SF district attorney withdraws charges against defendant in attack on Asian man

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin withdrew charges on Monday against one of two suspects in a disturbing attack on an Asian man in San Francisco’s Bayview that was captured on video and prompted outrage from city leaders, officials said.

The district attorney’s office will pursue a “restorative justice” model against 20-year-old Dwayne Grayson, who was booked last week on suspicion of robbery, elder abuse, a hate crime charge and probation violation following the Feb. 22 incident.

Police said Grayson recorded the attack and posted it to social media.

Boudin charged him with elder abuse last week, but pulled back the charges after having a conversation with the victim, said Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office. The victim has not been identified or spoken publicly about the incident.

“We’ve been in conversation with the victim who expressed interest in a restorative justice outcome in this case,” Bastian said. “Specifically, against the young person who videoed the incident. We respect victims and their desires, and we will explore a restorative justice outcome.”

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GOP Arkansas Governor Vetoes Bill Which Bans Gender Transition Procedures For Minors

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) on Monday vetoed HB 1570, which bans gender transition procedures for minors.

“The GOP-sponsored legislation prohibits health care providers from administering gender transition treatments, which can include surgery and hormone therapy, to people under 18.” – the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported.

Governor Hutchinson called the bill a “vast government overreach.” and referred to it as a “product of the cultural war in America.”

“While in some instances the state must act to protect life, the state should not presume to jump into the middle of every medical, human, and ethical issue,” he said.

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