Sacramento – The California Young Democrats, California College Democrats and California Young Democrats Black Caucus are shocked, saddened and concerned by the most recent of 7 known hate crimes committed on a California public university campus in the past 4 months. California Young Democrats President Alissa Ko said, “This most recent event at California State University Chico, where the Chico Associated Students President Joseph Igbineweka, who happens to be African-American, was attacked, stabbed and beaten while having racial slurs hurled at him by two men is outrageous and disturbing. This attack highlights a growing trend of hate crimes on and around the campuses of our State’s public institutions that must be corrected immediately.”

This incident continues a pattern of hate crimes across the state that until now had been isolated to the University of California system. Prior incidents include, the breaking and entering and vandalism of an LGBT center, as well as half a dozen Swastikas drawn and carved in dorms, common areas and bulletin boards both on the UC Davis campus. Occurrences of a similar nature, though on a different UC campus, surrounded the hosting of a “Compton Cookout” by a UC San Diego Fraternity. Several students broke into a campus news station (SR-TV) in support of the “Compton Cookout”, calling the African American community “ungrateful niggers”. Equally as disturbing were the noose left in a campus library and a KKK Mask hung on a statue outside of that building.

“While we applaud the work that has been started to address the issues that have occurred in the University of California system, including a bill currently on the Governor’s desk that would create discrimination free zones on campus, as well as the UC Regents looking at ways to prepare and enroll more minority students into the UC system, this horrendous incident highlights that racism, hatred and bigotry are not isolated to the UC system or any particular part of California. We must immediately take proactive steps to ensure that such events don’t happen again,” stated Sean Dugar, Chair of the California Young Democrats Black Caucus.

“School administrators and Legislators in Sacramento need to confront this issue head on by strengthening hate crimes legislation, increasing minority enrollment, and mandating cultural awareness courses for first year students at all public colleges and universities,” added California College Democrats President Ian Magruder. The California Young Democrats, California College Democrats and California Young Democrats Black Caucus call on their members and all Californians to stand with the students of California State University Chico as they march Friday, April 23rd on the CSU Chico campus and also to join their “Chicoans Against Hate” facebook group.

Furthermore, the aforementioned organizations call upon:

· The Assembly Committee on Higher Education Chair, Assemblymember Marty Block to reinstate previously scheduled hearings on “Racism on Higher Education Campuses” as called for by the California Legislative Black Caucus,

· California Legislators to enact and support legislation strengthening and expanding current hate crime laws,

· California Attorney General Jerry Brown to ensure all hate crimes in California are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,

· UC, CSU and Community College Administrators to create and fund mandated Cultural Sensitivity/Awareness courses to be held 1st semester freshman year on all public campuses,

· UC, CSU and Community College Administrators to create a zero tolerance/hate free zone on and around all public campuses,

· UC, CSU and Community College Administrators to create and fund community mentorship programs where students from campuses build relationships with low income communities nearby.

###

The California Young Democrats (CYD) is the official youth arm of the California Democratic Party, comprised of progressive people ages 14-35. The California Young Democrats are committed to creating a bloc of young voters who will elect Democrats for an entire generation. Using proven peer to Peer campaign methods, Young Democrats have made significant differences in races all over California. Young Democrats in California work everyday to promote social justice, women’s rights, peace and stability in the world, and many other progressive values.

The California College Democrats (CCD) is the official College student arm of the California Democratic Party, comprised of progressive students.

The California Young Democrats Black Caucus is a chartered caucus of the California Young Democrats focused on bringing issues facing young African-Americans and other ethnic minorities to the forefront of the Democratic Party platform.