ORLANDO, Fla. — A driver who admitted to defacing an LGBTQ street mural in Delray Beach must write an essay about the hate and violence that gay, trans and queer people face, a judge has ordered.
Alexander Jerich, 20, of Lake Worth Beach, is required to write a 25-page essay about the 49 people killed in the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, the families they left behind and the origins of hate against the LGBTQ community.
Judge Scott Suskauer will decide if and how much jail time Jerich will serve at a hearing in June, which is Pride Month. Jerich broke down at a recent court hearing, crying several times, including when his father spoke on his behalf, and when he read an apology letter. It was the first time he’s spoken about the incident publicly.
