An open forum about the severity of hate crimes was held in the Chumash Auditorium March 29.
During the forum, students were encouraged to share personal experiences and reflect upon a recent alleged hate crime that took place approximately 17 miles from San Luis Obispo March 18.
That night a large cross was stolen from Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Arroyo Grande and set on fire near the residence of a local black family.
The event was organized by David Conn, the associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence at Cal Poly, with the intent to give students the opportunity to reflect on and discuss recent events, including the cross burning in Arroyo Grande.
“We don’t really know what the intent was yet (of the cross burning), but it doesn’t really matter because the impact was so damaging,” Conn said in his opening statement.
Conn continued to explain the differences between hate crimes and hate speech.
“In most cases, a hate crime does not just affect a victim,” Conn said. “Typically, all people in the social group are targeted.”
After providing a brief overview of the situation in Arroyo Grande, Conn left the floor open for anyone to speak.
Everette Brooks, the sport club administrator at Cal Poly, expressed words of his own struggle against hatred and encouraged those faced with adversity to continue pushing forward.
“I understand how it made you feel,” Brooks said. “It deters you from believing in the common good of man, but you can’t let it destroy your mission. There is a small microcosm of people who have this view of hatred.”
Even if the views are based on a small number of people, some don’t feel as if people have progressed in San Luis Obispo.
Darren Bridges, an industrial engineering senior, expressed sadness as there are still places in California that are not open to other races, he said.
“My stepfather lived out here, and it saddens me that since the time he lived out here that a place like this has not progressed,” Bridges said.
During a 10-minute discussion, groups at each table were allowed to discuss feelings and reflect on instances of prejudice and hate. Many students brought up a past incident similar to the cross burning — the crop science house incident which occurred in 2008.
Students said many events that are similar to both of these incidents are simply swept under the rug.
Devon Buddan, a biological sciences junior, said she dreaded coming back to San Luis Obispo after hearing about the cross burning in Arroyo Grande.
“I do not like (San Luis Obispo) because of the things that happen here,” Buddan said. “(San Luis Obispo) was voted the happiest place in America, but people of color don’t feel that way,” Buddan said.
Alex Wilk, a landscape architecture junior, described the cross burning as a disgusting attack and an insult to the human population as a whole.
“As a part of the community we must speak up and be angry,” Wilk said. “The best way to describe this incident is to call it a movement made by people to inspire fear, which is basically localized terrorism.”
Other students encourage people to not be silent about this type of action as well.
Kyle Rosso, a history senior, had many members of the forum in agreement when he expressed worry that this event will have a backlash on hate speech.
“Silencing hate isn’t solving hate,” Rosso said.
As for the cross burning, the incident is being investigated as arson and as a hate crime, according to a press release from the Arroyo Grande Police Department.
At this point, forensic experts are processing physical evidence from the scene, and the FBI is actively working with the police to determine the parties involved.