A 48-year-old construction worker was allegedly beaten in Manhattan Saturday and called the n-word repeatedly, and the attackers have since been arraigned.
Court documents state the incident occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 9 when Darrick Brown asked two club-goers to leave a Hell’s Kitchen construction site, which they attempted to cut through after leaving a local venue.
“What are you going to do about it n—er?” prosecutors say one of the men shouted during the 3:30 a.m. attack along with, “We’re out here partying and you’re out here working like a n—er.”
Brown had told Klevis Vulaj, 25, and Veton Balidemaj, 23, who are both white, to walk on the other side of the street because construction workers had been pouring concrete, police said.
However, the men refused. One of the men tried to give Brown a hug and walk around him, but the worker resisted the move. Vulaj tackled Brown to the ground after shoving and punching him in the head and body before Balidemaj started kicking the victim several times, according to authorities.
Brown’s right eye socket was fractured, according to the court filing, and he also suffered severe cuts on his head. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai St. Luke’s, where he was treated for his injuries.
Meanwhile, Balidemaj and Vulaj were arrested and charged with felony assault as a hate crime. The men were indicted in Manhattan Criminal Court Saturday night with bond for Balidemaj being set at $7,000 and Vulaj’s bail set at $3,000.
The alleged attackers are due to return to court Thursday, Feb. 14.
