Vancouver police say they are investigating a possible hate crime after a 24-year-old man was punched in the face several times for singing Christmas carols.
The victim was walking past a Christmas light display in downtown Vancouver on Sunday night when he and a friend broke into song.
Another group of men objected, shouted a gay slur, then punched the victim and ran off.
The victim’s friends called 911 and followed the alleged attacker. Police quickly arrested 21-year-old Christopher Mercier, who is charged with one count of assault.
They might aim to convict him under hate crime legislation, like what’s being done in a similar assault case. We’ll see if it sticks, I guess.
