NYC councilman has apartment building covered in ‘groomer’ graffiti after drag event he sponsored was stormed by protesters

CW: Article contains clips and images which some may find offensive 

NYC councilman has apartment building covered in ‘groomer’ graffiti and slurs after drag event he sponsored was stormed by protesters

New York City councilmember Erik Bottcher had his apartment building covered in homophobic graffiti following a drag queen story time event at a local library.

Earlier in the week, Bottcher had shared a video to Twitter, where he called protesters “the faces of hatred” as they aggressively protested outside the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, in NYC, Saturday.

The event – held for neurodiverse children – saw protesters hurl obscenities and slurs at attendees, a pattern slowly becoming more common in the US as anti-drag rhetoric continues to rise.

Today I witnessed pure hatred and bigotry outside Drag Queen Story Hour at a public library in Chelsea.

Inside, I witnessed a loving and peaceful reading of children’s books to kids.

Warning: this video contains foul language and hate speech. pic.twitter.com/RLMWHDdSnw

— NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) December 17, 2022

Then, on Monday, Bottcher returned to find his home covered in homophobic hate speech and slurs.

Sharing images on Twitter, he wrote:

“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.”

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

NYC Mayor Eric Adams condemned the act as “cowardly”, saying:

“This is outrageous. Completely outrageous. Erik, you stand up for our city every single day and these cowardly bigots have no place here. Thank you to the NYPD for your quick work and sending the message that this hate will not go unchallenged.”

This is outrageous. Completely outrageous.

Erik, you stand up for our city every single day and these cowardly bigots have no place here.

Thank you to the NYPD for your quick work and sending the message that this hate will not go unchallenged. https://t.co/o6SlUzikHc

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) December 20, 2022

The vandals wrote insults and threats like “OK groomer”, “Erik Boccher [sic] is a pedo child groomer” and “We want Erik” in chalk on the sidewalk in front of his apartment building, according to photos the council member posted to Twitter.

Police sources confirmed that two women were arrested at the address and charged with criminal trespassing. Erica Sanchez, 44, and Anna Morgan, 27, were each given desk appearance tickets, per NY Post.

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

A separate trip to Bottcher’s office was reportedly organized by hate froup “gays against groomers”, who he believes vandalized the hallway outside his district office.

NY Post reports that anti-vaccine group Guardians of Divinity may have also been involved, according to an Instagram video of their visit in which they claimed the “Bitcher” graffiti was done by someone before them. The same group protested the Drag Story Hour event Saturday and one earlier this month.

The US has seen a sharp rise in anti-drag rhetoric and hate-fuelled protests, targeting drag events, typically led by right-wing militants including members of Proud Boys and Patriot Front.