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“First and foremost I would like to start off with an apology from deep down,” he said. “This attack did not only affect [White] but was also taken as an attack on the gay community.”
Moragne said he could change if given another chance.
“I truly believe that I can become a productive member of society. I am actively pursuing change in my life,” he said. “We made a mistake. I don’t hate nobody. I’ve got gay family.”And....
But Banks challenged Moragne on the sincerity of his apology and his refusal to admit that he’s a gang member. Moragne nearly derailed his plea agreement during a hearing in May when he balked at admitting to a felony count of solicitation of gang activity.
“I didn’t want to plead guilty to the gang member because I am not a gang member. I plead guilty because I didn’t want to take it to trial. I am not in no gang. I am not a Blood or Crip. I am from Florida,” Moragne said Thursday.
“This ain’t what y’all portraying it to be. This ain’t California. We don’t have a history of beating up gay people. All of this stuff you are putting on the media to say we beat gay people so you can pass a law,” he added.
Moragne continued by attempting to undercut the seriousness of the attack: “I barely hit him. I was wrong for hitting him but I didn’t hit him to the point of killing him. I was just being young and dumb.”Dorian the other men faces up to 75 years in prison if convicted
Banks retorted by asking Moragne if he threw a tire on White.
“Next question please,” Moragne retorted.
“Did you throw a tire on him?”
“Yes.”
Thanks to the mostly Republican legislature's redrawn House districts, Taylor has been pitted against fellow democrat Pat Gardner in the upcoming District 57 election. Gardner is straight, but has been supportive of LGBT issues over the years.I hope we get some answers soon.
Taylor told the GA Voice that, basically, he doesn't think Gardner is responsible for the flier, but that "there are only two people in the race," which suggests that he actually does think Gardner just might be behind it: "There are only two people in this race. I don't think Pat Gardner is behind it and I believe if she knew about it she would condemn it. But there are people supporting her perhaps working under the table." Taylor arranged a press conference about the flier before attempting to contact Gardner. And, incidentally, she already had an unrelated press conference scheduled today.
Gardner told the publication today the allegation that she's behind the flier "makes her want to cry." She also addressed an obvious-if-depressing possibility that Taylor released the flier to stir up controversy, saying, "I don't believe the flyer came from Rashad's camp. He has been a colleague and friend."
Dorian Moragne, 19, and Dareal Demare Williams, 18, pleaded guilty today in Fulton County Superior Court in the brutal assault Brandon White, a black gay man, on Feb. 4 in the Pittsburgh community. Sentencing hearing will be held in July and the men face up to 15 and 20 years on each count.I'm glad to see this go forward and Brandon, possibly getting some closure.
During the hearing today before Fulton Superior Court Judge Bedford Jackson, prosecutor J. Gabriel Banks said the assault was instigated by another suspect, Christopher Cain, who alleged that the victim, White, 20, made a sexual advance toward him. Another suspect, Javaris Williams, was also allegedly involved in the attack that was videotaped and uploaded to a hip hop website.
"If this case were to go to trial the court would prove that the victim was walking to 'The Pink Store' with a friend to get something to eat. They passed these defendants [Moragne and Williams] and the codefendants. At some point … Mr. Cain believed Mr. White made a sexual advance against him. Mr. white has firmly said no he did not,” Banks said.
“The sexual advance toward Cain led to Cain being offended. Cain got upset as Mr. White exited the store and struck him from behind. These two defendants [Moragne and Williams] began to hit stomp and kick Mr. White," Banks added. Moragne was also identified as the person who threw a tire on White as he was on the ground trying to shield himself from the constant blows.
“It is important to note that was all being videotaped as they all said, 'No faggots in Jack City,” Banks said. “Clearly in the state's view this is a hate crime.”
