Responding to Hate: A Message about the Hate Protests at NIU
As the NIU family grapples with the tragic events that happened on our campus, we are saddened and pained that to know that a fringe “religious” group is bringing its agenda of hate and homophobia to our community.
Many people are confused, wondering what their purpose is. This group believes that tragic and violent events are God’s supposed punishment for America’s acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Now they include the shootings at NIU among those events.
The NIU community is heartened and warmed by the outpouring of support from all over the country from individuals and groups who share our outrage at this intrusion during this painful time.
Many students and others have come together through the Internet to voice their outrage and plan responses to the protestors. We understand that many people are angered and hurt by this blatant homophobia.
We want everyone to know that the university’s response to the tragedy includes careful planning for managing the presence of any protestors. We ask everyone’s cooperation in supporting the university’s coordinated response.
A trained group of NIU students and supporters have organized and are working with law enforcement agencies to peacefully shield our grieving community from the presence of any hate protests by blocking the view of the small group of protestors who may be present.
What You Can Do
We ask that all others who wish to show their support to please do so by instead finding an effective outlet for anger and frustration, such as any of the following ways:
On Sunday, February 24:
- If you are not a member of the trained team of shielders, please DO NOT come to the Convocation Center on Sunday, February 24 with the intent of “counter protesting.” The university asks that you help us by not giving the hate protestors the attention, publicity, and credibility that they are aiming for. As much as you may like to physically show your opposition to hate such as this, direct confrontations and “counter protests” only serve the purposes of this hate group.
- Instead of attempting to “counter protest,” please join our community at the Memorial Program to celebrate the lives of our fallen students, pay tribute to the injured, support our grieving families, and begin the process of moving forward. Please help us keep this occasion a peaceful, calm, and dignified evening of remembrance and healing.
- Encourage your friends, colleagues and others at the Memorial Program not to give their attention and emotional energy to the protestors, but to ignore them and move inside the building for the program. Please do not engage with the protesters in any way as this will only encourage them and attract more attention.
- Also be aware that protest groups such as this use pickets and an array of intimidating tactics to upset people, instigate violence and create scores of lawsuits that fund their work. Don’t become a victim of their tactics.
Now and Beyond February 24:
- Honor the victims of the NIU tragedy by encouraging your friends and peers not to respond to hate with hate, but to transform our anger into actions that discourage hate and violence in all forms.
- Make a donation to NIU’s February 14 Student Scholarship Fund honoring the memory of the students slain in the February 14 tragedy.
- Educate yourself about hate and homophobia as a problem that affects us all. Join or make a donation to organizations that fight hate and homophobia, such as:
- If you are a student, join your school’s LGBTQ organization or Gay/Straight Alliance and support their work.
- If you are a student or work in a school, join your campus Ally or Safe Zone program.
- Collaborate with others to plan an event or discussion about violence and hate in our communities and work toward solutions.
