I would want to join what I'm sure is a rising chorus of voices from every corner of the neighborhood to condemn this act of hatred and violence, and simply to express my personal sense of sadness that something like this would happen here, or anywhere. We know that this kind of action doesn't reflect the values we share as a community. So many of us, for so many years, have been working with energy and enthusiasm and commitment to make our Highland Park neighborhood a good and safe and positive place to live and work in, to build friendships and networks of mutual support.

From the Highland Park Community Club and Council, the HPCDC, the Union Project, our two churches (St. Andrew's and the Open Door), and with every Block Watch team and summer Block Party gathering, from our Zone 5 leadership and the great patrol and detective officers in our community, from our political and community leaders like Jim Ferlo, Patrick Dowd, and Heather Arnet, our business leaders, the administrators, teachers, parent leaders at Fulton and Dilworth--what we've all been about is the hard work but also the good work of creating an environment of mutual respect and even affection and much neighborly friendship as we raise our families and live our lives peacefully and constructively in this beautiful corner of the city.

We're a "mosaic" neighborhood, of many social, religious, political, racial backgrounds, beliefs, and identities--and certainly that includes the important community of gay and lesbian folks who make their home in this neighborhood. An attack on any of us, whether as an act of hatred or in the case of the other kinds of crimes of violence, is an attack on all of us. In any case, no one should ever have to experience what you experienced--it's something that has no place in this neighborhood or in any neighborhood. I know you will be in the good thoughts and hearts and prayers of so many Highland Park'ers as you would do the things you need to do to recover from this horrible incident. Bruce Robison http://www.standrewspgh.org http://360.yahoo.com/revbmrobison --- On Sat, 6/14/08, rfh151@stu.aii.edu <rfh151@stu.aii.edu> wrote:

From: rfh151@stu.aii.edu <rfh151@stu.aii.edu> Subject: [Highland Park] Potential Hate crime/Breaking and entering To: neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008, 9:33 PM On Wednesday June 11th 2008, a Potential hate crime/breaking and entering was performed on the 800 block of Mellon st. I personally walked outside to my car to retrieve an item I forgot to grab when I came in, there was 7 American American males sitting on a porch across the street, and one of them yelled out quoting "Fucking Fagot" as I walked back into my secured building. As I am walking back into my apartment, making sure to lock the door behind me, I made a quick phone call to a friend, and as I am on the phone with my friend, I hear several loud banging noises at my secured front door, and walked to my apartment door and looked out my peep hole and seen one of the males ramming their body into the first front door, and broke it open, and set a brick in front of that door so it wouldn't shut. Right then, I called 911 and explained to the police what was going on, and they said a squad car would be right there. I hung up, and walked away from the door, and looked out the! window, and seen the same male run back across the street, and through the front door, picked up the brick, and pointed at my apartment door, and threw the brick at my door, then ran into it, telling me to come out, because hes going to "fucking kill me" Right after all this happened, I called 911 again, and let them know that the suspect was now in my building, and was trying to break into my apartment.

Cops then showed up, 4-5 minutes after I made the first 911 call, asked me a few questions, about what the 7 suspects looked like, and all 9 cop cars took off looking for these males. About 1/2 hour later, a squad car came back, picked me up, and took me where they made a potential 4 arrests of people I described to be the criminal. None of the people they arrested were the direct guy that did this, but 2 of them were sitting on the porch with that group.

Considering all this has happened, I have contacted my landlord, and will be moving out of this city/neighborhood. I feel that there is not enough being done to protect the residents that live here, and live a normal life, and don't associate with anyone but them selfs.

I just thought that it was necessary to send this email, and have everyone be aware that no matter your sexuality, there is always crime out there, and to be safe

I want to thank the police department for being there for me, even though it did take a few minutes to respond, but a car can only get you to a place so fast.

-- <http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/neighborhood>