town halls

Can Atlanta’s Police Department Really Promise to Keep the Gays Safe?

Atlanta’s Mayor Kasim Reed hosted a town hall for the city’s LGBT community in an attempt to reassure them the police have their backs. This is the same guy who complained about people suing over the Atanta Eagle raid because it was a “financial threat” to the city.

After saying he’d hire a second LGBT police liaison, Patricia Powell, to heal relations between Atlanta’s queers and the cops, Reed told last night’s audience, “We are not going to tolerate people putting you in harm’s way. We can’t send out a message that we will tolerate anybody putting a gun to your chest. We are smart enough to protect communities and keep them safe.”

Joining Reed on stage was Police Chief George Turner and gay city councilman Alex Wan, who called for the forum after the latest round of attacks when, on July 2, a gay picnicking couple was assaulted in a park by teens whom have since been arrested.

So did the open forum accomplish anything?

When asked that question, the Rev. Joshua Noblitt of Saint Mark United Methodist Church (pictured, right), who was attacked with his boyfriend, responded with laughter.

[AJC]

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