2 women arrested after protesters target NYC councilmember with anti-gay slurs
CHELSEA, Manhattan (WABC) -- Two women who police say broke into a New York City councilman's apartment building Monday have been given desk appearance tickets for criminal trespassing.
44-year-old Erica Sanchez and 27-year-old Anna Morgan have been released pending a court date.
The two were arrested after taunting, unhinged harassment that started early Monday afternoon, first at the office and later at the home of a member of Councilmember Erik Boettcher.
Boettcher was targeted by a group that called itself 'Gays Against Groomers.'
Over the weekend, galvanized by online conspiracy theories about the LGBT community, members of the group protested outside something called a Drag Queen Story Hour , in which a person in drag reads children's books to kids at a public library.
It has become a weapon in the hard right culture wars - with the latest battle in Chelsea.
Over the weekend, protesters were blocked from entering the library, but on Monday, two of them made it as far as the lobby in Boettcher's apartment building after scrawling anti-gay slurs on the sidewalk in front.
The two protesters, Sanchez and Morgan, were arrested for trespassing.
"This is outrageous, completely outrageous," Mayor Adams tweeted, "Erik, you stand up for our city every single day and these cowardly bigots have no place here."
Boettcher says he is a staunch supporter of Drag Queen Story Hours and will not be intimidated by hate.
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