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Many in Atlanta's LGBT community are criticizing Change Atlanta on Facebook and various websites for the group’s apparent about-face in its support of Brandon White, the young gay man who was beaten in a filmed attack that went viral on the internet.Yes, you did make mistake and it was costly. Change Atlanta's rush to judgment could have frighten many LGBT victims to stay silent. They should have known better to hold two televised press conferences using assumptions and rumors.
Now one of the leaders of the fledgling group says he has “learned his lesson” in how he dealt with the incident, which he acknowledges included questioning whether White was lying about knowing the attackers, “cuddling up” with one of the suspect's defense attorneys on TV and not understanding that many in the LGBT community have been victims of anti-gay violence.
"Yes, we have gotten some flack. And I'm glad I'm learning this lesson at 21 rather and not at 41,” Devin Barrington-Ward said told the GA Voice in an interview Feb. 28. “My youth and immaturity played into this. I will always reflect back on this when I'm 60 or 70.”
Change Atlanta is not specifically an LGBT advocacy organization but has several gay leaders. Ward said he wants to take responsibility for his actions, and how he deals with his mistake will determine if he will be welcomed back into the larger LGBT community.
"This is a touchy subject in the LGBT community. Many people have told me they have been victims, their friends have been victims or their family members have been victims. I'm a young man and I made a mistake,” Ward said.
Gary Nichols said he and several other members of the community searched for White's attackers before they were arrested.Seriously? This claim is based on rumors. Can I say it again, RUMORS! The funny part about this story is how they talked to one of the attackers, taking his word over Brandon’s. And the big winning belief... The attack was not a hate crime; it was an act of revenge, so it’s okay. Free pizza for everybody!
Nichols said when they interviewed witnesses and those in the Pittsburgh community who know White and his alleged attackers, he found out new details about White's prior relationship with some of his attackers.
"I would tell the Atlanta community we were duped. We were all duped and it's a shame. It's a bitter shame," Nichols said.
Nichols said the attack was not a hate crime. The motivation was revenge.
"Brandon was agitating these young men about personally exposing them for being DL gay - on the down low possibly gay. The young men responded because they don't want their families to know," Nichols said.
Jackson said he spoke directly with one of the suspects, Dorian Moragne, who also confirmed that they knew White.
"He was very clear about being sure that Brandon White in fact knew the other attackers in question," Jackson said. Jackson and Nichols said the attack was centered around a video that's supposed to be on White's phone. The video of the attack shows one of the men grab White's phone.
"It's a video of somebody performing a sexual act with one or a few of these young men," Nichols said. "That's why the cell phone was a target. They didn't just beat him up because he was gay," Jackson said.
CHANGE ATLANTA activists claim this was not a hate crime—it was revennge. Activists claim that Brandon White knew his attackers and was not telling the truth when he said at a news conference that he did not. "We were all duped and it's a bitter shame," Gary Nichols told CBS Atlanta. "Brandon was basically agitating these young men about personally exposing them for being 'DL' … on the 'down low', possibly gay. He really knows who these guys are and I just feel like he absolutely lied to us."Regardless of this info, Brandon was still beaten.If he knew something or not, he did not deserved to be attacked. I hope there is more discussion about this issue.
Turner and the entire command staff of approximately 30 people underwent the one-hour classroom training in December, taught by LGBT liaison Officer Brian Sharp. Now Sharp and Senior Patrol Officer Patricia Powell, the other LGBT liaison for the department, are teaching the class to everyone else employed by the department; the trainings will continue through May.These trainings talk about the history of the gay rights movement, proper terms/word use and why the community may not trust the police. I think this is a great step in right direction.
Recruits will also receive the training and the class will be taught once a year to all employees as a way for the department to garner better understanding and build a relationship with Atlanta’s LGBT residents.
“I think the training is a great first step,” said Glen Paul Freedman, chair of the APD’s LGBT advisory group. “Before, this was not mandatory other than a class taught only to recruits about the LGBT liaison’s role.”
Officer Sharp, in past meetings with the LGBT advisory group, said the trainings are going well with APD employees.
