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Harsh Justice for Homophobic Assault on Portland Cyclists

Harsh Justice for Homophobic Assault on Portland Cyclists
(Image: Radio Power Strike)

 

On a summer evening in Portland, a peaceful naked bike ride turned violent when Robert Earl Houchins, 40, launched a homophobic attack on two cyclists. This incident, occurring on June 3, 2023, along Northwest 19th Avenue and Flanders Street, escalated quickly as Houchins, a bystander, armed himself with a three-foot metal pipe and hurled homophobic slurs at the passing cyclists.

In a shocking display of aggression, Houchins struck two of the cyclists across their backs, fortunately causing no serious injuries. This attack was immediately identified as a bias crime, adding to the disturbing pattern of increasing hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.

(Image: Radio Power Strike)

The Multnomah County District Attorney took swift action, leading to Houchins pleading guilty to attempted assault and bias crime. On October 24, 2023, Judge Steffan Alexander sentenced him to a three-year prison term, reflecting the gravity of his actions.

As Houchins now serves his sentence in the Oregon Department of Corrections, this case sheds light on a broader issue. The FBI’s latest Crime in the Nation report, released in October, alarmingly indicates a rise in hate crimes, particularly those targeting sexual orientation, Jewish, and Black communities. In 2022 alone, over 11,634 incidents were reported, a significant increase from the previous year, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and action against hate-based violence.

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