Stephen J. Lyons
December 12, 1997
PULLMAN VIGIL PLANNED
TO PROTEST LOCAL
HATE INCIDENTS
PULLMAN, Wash.-In a community response to recent actions of hatred
in Pullman, a candlelight vigil will be held on Wednesday, December 17,
from 5 to 6 p.m. at the High Street Mall in downtown Pullman.
The vigil will include speakers, a moment of silence, ringing of
bells and a closing song. Mitch Chandler, mayor of Pullman, and
representatives of Washington State University will be among the speakers.
The vigil is being sponsored by the Interfaith Dialogue Group of the
Palouse, the Pullman Inter-Church Council, Building Community Through
Diversity, and concerned members of the community.
The Pullman vigil is also part of a coordinated, regional response
to racist skinhead activity in Denver, Colorado, which resulted in the
death of two men, Oumar Dia and Bruce Vanderjagt, and the paralysis of a
woman who tried to intervene in support of the victims.
In commemoration of those deaths at the hands of racist skinheads
in Denver, the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment is asking
churches across the region to ring their bells on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997,
at noon as a show of unity and a sign of hope.
The Rev. Kristine Zakarison from the Community Congregational
United Church of Christ said, "We hope that this will be an opportunity for
all members of our community to gather and show support for those who have
been victims of recent actions of hatred, and to join our hearts and voices
in affirming that we do not tolerate this type of activity within our town.
"In the ringing of the bells, we will be standing in solidarity
with other communities across the Northwest in opposing actions of violence
and hatred." Also on December 17, in a show of support, the Washington
State University Carillon in Bryant Hall will be rung shortly after noon
and again shortly after 6 p.m.
High Street Mall is near the southeast corner of Main and Grand in
Pullman.
For more information, contact Rev. Kristine Zakarison at the
Community Congregational United Church of Christ, 509-332-6411 or
509-332-3617.
-30-
slyons@uidaho.edu
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