A Community Stands Against Hate Crimes After Nebraska Woman Attacked

UPDATE: We recently learned that the Nebraska woman who claimed she was a victim of an anti-gay hate crime, lied to police. The content below reflects the communities response to what they believed at the time was a brutal attack motivated by hate. This is saddening on many levels.

According to reports, a woman was brutally attacked in Lincoln, NE on Sunday, July 22 in her home. Some have said anti-gay slurs were carved into her chest by three men. A friend told ABC 8 news that the men “came into her home, they broke down the door, stripped her of all her clothing, tied her hands behind her back with a zip tie. They cut derogatory words into her arms and stomach and continued to cut all over her body.” There are many details that the police have yet to substantiate, but there is a community in shock and waiting for answers.

Rev. Stephen Griffith of St. Paul United Methodist Church, and Tyler Richard President of Outlinc, attended a vigil for her held at the state Capitol. Both offered this reflection:

We sit together tonight as two friends who have had a very emotional day. Last night we were at the candlelight vigil for a friend who has reported a brutal attack in her home. We’ve spent the day talking with many in our community who are in shock at the horrific reports. Yet we are warmed by the outpouring of support from those who attended the vigil, many of whom are our friends and colleagues. The sight of more than 500 people spilling out from the west steps of the Nebraska State Capitol with candles glowing in the dark brought tears to many eyes, including our own. This expression of compassion gives us hope, even in these hours when the pain is still very fresh. Lincoln is a very special place, and Lincolnites are caring people.

The police are investigating.  They are skilled and dedicated to their work.  We trust that they will do everything possible to find justice in this case. While facts are still unclear, if police do find that this crime occurred because the victim is a lesbian, she will be one of hundreds of people who are targeted this way every year.
 
We two come from different places spiritually. One of us is a minister who relies on his faith in God to care for his fellow humans. The other believes in the inherent good of all people and puts his faith solely in his fellow humans. Yet we have spent years working together to make Lincoln and Nebraska a place where no one is judged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Not all people in our community have supported the policies we have worked to put in place. Even so, any kind of violence toward any person for whatever reason is wrong.  It’s criminal.  It’s unacceptable.  Period.  Whatever our opinions on homosexuality, the bullying, the beating and the killing must stop.  Regardless of our faith, we have a responsibility to speak up and speak out to help end the violence.

Our friend and our community will heal – with time, with warm thoughts and prayers. Stephen’s church often sings a song by Laurie Zelman and Mark A. Miller. Tyler isn’t comfortable with the whole song (the “God” parts) but we share a commitment to living the opening lines:

Let’s walk together for a while and ask where we begin
to build a world where love can grow and hope can enter in,
to be the hands of healing and to plant the seeds of peace,
Singing welcome, welcome to this place.

Tyler Richard, President, Outlinc
Rev. Stephen Griffith, Saint Paul United Methodist Church

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Image Flickr jso888