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At around 5:40 p.m., the young couple from Texas was approached by two suspects who made derogatory comments about their sexual orientation and punched the victims, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
The suspects, who approached the couple near the Shaw metro station, allegedly accused the couple of spreading monkeypox, FOX5DC reported.
Soon after the attack, a witness called the police and two girls that were with the suspects broke from the group and apologized to the victims, officials said.
"We must call out the people in our circles if they promote hateful or ignorant ideology, especially right now when people are using public health to stigmatize and discriminate against members of the LGBTQ+ community."
Mayor Muriel Bowser released a statement expressing her sympathy for the victims and other members of the D.C. LGBTQ+ community who may have dealt with similar situations.
The suspects were described as black males; the man who hit one of the victims was also described as having a small bandage on his face, and wearing a black shirt with black jeans, FOX5DC said.
Click here for the full story from FOX5DC.
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