An Oklahoma donut store that was firebombed for hosting a drag event has celebrated with the community that stood by it as the man who attacked it was jailed for five years.
The Donut Hole in Tulsa threw open its doors and handed out 700 free donuts on Saturday as neo-Nazi Coby Dale Green was convicted in a federal court for the hate crime in October last year.
He is thought to have been responsible for smashing the store’s windows days after hundreds came to an exhibition of LGBT art at the popular hang-out.
But he was convicted for another attack days later when he battered the door down with a baseball bat before hurling in a flaming Molotov cocktail.
‘Today is about giving out donuts to the community and making it clear that we’re here and we’re everywhere,’ said drag performer Josie Lee Turrelle.
Sasha Turrelle and Josie Lee Turrelle were among those handing out the treats on Saturday after Green was sentenced to five years by a Federal Court
A security camera at the Tucson store caught the moment Green hurled his Molotov cocktail through the door he had shattered seconds earlier
Investigators found notes and flyers pinned to the door after the attacks which left staff and customers in fear for their lives.
One was a reference to ‘Ecclesiastes 3 1-8 KJV’, while another read ‘The only virus is LGBT’ and showed a man holding another by the throat.
A third pledged war against ‘LGBT groomers’ with a picture of a person being choked by a Pride flag-emblazoned bandana.
‘When everything happened, it was scary, and I didn’t do drag for three months because I was too scared to go out and do anything, because I didn’t want to be harmed,’ said Lee Turrelle.
‘I’m just trying to do my job and make people happy.’
Store owners Sarah Swain and Brian Hunter pledged not to be intimidated after the first attack and a GoFundMe was created which raised more than $24,000.
‘Despite one’s attempt to rain on our parade, the community answered by showing overwhelming support,’ they wrote on Facebook.
‘These malicious acts have resulted in thousands of dollars going towards the cause this entire event was meant to support. Love wins.’
But the community was rocked when the first attack was followed by a second.
‘My art installation was the catalyst for these horrible acts,’ said exhibition organizer Daniel Gulick.
‘I know I’m not responsible, but I can’t help but take some of the blame for these things. It’s a terrible feeling.’
Graphic security footage caught both attacks and as investigators closed in they found Green had posted about the attack on social media with a call to arms for neo-Nazis.
‘OK, it’s officially time to shine our boots and put on our armbands boys, this filth has got to go,’ he wrote.
But it was Green who had to go last week as he was jailed for malicious use of explosive materials.
‘I feel like it backfired on him, you know,’ drag performer Sasha Turrelle said.
Coby Dale Green celebrated his attack, writing ‘it’s officially time to shine our boots and put on our armbands boys, this filth has got to go’
The owners of The Donut Hole are pictured Sarah Swain and Brian Hunter
Investigators retrieved the Molotov cocktail in the aftermath of the attack
‘I don’t think he was expecting for the community to come together and stand together and rebuild and fix the donut shop and get everything up and running again.’
‘It saddens my heart,’ said customer Johanna Merrill, ‘but they came back and they came back full-force, so it opens my heart as well.
‘We’re here, and we’re everywhere,’ Lee Turrelle added.
‘I mean, we’re doctors and we’re lawyers, and we’re teachers, and mothers, parents, I mean grandparents, and we’re also donut slingers.’
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