Re: [Winona] HATE CRIMES FORUM

[Emily Eng]

[Winona Online Democracy]

Until now I have been too frightened of criticism to make a post on this 
forum, but an issue has finally come up in which the strength of my feelings 
outweighs my fears.  I will start by saying that I am a freshman at WSHS and 
a member of a Winona organization called the Everland Collective.  The 
Collective is a group of individuals of many different beliefs and 
backgrounds who have come together with the common goal of creating a safe 
space in Winona where community members of all ages, sexual orientations, 
and ethnicities, can meet to socialize and exchange and discuss ideas, art, 
and music.  In addition to organizing an independent library and music 
exchange program, Everland plans concerts, workshops, and panel discussions, 
and has helped to sponsor the Winona presentation of a touring speaker from 
the international organization Witness for Peace.  The Everland Collective 
has also been doing a great deal of work to support and publicize the hate 
crimes forum, which is the reason that I am writing.  From early on, a 
representative from the Everland Collective was included on the panel of 
community members to speak at the forum.  A few days ago, however, we were 
informed that the Winona Police Department refused to support an event that 
was affiliated with the Collective, and that our representative would not be 
allowed to participate.  The hate crimes forum is an event that we have 
supported and helped with from the beginning, and eliminating hate crimes is 
a goal that we as a group and as individuals are strongly dedicated to.  We 
are puzzled and disappointed at the Police Department's sudden unfriendly 
attitude towards us, as the Everland Collective does not participate in or 
support any unlawful activites and has done nothing to warrant their 
distrust.  Regardless of this unfriendliness, members of the Collective, 
myself included, will be attending the forum out of individual interest and 
will have pamphlets about the Collective if anyone is interested.  The 
Collective meets at the Green Lantern Coffeehouse on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm and 
is open to anyone who wishes to join - new members are always welcome.  We 
apologize for the contents of our website (www.everland.tk), which was 
created by an individual who is not a member of the collective as a link 
from his own personal website, and which we have not yet learned how to 
update.  All this said, I believe that the hate crimes forum is a wonderful 
opportunity to learn more about dealing with hate crimes, and I hope to see 
you there.

- Emily Eng

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