Gay victim bravely condemns Atlanta attackers as “monsters”
Brandon White courageously came forward today at a press conference to address an assault that had been videotaped by alleged gang members and posted on the internet.
White was attacked as he left an Atlanta, Georgia store by three men. A fourth waited to videotape the incident. They repeated yelled “No faggots in Jack City” while punching and kicking the victim. The video was seen nearly a million times on World Star Hip Hop, and police reported that The Smoking Gun was first to alert them to the violent incident.
Brandon White told reporters at today’s press conference that he had been to the store numerous times before, but he did not know any of the men who attacked him. He added that he did not feel that it was exclusively about gay people, it was also about the area itself which needed help. He said many other crimes had taken place on that block that have gone unaddressed.
“I shouldn’t have to worry about whether I have to look over my shoulder, or ‘Is this person going to attack me?’ or ‘That person going to attack me?’ for just being a gay male.
“I feel as though I should have justice because those guys didn’t feel my pain. They didn’t care whether or not I was injured. I could have died that day. Anyone could have died that day. They don’t know what they do to people. They are monsters.
White said he is someone who keeps to himself and he had intended on dealing with the assault without reporting it, but after the assailants put the video online, he felt he had to step forward rather than “bottle it up”:
“By them going ahead, and wanting to release it and put it on the internet, I feel that they wanted the attention themselves. They wanted to make themselves look like they were brave, they were strong… but in my opinion, I’m the brave one. I dealt with it…. and I’m still dealing with it.”
White said the “scars run deeper than anyone will know,” and he did not know whether his attackers would come after him again, or even try to kill him, for speaking up. He responded to questions after his speech, saying he has not returned to the area and does not want to have to face it again. He added that he was not aware that videos had been recorded at the time of the incident.
This earlier report showed as many as eight men involved in the planning of the attack:
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