Concert for Reforestation of Haiti in NYC at 8pm

A concert featuring the Haitian Orchestra of Jean Jean Pierre, Danny Glover, Kathy Engel and many others will be presented at Carnegie Hall in New York Friday evening. Tickets at Carnegie Box Office 212-247-78oo.

If you can't be there you can plant a tree in your name for the future of Haiti. Contact www.replanthaiti.org or 800-381-6249.
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June 11(Saturday): NAACP Sponsors a Fitness Walk in Southampton Starting at Noon

The Eastern Long Island Branch of the NAACP and Youth Council are the sponsors of a Fitness and Membership Walk-a-Thon on Saturday, June 11. The walk begins at the United Methodist Church Parking Lot on Main St at Post Crossing in Southampton at 12 Noon. Those who wish to start earlier or later will be accommodated.

For additional information, please phone (631) 287-7346.
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June 12(Sunday): Benefit Concert for WPKM/Montauk & WPKN/Bridgeport at Riverhead 1 to 7pm

Help support the station that airs progressive viewpoints, absolutely no corporate or other advertising and distinctly non-commercal music. WPKM at 88.7 Montauk started broadcasting recently and covers 'the end' of the east end. WPKN at 89.5 from Bridgeport can be heard in most of eastern Long Island.

A benefit concert at the Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead for WPKN 89.5 FM(Bridgeport) and WPKM 88.7 FM(Montauk) will be held Sunday, June 12 from 1 PM to 7 PM.

The concert features, Dee Harris with Classical Music of North India performed on Indian Slide Guitar with Viral Pandya on Tabla and also MISbHAVIN! featuring Danny Kean & Pat Hunter with R&B, Blues, and Funk and Antje Duvekot, Singer Songwriter plus the Kerry Kearney Band, and Electric Blues Slide Guitar.

The concert is at the Martha Clara Vineyards are at 6025 Sound Avenue in Riverhead. More information about the concert and WPKM and WPKN at www.wpkn.org

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June 14(Tuesday): South Fork Chapter - LI Progressive Coalition Meets in Bridgehampton 6:30pm

The South Fork chapter of the Long Island Progressive Coalition meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Incarnation Lutheran Church, Hayground Road and Route 27 between Water Mill and Bridgehampton at 6:30 pm

information: www.lipc.org and msfitz@optonline.net

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June 15(Wednesday): Religion & Ethics series - Talk in Bridgehampton at 7:30 pm

A talk by Ana Garcia Ashley of the Gamaliel Foundation "Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way" at the Incarnation Lutheran Church on Montauk Highway at Hayground Road, Bridgehampton.

Contact (631) 537-1187 pastorvita@fnol.net
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* June 16(Thursday): Bill of Rights Defense Committee Meets in Southampton at 7pm

The local group working to defeat the un-constitutional Patriot Act meets Thursday June 16 at the United Methodist Church on Main St. at Post Crossing in Southampton at 7pm. This is a part of a county-wide effort by the Suffolk Bill of Rights Defense Committee.

contact: Jim Henry at jhenry@sagharbor.com or Michael O'Neill at leoneill@optonline.net
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June 29(Wednesday): Religion and Ethics Series - Talk By Peter Maniscalco in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

A talk in the series Religion and Ethics: "Teaching from Our Hearts: Young Adults and Environmental Spirituality" by Prof. Peter Maniscalco at the Incarnation Lutheran Church on Montauk Highway at Hayground Road, Bridgehampton.

Contact (631) 537-1187 pastorvita@fnol.net
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Repeating Events:

"Herstory" Writing Workshops in Spanish and English: Thursdays in East Hampton

Every Thursday women come together to share their writing with one
another and receive feedback on how to structure and shape their life
writing.

The East Hampton workshop is open to East Hampton Town residents. It
meets every Thursday, 7-9 p.m., at the Senior Citizens Center, 128
Springs-Fireplace Road.
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Send event listings for next week's report to eastendreport@optonline.net by 5 pm next Tuesday. Plain old text would be appreciated!

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Calendar Update: Speak Out for Jail Alternatives

June 7(Tuesday): Speak Out for Jail Alternatives at Legislature in Hauppage at 9am

Suffolk County's Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (CJCC) has published a report that outlines 29 recommendations that could potentially reduce the size of the jail by 460 beds, eliminating the need for a "super jail". In light of this news we're asking all supporters of alternatives to incarceration to voice their approval of the new findings at the Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday, June 7 at 9am. The Legislature meets at the Rogers Auditorium, Legislature
Building 725 Veterans Memorial Highway Hauppauge, NY

For more information or if you'd like to speak, contact Maurice at 516-541-1006 ext.16 or email maurice@lipc.org.

http://www.suffolksuperjail.com/