Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said Friday she would seek enhanced criminal charges under Georgia’s hate crimes law against a Pennsylvania man who allegedly defecated on an LGBTQ+ flag during a Global Black Pride celebration in Atlanta this summer.
A Fulton grand jury charged Ralph George Drabic, 44, with second degree criminal damage to property and criminal trespass, both motivated by bias or prejudice.
Prosecutors allege that overnight on Aug. 27, Drabic entered Midtown’s Starling Hotel and inflicted damage on exhibition booths, furniture, artwork and other equipment totaling between $8,000 and $10,000 from vendors participating in the festival. Drabic also allegedly defaced a Pride flag that had been on display, according to the DA’s office.
“It should have been a prideful celebration, but the defendant’s actions cast a shadow on that event, and that was wrong,” said Willis, surrounded by members of her team and Atlanta police officers. “Crimes of this nature are motivated by hate and bias, and they will not be tolerated either by the Atlanta Police Department or by the Fulton County District Attorney’s office.”