Global Black Pride faces horrific vandalism including feces smeared on a Pride flag
Organizers say a Global Black Pride conference in Atlanta was vandalized overnight Tuesday, with vendor tables in a banquet room overturned, products and educational materials strewn, and human feces smeared on a Pride flag.
The attack occurred on the first day of the weeklong celebration at the Starling Atlanta Midtown, host hotel for the event.
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Anti-LGBTQ+ student thought he’d get away with urinating on a family’s Pride flag. He got busted.
After he finished, he flipped off the house and said, “F**k the gays.”
According to investigators, an “intoxicated guest of the hotel” is suspected of causing the damage, though no one has been identified.
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This year’s Global Black Pride conference is the first held in the U.S. and coincides with Atlanta Black Pride Weekend. The event, started in 2020, honors and celebrates Black and Brown LGBTIQ+ communities worldwide.
“It was just really devastating to have to come into the room and see, one, our things flipped over and ravaged,” Princess Jauan Durbin, the Youth Ambassador for Global Black Pride, told Atlanta First News.
“Words can’t describe” their feelings at the sight of the desecrated flag, Durbin said.
“A flag that represents the importance of our community and who we are,” they added.
Videos from organizers show tables flipped over, displays destroyed, and event memorabilia strewn across the floor.
“I’m just glad we were able to pick up the pieces, put things back in order, and handle what we need to handle,” said Global Black Pride panelist Toni Bryce, whose booth was ransacked.
Atlanta Black Pride Weekend expressed their support in a statement.
“We want to send our love and unwavering support to the Global Black Pride team, with whom we are honored to collaborate with for this year’s Atlanta Black Pride Weekend. Together, we will continue to uplift our community and ensure that all of our events provide a safe and welcoming environment for everyone,” a spokesperson said.
A guided prayer and meditation service was led by pastor and trans activist Rahkel Henry to inspire healing following the hateful attack, Gaye Magazine reported.
The Atlanta Police Department said their LGBTQ Liaison Unit is working with investigators on the case.
“We are not going to let this bring us down,” panelist Bryce said. “We’re going to have a good time regardless.”
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