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Killing of gay man in NYC triggers protests; officials to increase police presence

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Pedestrians pass a makeshift memorial for 32-year-old Mark Carson, Monday, May 20, 2013, in New York. Police said Elliot Morales yelled anti-gay slurs before shooting Carson point-blank in the face in Greenwich Village, a neighborhood long known as a bedrock of the gay rights movement. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (The Associated Press)

Pedestrians pass a makeshift memorial for 32-year-old Mark Carson, Monday, May 20, 2013, in New York. Police said Elliot Morales yelled anti-gay slurs before shooting Carson point-blank in the face in Greenwich Village, a neighborhood long known as a bedrock of the gay rights movement. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (The Associated Press)

People gather around a makeshift memorial for 32-year-old Mark Carson, Monday, May 20, 2013, in New York. Police said Elliot Morales yelled anti-gay slurs before shooting Carson point-blank in the face in Greenwich Village, a neighborhood long known as a bedrock of the gay rights movement. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (The Associated Press)

Thousands of people have converged on the New York City neighborhood where a gay man was killed after police say he was taunted with homophobic slurs.

The protesters Monday in Greenwich Village carried flags and signs, chanting "Homophobia's got to go!"

Christine Quinn, the city's first openly gay City Council speaker, marched along with Edie Windsor, whose pivotal case to win the same rights for gay couples as heterosexual couples is before the Supreme Court.

Mark Carson was killed Saturday as he walked with a companion. Elliot Morales is being held without bail in the 32-year-old Carson's death. He hasn't yet entered a plea.

Officials say police will increase their presence in the Village and in nearby neighborhoods through the end of June, Gay Pride Month.