The Unified Community against Gay Hate Crimes (U.C.A.G.H.C.) is demanding that Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins prosecute the near-death beating of Jimmy Lee Dean three months ago as a aggravated assault so that the hate crime language can be precluded instead of its current classification of aggravated robbery.
A rally against violence directed toward Lesbian, Gay, and Transgendered people is being planned to demonstrate to D.A. Watkins the overwhelming community support for full prosecution.
The rally will take place three months to the day that Jimmy Lee Dean was brutally beaten on Dickason Street just behind the bars in the heart of the Dallas LGBT neighborhood.
Michael Robinson is the key witness to the case and founder of the U.C.A.G.H.C. he is convinced that the motive for the bashing was not robbery, but hatred against LGBT people. “I was there and I saw what happen and we as a community can NOT allow this to ever happen again.” Says Robinson in an interview with the Dallas Voice
U.C.A.G.H.C., adds, “It is important for the LGBT community to send a strong message that violence against us will never be something we should have to live with in ANY community we reside in. This protest is the beginning for us to wake up and take a stance so that we become ONE voice in our community and not allow another person of a hate crime to be tolerated in the LGBT community.
The rally will be held on Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m., in front of J.R.’s Bar and Grill at the intersection of Throckmorton and Cedar Springs in Dallas. Organizers will meet at Crossroads Market Bookstore prior to the protest. Members of the community are encouraged to join the protest.
CONTACT:
Michael Robinson, Founder s_michael10@yahoo.com
Blake Wilkinson, Co-Founder fromabilitiestonees@hotmail.com
