This is the beginning of a new year. Over the next 12 months, we will continue to win in the face of ignorance. We WILL continue to remain visible and strong. We WILL continue to unite for full equality. We WILL take leaps forward in our struggle in ways that this country has not yet seen! And during all this, we must remember what has happened to those who are fighting with us. We must remember that not everyone we deal with will change. We must remember that there is a loud minority who wants to make us victims, and a quiet majority that wants us to be victors. We need to give that quiet majority a voice. We need to drown out the hatred of those who want to hurt us. We MUST remember what has occurred since the beginning of this movement and realize that we have many mountains to climb, but our goal IS reachable and WILL be won!
We must remember what happened in Richmond, CA on December 13th, 2008.
They attacked her because she was gay. Our government provides our community and our love with less rights than our heterosexual allies. This causes a sense of entitlement for those who are ignorant and violent.
They raped her because she was gay. Proposition 8 passed in California stating that same-sex couples do not deserve the same recognition as heterosexual couples. Her partner, in the eyes of the law, does not deserve the same recognition.
They beat her because she was gay. We just spent the past 8 years under a president of who openly stated numerous times that it is a sin to be LGBTQ. When the leader of the free world openly discriminates, what is to stop anyone else?
They left her helpless because she was gay. In 30 states it is still legal to fire someone because they are a member of the LGBTQ community. If your employer can discriminate against you, your government can, and your state voters can, then what is to stop someone from feeling justified by violence?
We are ALL connected. What we say, what we do, and what we vote on DOES affect everyone. When we turn our eyes away from hatred, we allow it to occur. When we remain silent while somebody calls us Faggot, we allow the stereotypes to continue. When we hear a teen year old say “That’s so gay” and don’t speak up, we allow him or her to grow up thinking that it is OK to speak like that about a minority.
Of those arrested, two were teenagers: 15 and 16.
I look forward to a world when I don’t have to say that anyone, did anything, because someone is gay, lesbian, bi, transgendered, or queer.
Please DONATE to Richmond’s Jane Doe and help her and her partner get back on their feet. Her partner needs time off to care for her. We can help. Please learn how you can donate here:http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=40712604850
5 Responses
Now that the four suspects are in custody, they must be taken to trial. While the police submitted the report to the Contra Costa District Attorney with a hate crime enhancement, the district attorney will decide what charges the defendants will face.
We must encourage the district attorney to file a hate crime enhancement to the charges of rape, kidnapping, carjacking, and assault.
Please send an e-mail to Robert J. Kochly, the Contra Costa County District Attorney, urging him to file a hate crime enhancement. Tell him that crimes of violence against members of the gay, lesbian and transgender community are unacceptable!
Remember the district attorney is an elected official.
http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/index.asp?NID=203
Posted on January 3rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Thank you, Nichole, for the info on the CCC DA. We are having a fundraiser and hate crime awareness campaign along with our Jan.10th DOMA protest in San Jose. We will spread the word to all who attend to contact the DA’s office.
Posted on January 3rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
The defendants must be arraigned within 48 hours of their arrest, excluding weekends and holidays. This means the arraignment will happen either Monday or Tuesday afternoon. The arraignment is the formal reading of the complaint to the defendant by the judge. If possible, try to e-mail the District Attorney’s Office this weekend, so he will have something nice to read on Monday morning.
Nichole
Posted on January 3rd, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I was devastated when I read what had happened to this young women, and I hope that she will recover and stay strong as well as her partner.
Posted on January 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Donation url for Richmond Jane Doe and cannot live any longer near where her nightmare took place or drive the car covered with her blood:
http://www.cvsolutions.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=89
You MUST write Richmond Jane Doe in the Dedication line or monies go into their general fund.
Richmond Jane Doe grassroots site by Tallon, where you can leave our sister a supportive note in the comment section:
http://tatasworld.typepad.com/were_here_for_you/2009/01/6630-plus-whatever-velvet-donates.html
Posted on January 11th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
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