As Community Rallies Against Anti-Gay Violence Atlanta Police Arrest One Suspect In Connection To Violent Gang Gay Bashing, Washington D.C. Police Arrest 55-Year-Old For Murder Of 23-Year-Old Transgender, Street Preacher Cleared Of Verbally Abusing Gay Couple, Ryan Phillippe To Star In Television Pilot

Atlanta Police arrested one of three suspects in the videotaped beating of a 20-year-old gay man in southwest Atlanta early Saturday, the same day the community held a rally to denounce rampant crime and violence. Christopher Cain was taken into custody without incident around midnight in the DeKalb County portion of the city, police said. He was charged with aggravated assault and robbery and transported to the Fulton County Jail. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, police say they now have identified all three men who allegedly took part in the beating of the man, kicking and punching him while shouting anti-gay invectives. Brandon White was attacked last Saturday in front of a corner market at 1029 McDaniel Street in the southwest Atlanta neighbourhood of Pittsburgh by men identified as members of the 1029 Jack City Gang. Video footage of the attack came to the attention of police and the FBI when it was posted online, and federal authorities are considering seeking federal hate crime charges against the suspects. At a rally Saturday, the community turned out in the bitter cold to show support for White and to show his attackers that they will not tolerate such crime and violence. U.S. Rep. John Lewis urged the crowd to continue speaking out against crime. “When you see something going wrong, you must do what you are doing today,” Lewis said, according to Channel 2 Action News. Those gathered also were urged to not let their call for change dissipate after the rally. “This is not a one day campaign. This is not a one week campaign. This is a lifetime campaign,” said city Councilwoman Cleta Winslow. The rally included members of the community and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Police have not released the names or suspected whereabouts of the two other alleged assailants, but a $15,000 reward is offered for information leading to their capture and prosecution. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta, 404-577-8477. Residents of the community said they are looking for answers to address violence and crime in Pittsburgh. Suggestions emerged at a Thursday public safety meeting. “I recommend a neighbourhood watch program with nightly patrols by the neighbourhood to reduce the level of required police patrols,” Nykieria Chaney said, adding that there should be “mandatory curfew for children and adolescents who are out without parent supervision.” Chaney’s third suggestion aimed to foster harmony with the neighbourhood and the gay and lesbian community. "Because this was specifically a hate crime, I do recommend that the churches and organizations in this area form an alliance that teaches the tolerance of race, religion and sexual orientation,” she said.

In Washington, D.C. on Friday Metropolitan Police arrested Gary Niles Montgomery for the murder of JaParker Jones, a transgender woman from district. Montgomery, 55, resides in Northeast. CBS DC reports that police say Montgomery stabbed Jones in the head while she waited at a bus stop in the 4900 block of East Capitol Street around 8:15 pm on February 2. Jones, 23, was taken to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries the following day. A motive for the stabbing is still unclear and police are unsure whether the murder was a hate crime. Authorities are continuing to investigate the killing. Police released surveillance video of a “person of interest” last week and asked the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.

In Britain, a Christian preacher accused of verbally abusing two gay men during a sermon has been cleared in court. Michael Overd, 47, of Creech St Michael, Somerset, was found not guilty of two counts of using threatening words or behaviour against the men, reports the BBC. His defence lawyer told jurors at Taunton Deane Magistrates' Court he was merely reciting a passage in the Bible. Overd was accused of telling the men they would "burn in hell" as they passed him in Taunton in July. He told the court he was drawing attention the fact they were "sinners" and not because they were homosexual. He said, "Even these two dear men whom I have met before, caught in the sin of homosexuality, can have the forgiveness of the sin should they so repent. I was not trying to draw to the public the fact that they were homosexuals; I was drawing the public to the fact that they were sinners. If I heard someone preaching the things I am accused of preaching I would talk to them about it." Speaking after the trial, Overd said "something is wrong" when "police arrest me, a Christian preacher who cares deeply for Jesus Christ and the people of Taunton. This is a case that should never have been brought. Christians like me are being harassed," he said. "Thankfully, the magistrates saw the truth of what happened and is happening on a wider scale in our country. Something has to change and I hope my case will encourage others not to be scared to speak up for Christ." His case was backed by the Christian Legal Centre, which hired a barrister to fight his case.

In his first pilot, Ryan Phillippe is set for the lead in CBS’ untitled Nick Wootton-Greg Berlanti drama pilot (formerly Golden Boy). Deadline reports that the project, from Warner Bros TV and Berlanti Prods centers on Clark (Phillippe), a police officer, and chronicles his meteoric rise from officer to detective and ultimately police commissioner. In the pilot, Phillippe joins previously cast Kevin Alejandro and Chi McBride. Phillippe has been one of the most sough-after actors for pilots for several years now. His pilot gig comes on the heels for his signing for a major role on the final season of Damages.