Nearly one month ago, hundreds of African-American supporters of Michael Vick rallied outside the Georgia Dome.
Now, after Vick accepted a plea deal on dogfighting charges, some of those supporters said Monday that Vick let them down.
“I shed a tear,” said Gerald Rose, head of the civil rights group New Order. “I’m sad right now.”
Rose organized the pro-Vick demonstration. He, like many black Vick fans, still stand behind the Falcons superstar, despite expectations that he’ll be going to prison.
Rose said Monday that Vick now has to regain the public’s trust.
"What he needs to do when he comes out is to call a press conference and explain where a young man making 130 million dollars would get caught up in something like that,” Rose said.
Fans at Playmakers Barber Shop in Midtown said they still support Vick, because they feel he is innocent, and that he is a victim of a racist judicial system.
"It's bad. I don't condone it at all, but the punishment is too severe, (they’re ruining) a man's career," said barber Dontrell Mapp.
Black civil rights leaders said Vick should be given one more chance.
"This is what we look for, for people to take a stand for what is right and admit they made a mistake," said Charles Steele, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Vick supporters will rally again Monday night, before the Atlanta Falcons’ preseason game with the Cincinnati Bengals.
More than half of the team's season ticket holders are African-American.
