The community is rallying together to prevent further violence after last week’s hate crime attack of two gay men in Northeast Dallas.
United Black Ellument, DFW Pride Movement and Resource Center Dallas will host a meeting at 7 p.m. today that will focus on “a community response to violence in the African-American community and the protection needed to prevent attacks,” DFW Pride Movement Executive Director Derrick Spillman wrote in an email.
Those in attendance will hear from speakers from the Urban League of Greater Dallas Young Professionals, Living Faith Covenant Church, NAACP and the Dallas Police Department.
With the hate crime March 13 involving two black gay men who were beaten with baseball bats until they lost consciousness, Spillman wrote in the email that there is an urgency of various community leaders to address the protection of youth.
“With the recent acts of violence happening to young Black men in Dallas and across the country, no time is more important to hear the voices of a population at an increased risk, young Black gay/bi/SGL men,” Spillman wrote.
The meeting will be at the United Black Ellument Office, 3116 Commerce St., Suite C, Dallas.
Sr. Cpl. Laura Martin, LGBT liaison officer for the Dallas Police Department, said police are still looking for possible suspects, described as five black men in their early 20s believed to be driving a dark four-door car with 24-inch rims the night of the assault.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact Dallas police Detective Chris Anderson at 214-671-3616.
