Atlantans Together Against Crime (ATAC) and the Virginia Highland Church are co-sponsoring a community forum Monday, October 5, 2009 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public. The forum will facilitate an open dialogue between concerned citizens, leaders within the LGBT community, and the Atlanta Police Department and will address concerns rising from the September 10, 2009 raid of The Eagle.

The forum aims to be a positive, productive, and pro-active meeting meant to foster dialogue, answer questions, and move relationships forward. Specific questions concerning The Eagle raid cannot be answered due to the outstanding investigation; however, questions of protocol, procedure, and others will be welcomed.

A press release with all confirmed attendees from the Atlanta Police Department as well as community organizations will be sent out this Friday, October 2, 2009.

For more information on attending, participating, or covering this event, please contact Kyle Keyser at (404) 217-1024 or kyle@atlantanstogether.org.

This forum is not a political function for any candidate for public office.

Virginia Highland Church is located at 743 Virginia Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. Parking is available across the street at Inman Middle School.

Facebook invite found here.

In the last year, the residents of Atlanta stood up and declared that they do not want their city to be a place known for crime, where murders and muggings are taken in stride.  They declared that one murder, one home invasion, is one too many.  They partnered with the police — ignoring the headline-grabbing anti-cop types who perennially try to sow divisiveness.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution stubbornly failed to grasp the significance of these events.  They mocked the anti-crime activists and denied the crime problem with a scorn they would not dream of directing at other types of community leaders or social movements.  They sought out the usual political operatives to feed them quotes denying the seriousness of crime.

Read on.

ATLANTA (MyFOX ATLANTA) - Terrance Hambrick is now charged with the attempted robbery and shooting of Kirkwood resident Kenneth Hagin. Hagin’s broad daylight attack alarmed many people who live in the northeast Atlanta community.

Thoughts and prayers still go out to Kenneth Hagin.

Atlanta police on Monday were able to identify and file charges against one of the four young men seen in an online video burglarizing a Grant Park home.

Here is the video. This is the second time the home was burglarized (the first time can be seen here).

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

The AJC also did a photo series.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

In a tersely worded press release, Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington announced the firing but did not offer a reason for it. He declined to comment further.

“[Butler]’s always been a problem as far as I’m concerned,” said Atlanta City Councilman C.T. Martin. “The job was bigger than he was able to handle.”

Butler did not respond to calls seeking comment.

ATAC Rally: Kirkwood
Monday, August 31
6 pm - 7:30 pm
1963 Hosea Williams (outside of Vinocity)

Please spread the word. And see you there!

It is unclear just how many gangs or gang members exist in Atlanta. Evidence of increased gang activity seems anecdotal. Specific numbers are as sketchy as the gangs themselves.

Still, authorities say city-based gangs have become more violent, organized and entrenched. Investigations of crimes over the past two years indicate gangs are drawing members not only from poor neighborhoods but also middle-class homes, allegedly even the stepson of a prominent politician and a respected Morehouse College student.