The West Hollywood couple at the center of a confrontation with a right-wing social media provocateur on Santa Monica Boulevard last week has launched a fundraising campaign to cover legal fees after one husband was arrested and charged with felony vandalism following the April 16 incident.
Anthony Vulin and David Miller-Robinson, who were approached while walking home with their newborn baby, are asking the community for support as David faces a legal process that the couple says stems from a hostile and discriminatory encounter.
In a statement accompanying the campaign, the couple described the toll the incident has taken on their family.
“Our family is currently navigating an unexpected and deeply difficult legal situation that arose after a hostile and discriminatory encounter during a routine nightly walk in our West Hollywood neighborhood,” they wrote. “As a gay couple with our newborn baby, we were targeted in a way that was deeply upsetting and destabilizing for our family.”
“My husband and I have fought incredibly hard to build the life we have today and to welcome our baby into it,” they continued. “Which makes this moment especially painful and overwhelming.”
The couple described David as a devoted parent and said their focus right now is on keeping their family stable and together. “We’re asking for help to cover legal fees and related expenses so that he can have fair representation during this time,” they wrote.
David Miller-Robinson was booked on a misdemeanor and felony vandalism following the incident. Booking records list the felony charge as vandalism with loss valued equal to or greater than $400. The couple disputes the charge and says video evidence shows no camera was touched during the confrontation.
Anthony Vulin, a realtor and member of West Hollywood’s Business License Commission, and Miller-Robinson have retained legal counsel and say they will vigorously defend themselves.
“Raising awareness and showing up as a community matters deeply to us right now,” the couple wrote. “Thank you for being here for our family.”
the problem for anthony vulin is he couldnt control his feelings – and it could cost him alot in civil court – if i started punching everyone i disagreed with – half of weho would be missing teeth
you cant just punch people in the face because you dont like what they said – its crazy to think thats ok – freedom of speech trumps your feelings
It’s already up to 56k… good for them hope it helps. Sadly it’s easy for these guys to come here… get us mad trying to get a response… and we get in trouble. If it was the other way around, cops and the legal system in red states would probably be reversed and arrest us for starting it.
West Hollywood City Council should press for the charges to be dismissed. I would consider MAGA’s actions insighting the violence and racism
Just because someone says something to you that you find offensive, you can’t just haul off and slug them. We’re not animals. Can you imagine if everybody was allowed to punch somebody in the face because they found something, the other person said was offensive? Adult should know enough to just walk away. I don’t like at all what the guy said to the couple, but if the gay guy had punched the guy and he fell backwards and hit his head on the concrete and died, he would’ve been in a lot worse predicament. He is now a father… Read more »
I think it is counterproductive. If WeHo does that, then the DA will have to keep the charges, it looks like favoritism. I think, at best, right now, a diversion with anger management classes is what is fair.
Lets see if charges are even filed…
David spent 12 hours in custody; there is a good chance the DA will
see that as sufficient. They might have a hard time getting a jury to convict.
More evil Trump supporters terrorizing our community.
This family was ambushed in their hometown by carpetbagger con men. It was on this very site that we were warned about this type of right wing MAGA assault on our home turf. Our instincts tell us to protect and defend; the laws and the disgusting MAGA offensers want us/expect us/will not stop until we are guilty/booked/jailed/paying them. We must not fall for this. We must cross the street. We must not fall of the bait.
What does MAGA have to do with this?
The MAGA guy calls himself a MAGA patriot…
Man, learn to read.
Where in this article does the provocateur identify himself as MAGA? The author calls him that, but why?
https://link.me/ryley.niemi
That goof is a psychopath. Check his affect in the video. I’ve seen that behavior before.
Unfortunately, there are wackos in every group.
I rarely wade into the comments as I consider this the readers’ space, not ours. In this case, I think it’s important to make it clear, Ryley Niemi identifies as a proud red hatter. In his own words: “My MAGA Hat made the Liberals Mad on Campus.” There are youtube videos confirming this you can easily find. You just have to look. Here’s a link: https://link.me/ryley.niemi
These dads are my best friends and some of the kindest, most devoted parents I know.