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Impact Cincinatti Stages Novel Protest Over Hate Crime

Impact Cincinnati held a peaceful demonstration at the site of a recent hate crime. They gathered outside the business where the assault happened and then went in to eat. On 26 May, Ronnie Robertson was beaten by four people. Prosecutors believe that this was a hate crime and that he was targeted because he is openly gay. Among those already arrested for this crime was Sarah Goldsboro, an employee of Tabby’s Grill and Bar in Deerfield Township. She and Tammy Lingle were already arrested, and two men also involved in the beating will be arrested shortly. Goldsboro and Lingle have been charged with assault and obstructing official business. Robertson was treated for his injuries and later released.

Impact Cincinnati had to move the event to 2 June due to the tornadoes which ripped through the area over the weekend. Dozens showed up in white shirts and entered the building as a group. A lawyer representing Tabby’s Grill and Bar stated that they supported the groups message of peace, and that they are in the process of determining what happened that night. Police are continuing to investigate this as a hate crime.

Robertson’s mother, Kathy Smith, was also in attendance. The intention of the protest was to make it clear that the LGBT community would not stand for intolerance and hate, and that the Community as a whole stands together. In many ways, this protest was a means by which to show the greater society that gays and lesbians not only exist, but that they will not be cowed and intimidated by hate crimes.

A recent rise in the number of hate crimes, as well as the murder of Dr. George Tiller, are reminders of the dangers that the LGBTI community faces every day. While even those within the LGBTI community may differ on their opinions concerning abortion, Dr. Tiller’s murder stands as a reminder that there are people who will use force, and even deadly force, in order to intimidate individuals into compliance with their views of the world. Some have equated Tiller’s murder with terrorism, and that may be accurate as it was an attempt to instill fear into others. Many hate crimes are a form of terrorism as they are intended to make people stop fighting for their rights even if those are not always seen as being the real motive behind the crime.

A recent spate of stabbings, one of which was fatal, in and around Atlanta’s most heavily gay and lesbian community near Piedmont Park have some including the Log Cabin Republicans concerned. Though, the LCR’s response was a little over the top. These crimes do not appear to have been hate related, however.

Hate crimes are one way in which those who harbor hatred for another group intend to silence opposition and existence. In many ways, the fight over marriage equality is not about marriage, but rather about preventing homosexuality from being accepted and from preventing homosexuals from existing. Prop 8 was intended to shut gays, lesbians and transpeople up. It was intended to make us slink into a corner and hide. Instead, it has had the opposite effect.

Eventually people get tired of being beaten up, and they stand up to the bully. Impact Cincinnati took the path of peace, and showed that the Community will not tolerate hate. Peaceful protests have been springing up across the country of late. Businesses are finding out that they cannot live without business from gays, lesbians, transpeople and our allies. Indeed, Impact Cincinnati’s approach on this incident was novel, and many hope that it will have an impact on how the people of Deerfield see the LGBTI Community.

http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story/Demonstrators-Stage-Dine-in-Where-Gay-Man-Beaten/T-KrGXg84kO7t9pbCqHEag.cspx

http://www.wcpo.com/content/news/neighborhoods/deerfield_township/story/Bar-Fight-May-Have-Been-Over-Sexual-Orientation/Pgh6_aN0dEm4n4F_9HAUWw.cspx?rss=713

http://impactcincinnati.wordpress.com/