Lawrence LaDouceur can often be found on Avenue A, toting an American flag and bellowing at the top of his lungs about the importance of not mistreating “the sisters.” One night last month, LaDouceur himself was mistreated. A group of young punks, known as crusties, taunted and physically threatened him, chasing him down the street toward Sidewalk Cafe. There was physical contact, during which he knocked down a crusty. He ran away again, and another punk chased him, trying to burn his American flag with a cigarette lighter. LaDouceur bellowed, resisted and down went another punk. Police responded. Despite the efforts of photographer Bob Arihood to explain and show in photos that the crusties were the aggressors, the officers felt LaDouceur would be safer in Bellevue — where he dreads being taken.
thevillager.com
