A mob of around 200 people threatened to murder 3 gay men who became trapped in a chemist on Valentine’s day. The incident started with a woman shouting abuse at the men, who took refuge in the chemist. Outside, the mob began to gather and chant anti-gay taunts. During the incident the leader of the Jamaican Gay rights organization J-FLAG, who was also in the shop, contacted Human Rights Watch in New York who were able to engineer the mobilization of the local police. During the rescue attempt, which involved the use of tear gas, the 4 men were then abused and assaulted by the police. None of the lynch mob were arrested. Under Jamaican law a man can be imprisoned for up to 9 years if caught in a ‘compromising position with another man’.