- Group Name: Olympia Unity in the Community
- Location: Olympia, WA
- Links: Unity in the Community website
Activities, Challenges & Lesssons Learned
ACTION HIGHLIGHTS
We originally formed in 1992 as a response to the racially motivated murder of Bob Buchanan Jr., a bi-racial Asian-American teen, by neo-Nazi skin heads. In the months following the murder there was a string of hate crimes throughout Olympia. Unity mobilized a large and very culturally diverse coalition to engage in a broad range of activities:
- we worked diligently to get local hate crime laws passed in Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey
- we provided support and advocacy for victims of hate crimes
- we developed a law enforcement task force to improve relationships between police and diverse communities
- we sponsored educational events
- and we organized a series of rallies to promote the theme of “Unity in the Community: Stop Hate Crimes Now!”
ALLIES
We are looking to work with all local organizations and individuals who support diversity and seek to counter messages of hate with a strong declaration of “Unity in the Community.” If interested in joining this effort, please contact us or consider attending one of our educational events.