Brandon White, 20, was apparently targeted because of his clothing and a group of men assaulted him without provocation, yelling gay slurs throughout the attack.
[READ: Man Assaulted For Wearing Skinny Jeans – Hate Crime Investigation Underway – VIDEO]
White bravely came forward to address the beating he suffered, which became a viral video after being recorded by the gang of thugs.
“I don’t bother anyone. I felt that if a straight person could walk to the store and not have a problem, I should be able to do the same thing.”
White initially planned to keep silent about the attack but decided to speak out after video of the attack went viral, explaining he doesn’t want his attackers to get the last word. [*Amen!*]
Details + video of White’s press conference below…
VIDEO: Brandon White Press Conference Atlanta
The courageous 20 year old victim spoke this afternoon at a 1 p.m. news conference, where he called for justice.
“In my opinion, I’m the brave one,” he said.
White said he has been coping with the help of his family members and his therapist.
“The scars run deeper than anyone will know,” White said.
He encouraged other people who have gone through similar situations to speak out.
“Say something. Speak to someone. Don’t hide it. You shouldn’t have to. This is 2012.” White said.
White and other residents of the Pittsburgh neighborhood say that the area surrounding the store on McDaniel Street is a known haven for crime.
They are now calling for action. Earlier in the day, a group of residents gathered at a church across the street, calling for the store to close.
“I want to see something done. I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I went through,” White said.
WSBTV obtained the surveillance video from the store, which shows White walking inside the JVC Grocery and Deli, accompanied by another man in an orange shirt. When they exited the store, White was attacked by members of the Pittsburgh Jack City Gang on Saturday.
The FBI is investigating and may pursue the case as a federal hate crime because the men in the video are repeatedly shouting gay slurs at White.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has also announced that there is a $5,000 reward for anyone who aids in the arrests of the men involved.
If you have information about the incident, contact Atlanta’s Zone 3 police dept. at 404-624-0674 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.
Bravo Brandon White! One thing I know for sure my friend is that you coming forward shows your strength in a tough situation. I applaud your courage and pray that you recover physically and mentally from this senseless attack.
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Life w/o parole
Kudos Brandon
Get a job to much time on their hands
I applaud him … (sidenote: imma need him to spit his gum out)
Very Tragic, many have posted this video in protest and outrage”’ as to what happened to this young man…
Welp, with the 5,00 award it won’t be long before their own mothers turn them in. They’ll need it since I would sue for everything including their TANF benefits.
I am so proud of Mr. Brandon White for his intestinal fortitude and courage. He did not deserve to be beaten and humiliated like that. NO ONE should be beaten and humiliated for their sexual orientation.
THIS, THAT AND THE THIRD…. they need to be caught and jailed and let them thugs in there beat that azz like they did this kid. Scary azz marks! Jumpin him like that just because of his preference outta pkt st8 up!!!!!!!!!!!
Very good Brandon standing up for your rights encourages others to do the same.
I agree ^^^^ they were cowards in this situation ambushing that poor kid like they did. I applaud Mr. White for standing up for justice and I hope these creeps get the beat down in a federal jail cell for that hate crime!
I’m happy Brandon came forward with his story & we blacks folks have to do better amongst ourselves. we already have the deck stack against us, why must we hate, beat,& kill each other, it’s just sad. I hope he gets some justice.
Thank you Brandon for coming out because I knew a friend was rob and beat up coming out of a gay club in Atlanta. My friend is scare to speak up also.
That’s just the ¢han¢e u take, he’ll Be aight. People get Beat everyday, dats reality.
LOCK EM ALL UP! Its time to rid the streets of GARBAGE! THose botched abortions need to be dealt with accordingly! And if any of em are underage…get they’re mommmas too…for not finishing up the abortment they should have seen through! PIECE OF SHYTS! UGH!
Life in prison. Senseless violence prompted by a reckless mindset = tragedy. They should be promptly removed from society! I’d love to serve on the jury.
Caning or kill them
I was able to catch this press conference on HLN and was SO proud of this young man. KUDOS to him for speaking out, and coming forward! Hopefully those cowards will be caught, and the judge throws the book at them!
I saw this on the news. Thing is. They talked about that Tyler clemente dude for like 15 minutes then they gave this guy like 2 minutes of air time. I mean in one case some dude kills himself and in another case the dude is assaulted in broad daylight and its videotaped. Racism much?
