A 33-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault and harassment after Anti-LGBTQ protesters enter New York City congressman’s apartment Erik Bottcher last week.
In a statement to The Daily Beast, the New York Police Department confirmed that officers arrested David Nieves, of Brooklyn, on Tuesday morning in connection with the assault on Bottcher’s 52-year-old neighbor.
Bottcher welcomed the news of the arrest, telling The Daily Beast: “Violence, threats and vandalism are never acceptable. A message needs to be sent to hate groups everywhere that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”
During the episode at Bottcher’s Chelsea building on December 19, two anti-Drag Queen Story Hour protesters were arrested after entering the building and allegedly refused to leave before doing so. The pavement outside has been disfigured with hateful, discriminatory slurs directed at Bottcher, including “OK Groomer,” “Child Predator” and Erik Boccher (sic) Is a Pedo Child Groomer!”
Bottcher, whose district includes Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and Greenwich Village, posted a video allegedly showing one of his neighbors being assaulted by extremists during the incident. A group of protesters also entered and are said to have vandalized his nearby office building.
Police last week identified two women arrested at Bottcher’s residence as Erica Sanchez, 44, from the Bronx, and D’Anna Morgan, 27, from Queens. Both were charged with criminal trespass. The New York Post Office report that the group targeting Bottcher’s office is known as the Guardians of Divinity.
Bottcher told The Daily Beast last week that he has so far denied special protections, saying that Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD “are providing any and all of the support and protections that we are providing.” I need. I refused to have a car parked in front. But I know it’s an option open to me if I need to. The mayor told me that he and his entire administration are standing with me. The support from everyone is generally great and completely enthusiastic. It didn’t surprise me because New Yorkers were so loving and supportive, but it was even more than I expected.”
The incident is the latest in a wave of activity aimed at drag event across the country, ignited by anti-LGBTQ rhetoric by Politicians and right-wing media.
