Devin Barrington-Ward, You and CHANGE Alt need to shut the F*CK UP!

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Change Atlanta organizer apologizes for 'appearing' to turn back on Brandon White

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.

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.
"I realize whether or not he knew the attackers, a crime occurred. I want full accountability [from the suspects] so we can get to a healing stage," he added.

Ward said he was now having his “man up” moment to rebuild trust. He said he hopes a forum will be held soon with representatives of the FBI to discuss what exactly constitutes a hate crime.

"This happened in an impoverished community where these teenagers [alleged attackers] had no jobs, were not in school. We now have four young men under 20 whose lives have been dramatically effected, specifically by the actions of three who did it to the one,” Ward said. “What happened was unwarranted regardless of any prior relationships.”…Via 

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the assault. Seventeen-year-old Darael Damare Williams surrendered to Pennsylvania authorities on Thursday. Williams is awaiting extradition. Moragne surrendered on Feb. 25. Eighteen-year-old Christopher Cain was arrested on February 11. All face charges of aggravated assault and robbery.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta and Federal Bureau of Investigation have joined the case. The suspects may face federal hate crimes charges because Georgia is one of only five states without a hate crimes law.

Can you believe this ish here: CBS Atlanta is currently taking a poll of its viewers asking if they think Brandon White knew the gang members who brutally attacked him Feb. 4 and uploaded a video of it on a hip hop website. In the video, the attackers repeatedly call White "faggot."
The yes-no poll question is: "Do Think Atlanta Gay Beating Victim Brandon White Is Telling The Truth About His Relationship With The Suspects?"
108 people have voted and it appears 51.85 percent (or 56 votes) say "yes" while 48.15 percent (52 votes) say "no."
The poll is part of the station's broadcast of a segment in which gay members of Change Atlanta and other activists questioned whether White is telling the truth or not about knowing his attackers. Man this is some BULL!

Hey Devin 21 is very young to be an HEAD of an activist group and while I’ll commend you for your Bravery to attempt to lead an organization (that isn’t really one presently) You don’t promote the group via jumping on CBS Atlanta to defend him then let some idiot tell you a bunch of lies and then you turn your back on him and also to sit with one of the lawyers of the alleged attackers and his mother as if all is well with the accused and Brandon is now the culprit. No you don’t EVER do that!

First off you need to serve in a Advocacy/Civil Rights group (NAACP, HRC,GLAAD,PFLAG) to see how it’s run so you can learn how to be an activist, advocate. Learn how to fundraise so you can present the group in a much more legitimate fashion. But this introduction you have given is straight up Bullshit. Even with an apology who in the hell right now is going t reach out to CHANGE ATLANTA for support or give a donation?

This issue needs some immediate healing and QUICK. You guys did Brandon wrong!