Gay Pastor Attacked At Piedmont Park

[ccharles000]

ATLANTA -- Six people are facing charges after a gay pastor and his partner were attacked at gunpoint while picnicking at Piedmont Park.

Joshua Noblitt, a pastor at St. Mark's Methodist United Church in Atlanta, told CBS Atlanta that he and his partner were enjoying an evening at the park last Friday just before 10 p.m. when a group of young men approached them.

"They walked up to us and asked 'are y'all gay? We ought to beat y'all for that'" said Noblitt.

Noblitt said that the youths walked off, but returned with a stick and demanded money.

The pastor said that he grabbed the stick from one of the attackers and a fight ensued. The young men then used a cell phone to make a call, and up to 10 others arrived and attacked Noblitt and his partner.

"They came out of nowhere," said Noblitt.

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/24161143/detail.html#

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[KonaKane]

4. Hit a nerve, didn't I.

[Change has come]

6. You sure did.

[noamnety]

3. what an inappropriate response.

I'm saddened and disgusted that the first reply to a thread about a victim of gay bashing is one implying that gays and allies are bigots.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[noamnety]

7. broadbrush attack against atheists and gay allies. (nt)

[KonaKane]

9. Attack? Hardly. I'm waiting to see the response.

So far, nothing.

[Change has come]

10. You're not fooling anybody.

[KonaKane]

12. So far....crickets......

Come on you guys, there has been a hate attack. Where are you all??

[Change has come]

16. Banned??

where is that stick in the eye smilie??

:dilemma:

[jgraz]

34. So you posted an asinine response hoping to generate a flame war

Don't we have a word for that? I think it starts with a 'T'. :shrug:

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

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[unapatriciated]

39. they were attacked because they were gay.

You use the fact that they were pastors to attack others in hopes to bait those you disagree with
That is just sad..

[KonaKane]

40. The lack of so many voices proves me sadly correct.

And that is, that all bets or off if the victim is a person of faith.

That is hideous beyond belief.

[unapatriciated]

42. I count quite a few including mine.

your deleted post insults me to the core.

[EFerrari]

22. No kidding. Man, that was so dangerous.

Thank goodness no one got shot.

[KonaKane]

24. Bigots usually target those who are at a disadvantage

like unarmed, or otherwise constrained from fighting back. They are the worst of cowards. Scum all the way.

[DURHAM D]

13. Well I am agnostic - does that count?

Your atheist vs. gay believers is just ignorant.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[noamnety]

17. It's possible people aren't not responding

because they are disgusted with what you've turned this thread into - baiting people, and trying to "keep score" on the responses.

[KonaKane]

20. I'm encouraging responses. Such attacks are an outrage,

But, where is the support?

[WillParkinson]

18. Wow. You're being very rude.

I'm an atheist. I don't think that anyone should be attacked because of their belief. I disagree with it, but do not wish physical violence upon anyone. I don't know any atheist or gay person who does.

[KonaKane]

19. I wish more were showing up to share your view.

I really do.

[donheld]

21. I share that view

I am an agnostic.

[KonaKane]

23. Awesome. Lets get some more in here.

[SocialistLez]

33. Atheist lesbian here against hate crimes

I may disagree vehemently with someone but I will not resort to physical violence.

[KonaKane]

41. Thank you for stepping up.

I'd like to see more like you.

[Jenny_92808]

8. They should be charged with a hate crime...

Throw the book at them! Hate crimes and their other criminal actions should be prosicuted to the full extent of the law, imo. I see that a police report said they were also responsible for an armed robbery earlier that evening. What great guys <sarcasm>

[KonaKane]

11. I agree!

This is a disgusting attack on several levels.

[KonaKane]

15. Keeping this kicked!

rec'd too!

[KonaKane]

25. Come on don't let this drop like a rock.

Where is the outrage?

[Change has come]

26. Banned??

Silenced??

Not taking your bait?

You are not fooling anybody.

[unapatriciated]

35. agree..

why would anyone use this story to bait others into a flame war?
I also am agnostic, a hate crime is a hate crime no matter what the victim beliefs are.

[David__77]

27. This gang of attackers is unconsciously fascist and should have been treated as such.

I mean that brownshirts deserve nothing but defeat and being driven from the public arena by the means necessary.

[political_Dem]

28. That's horrible news.

You'd think that this country would be civilized enough that it's citizens would respect each other no matter our differences. However, hate crimes like this show how far as a nation we have to go. :(

It's sad how far the RW will go to ruin this country.

This is an utter shame.

[Withywindle]

29. WWJB?

Who would Jesus beat?

I am so fucking tired of justifications for oppression.

It is never okay to attack people of color.

It is never okay to attack GLBT people.

It is never okay to attack women.

It is never okey to attack ANYONE who is just going about their lives.

It is never okay to make excuses for any of the above. Any questions?

[xchrom]

30. Recommend

[Dinger]

31. K & R

So sad. What is with people? Sickening.

[HillWilliam]

32. K&R n/t

[onehandle]

36. The Piedmont Park area is in the most gay friendly area of Georgia.

However, I would not be there at 10 p.m. at night unless there was a concert or festival of some sort. The handgun doesn't surprise me. The conservatives in Georgia are making it easier and easier to get guns here.

Piedmont Park had a bad reputation for gay bashing decades ago. Maybe they arrived in a time machine.

[KonaKane]

37. Obviously that doesn't mean much.