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Attack

Hello everyone,

This evening I had the unfortunate pleasure to be attacked by someone I don't even know. I was walking between the shopping centres Akropolis and Ozas. I was walking on the main road and not in a residential area. As I approached Ozas, I saw a group of eight young people preparing to cross the road to go over to Ozas. One of them ran across first and I didn't think anything of it. I figured he was just showing off for his friends. I turned away and continued toward Ozas. When suddenly this young boy (around maybe age 14 or 15) runs up on my left hand side. He swings his right arm hard right into my nose. Immediately I started bleeding as if someone had taken a lead pipe to my nose. I was in no condition to retaliate. Also is the fact there were eight of them. I was a afraid if I did anything that his friends would join in. Fortunately, the others got him away from me. Then they returned without the idiot. They apologized many times and took me over to Ozas and helped me clean up in the bathroom. I saw a mask of blood on my face when I walked in. I have never bled that much in my life. I am just lucky that my nose was not broken. It doesn't hurt now and my breathing is normal. There is still some blood coming down from the bridge of the nose where he hit me. I have already had one attempted assault take place here in Vilnius this year. That one took place right in the heart of the Old Town. Again it was by an underage boy. He threatened me in Lithuanian with pepper spray if I didn't give him my money and cell phone. I told him to F off and fortunately since I did it in English, I think I suprised him. He pretended it was all a joke and took off running. At least he tried to run. Clearly he was completely drunk and this was in the early afternoon. The assault today took place before 7pm. The young punk today was also drunk according to his friends. What is Lithuania becoming when children get drunk and go out on the streets to attack people? I lived most of my life in San Diego. The population of San Diego is more than twice all of Vilnius. I was never attacked once. I lived two years in Los Angeles. That city has the same number of people as all of Lithuania. I was never attacked there. It makes me wonder about life here. I do love this city and this country. It would just be nice to feel safe when walking the streets.

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Permalink Reply by Wyman Brent on March 17, 2011 at 3:01am

Hello Marina and Maryte and everyone else.

I am deeply saddened that the Lithuanian government again this year gave approval for a march of neo-Nazis and skinheads through the heart of the city of Vilnius.

I look forward to the day when the Lithuanian government no longer supports neo-Nazi parades. The Gay Pride parade was allowed to take place in an area which most tourists never see. Hundreds of police were on hand to protect the peaceful marchers from the violence which would have been committed by the large number of average Lithuanian citizens.

The government almost did not allow the peaceful Gay Pride parade to take place. Even though the parade would take place where tourists do not visit. Yet there was no question about allowing a group of neo-Nazis and skinheads to march right through the heart of the tourist area. Think of the fact that the rally started in front of the Catholic Cathedral. Think of the fact that the rally ended in front of the poorly named Museum of Genocide. The museum does not even mention the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Jews which took place on Lithuanian soil.

Thousands turned out to show their hatred of gays. Yet only 5 protestors turned up to demonstrate against the neo-Nazis and skinheads. Lithuania needs to turn its back on hate.

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Permalink Reply by Maryte Gureckas on March 17, 2011 at 5:55am

Saddens me to hear this. As to Gay Pride, the mentality is not open yet. I experienced this first-hand while in Lietuva and had to keep my mouth shout so as not to stir things up while visiting relatives and others. In regards to the Neo Nazis marching again, I'll look to internet for an article on it (unless you have an url with coverage readily available) so that I can post on FB and raise a bit of awareness there. Truly terrible. I'm disappointed.

Attack

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