One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Two U.S. Marines Accused Of Making Threats To Gay Bars On Facebook
Camp Pendleton (Photo via Facebook)
A pair of U.S. Marines are currently being investigated after allegedly posting a threat to gay bars online. The Marines in question are currently part of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), located at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, according to Marine Corps Times.
The post itself was found in the Camp MENdleton Resale Facebook group, which as one might guess, is a Facebook group for male Marines to "support each other, ask questions, have a laugh, let out some steam, and occasionally sell things to each other." Despite very clear rules listed in the page's description stating that no "hate speech" will be tolerated, someone thought it'd be cool to post a photo of a uniformed corporal holding a rifle with the text, "Coming to a gay bar near you!" The poster added the comment, "Too soon?" This threat is similar to recent post on San Diego's Craigslist that also threatened nearby gay bars, saying, "Orlando was long overdue."
The alleged threat (Photo via Facebook)
I MEF spokesperson 1st Lt. Thomas Gray told the Marine Corps Times that they've been able to track down both the corporal in the photo as well as the poster.
"We cannot discuss details of an ongoing investigation, but I can tell you the command is taking this incident seriously," Gray said.
I MEF also released the following statement:
The Marine Corps does not tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender or religion. This type of behavior and mindset will not be allowed, and it is not consistent with the core values of honor, courage and commitment that are demonstrated by the vast majority of Marines on a daily basis.
Sponsored message
The post seems like it's probably a tasteless, juvenile 'joke' from a couple of self-professed edgelords who likely going around saying everything is "too P.C." these days. But, maybe, just maybe, if you're a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, you shouldn't make disgusting posts aligning yourself with a guy who murdered 49 people and, regardless of his actual motive, professed his allegiance to ISIS.
Imran Yousuf, 24, is a U.S. Marine who served in Afghanistan and worked as a bouncer at the Pulse in Orlando. When he heard the gunfire on the night of the shooting, his training allowed him to recognize the noise as an AR-15. He told CBS News, "The initial one was three or four [shots]. That was a shock. Three or four shots go off and you could tell it was a high caliber."
He said everyone froze and crammed into a hallway. He knew that just beyond where everyone had crowded was a locked door that, if unlatched, would allow them to flee.
"Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open the latch, and we got everyone that we [could] out of there."
Yousuf's quick thinking allowed about 60 to 70 people to run for safety.
[h/t Jezebel]
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
