Students
take vow of silence observing Hate Crime
Awareness Week
By
Zamná Ávila
On-line Forty-Niner
A
series of events to raise campus awareness
of hate crimes and their affects will be
featured this week at Cal State Long Beach
in observance of Hate Crime Awareness Week.
The
Rainbow Alliance group on campus is hosting
the event as part of a nationwide peaceful
protest led by the United States Student
Association called the Day of Silence which
will be observed today.
"People
who decide to participate will take a vow
of silence, representing all those who have
been quieted by hatred and oppression,"
said Julio López, coordinator of
the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender
Resource Center on campus said.
During
the Day of Silence participants vow to maintain
silence as a mark against hatred and oppression
of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community. The Day of Silence focuses on
LGBT issues, but the group called the week-long
activities Hate Crime Awareness Week to
encompass all acts of hatred and oppression
that different groups fall victim to.
Hate
Crime Awareness Week is not just about gays
and lesbians, said Salvador Flores, president
of The Rainbow Alliance. Flores acknowledged
that CSULB has a diverse population, and
while he does not believe there are hate
crimes on campus he said he believes it
is important to have a hate crime awareness
week
"It is important to let people know
that we are all humans," Flores said.
"It doesn't matter what our differences
are: our sexual orientation, our color,
our race, everyone should feel welcome and
safe."
The
activities began at 3 p.m. Monday with a
documentary on how gays and lesbians were
affected by the Holocaust. Also, the group
has placed posters around the campus with
subtle images designed to raise the curiosity
and knowledge of CSULB students.
As
part of this week's activities, Trev Broudy,
who was attacked outside his West Hollywood
apartment Sept. 1, 2002 spoke Tuesday about
the experience.
Broudy
and a friend were assaulted by three men
who hit him with a baseball bat leaving
him in a prolonged coma and killing his
friend. The violent incident was filed as
an attempted burglary, not a hate crime
by district attorney Steve Cooley.
The
Day of Silence has been observed at the
campus in prior years but the events planned
for this year are unique thanks in part
to a recent grant provided by Associated
Students Inc.
"I
don't think there has ever been anything
like this on campus," said Emmy González,
LGBT cabinet chair representative for A.S.I.
"I think this is the first time the
center is doing something like this."
Wednesday's
activities will include an information booth
in front of the University Bookstore. The
Rainbow Alliance in conjunction with La
Raza Student Association will set up lavender
bandanas and cards explaining that people
are participating in support of groups being
oppressed.
In
order to disseminate, draw attention and
recruit students to participate for the
Day of Silence protest, a group of approximately
15 students dressed up as "scary-looking"
mimes. to pass out information cards and
take them to the information booth.
"In
classrooms students have to talk, we have
to give opinions, we have to voice our concerns,
but when you are being silenced, nothing
comes out," López said.
The
events will culminate with a celebration
of the accomplishments of the LGBT groups
with a fundraising in which comedian, Ant
will perform at The Nugget and the Jazz
music played on a piano by Gary Davis. Tickets
are on sale for $3 for students and $25
for community members. The money raised
will help pay for events and benefit the
LGBTRC.
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