God bless Brandon what is wrong with people these days???? We must do better as in not standing there taping but helping smh.
…Nothing like the lashing he is going to get from the Almighty. It is 2012, a time for awakening. Stop accepting everything the enemy puts in front of you!
Can someone please transcribe his words so that I can understand them? Huffingtonpost.com just censored me for saying that I couldn’t understand his dialect, which I can’t. This is not a spritzo. I am not from the lower 48 and although I do speak English as my first language, I have never heard a dialect like his before, and cannot make out a word he’s saying. Can someone please transcribe?
Dose r sum ducks mechanism ills is ghetto I lived Iva dere and someone stolen my car at ge tower apt 2yr ago not say. N it was the jack city gang but dam den if u gay u need to always stay with macs r a sharp object on u r take karate classes but I hope the store be out of biz soon and I hope Brandon can get them pig ass niggas I hope they get that bitch owner also shut that bitch down
What they did to this young man should never, ever be tolerated in our society. There are some people who simply DO NOT deserve the privilege of freedom. The clowns who perpetrated this atrocity WILL be apprehended.
And when they are apprehended, we’ll see how gangsta’ they really are. I’m sure their mommas will say what fine young men they are; but their actions beg to differ.
As an established gay black male in Atlanta, GA…it hurts my heart to see one of my own kind treated in such an inhumane manner. This violence must Stop Atlanta,…Black people.
What sickens me even the more, is the deeper issue. Black people in that part of town do not care for each other. It’s a shame you can get beat like DOG in broad day light and no one jump in and help!
What ever happened to sense of community? What happened to standing up to what is right. I see it all the time, young men just acting like STANK FOOLS and the adult and elderly Men especially say nothing, do nothing and act like they don’t see foolishness going on. I remember a day when respect for other and elders was a known thing. I’m calling the people of that neighborhood to stand up or GET OUT. If you are not going to stand up and speak out for what is right and start CHECKING these fools walking and rolling down your streets, LEAVE! You get out! Let them have it because its better to let them reek havoc than to have you sit there idle like a quiet puppy and DO and SAY NOTHING PEOPLE!
Had I been there,…I can’t say in such a public place what I would have done without incriminating myself.
Brandon White, if you are out there and read this, hit me up young man. You sound like you need a big brother in your life – I’m here for you young sir, for counsel, guidance, monetary help, advice what ever you need. As Black people we need to stick together, as GAY/BI black people we need to strengthen that stick-togetherness.
God must have had a plan for you to get in the national Spot light to uproot you out of that situation and area for a reason. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. I believe that what the Devil in people meant for evil, God intended and purposed-Good to come out of it. Evil people never win, they always loose and these young men will suffer, if not now, at some point. Vengeance is the Lords, but sometimes things like this makes me want to kick a NI##AS ASS!
Signed,
A Mad Gay Black man
City of Atlanta
So let me get this straight.. These animals beat up this young man because his jeans actually fit, meanwhile I’m sure these idiots are the same ones rocking jeans with their booty hanging out. SMH! JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL!
CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS, I FEEL LIKE THESE MEN DIDN’T TREAT THIS YOUNG MAN NO BETTER THEN WE AS BLACK PEOPLE WAS TREATED OVER DECADES AGO FOR US BEING A DIFFERENT COLOR AND RACE… I’m very disgusted at the video and they parents that raise them men should be ashamed to claim them as a child.
And we blacks wonder why we can’t get any respect? Not only do we allow this behavior, we actually enable and condone it.
Time to be strong, and I’m talking about the strong that says when something is wrong.
Just disgusting!!
Agree with @Jeffrey- its the chance you take, people get beat every day, its the reality.
Why is it that we don’t speak up and get outraged when our elderly are beaten up by the thugs or when our women are raped or little kids are forced into gangs? Some of you guys act like you never heard of violence until it started happening to gay folk. I know some of you have clicked on Worldstar HipHop and seen street beatings and fights.
This dude got jacked in the hood and I’m sure dozens of others got beat up that very same day.
Next time he will think twice about wearing women’s pants.
Oh and $5000 is not enough reward. Those gang members probably can make $5000 in a single night’s robbery.
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