The Roanoke Times

Printed Sept. 29, 2000

Sen. Charles Robb told a crowd of 250 in Washington, D.C., on Thursday that while no one can erase prejudice from people's hearts, legislation can punish those who act violently on it.

"Those who harbor hatred must know that American society will punish them for their actions, and that we will not tolerate their acts of inhumanity," said Robb, D-Va.

Robb, along with other political, religious and human rights leaders, gathered at a park in front of the White House to remember the victims of the Backstreet Cafe shooting in Roanoke and push for the passage of hate crime legislation.

The lunchtime rally was one of several events across the country commemorating the death of Danny Lee Overstreet and the wounding of six others. Vigils in Detroit, Baltimore, Arlington, Williamsburg, Richmond, Norfolk and Blacksburg coincided with one in Roanoke Thursday evening.

Robb, who is running for re-election against former Virginia Gov. George Allen, did not specifically endorse the hate crime legislation being considered by Congress. The bill would expand Justice Department jurisdiction over violent crimes motivated by race, religion or sexual orientation.

Other speakers, including Roanoker John Goodhart, encouraged vocal support of the bill. Goodhart worked with Overstreet at Verizon and is active in the Roanoke chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

"When we are silent, we send the message to the Ronald Gays of the world that we don't care if he kills," Goodhart told the crowd, referring to the man charged with Overstreet's death. "We must accept part of the blame."

In Michigan, organizers had a vigil in Birmingham, a Detroit suburb represented in the state legislature by a Republican who has opposed hate crime legislation.

About 50 people stood under a banner that read, "Remember the Ronoake 7." Although misspelled, the banner and the vigil reminded those in attendance "to recommit oneself to the struggle for human lives," said retired minister Renee McCoy.

About 200 gathered in front of Virginia Tech's Alumni Hall for a candlelight vigil organized by the school's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance. University President Charles Steger, school officials and representatives of seven campus religious organizations were there.

Reggie Elam, the gay organization's vice president, called the climate at Tech "mostly good" for homosexual students, but he still receives the occasional threatening note or harassing e-mail.

"I never took it seriously before," he said. "After this [Overstreet's death], I think I probably should."

Elam said the shooting hit Tech's gay community hard. Many gay students go to Roanoke on weekends because they feel more comfortable in the city's nightspots than the bars in Blacksburg.

The Rev. Jim Griffin, a Catholic priest, decried the prejudice that underscored the Roanoke shooting.

"Prejudice is really us saying God is a sinner," Griffin said. "That seems impossible . . . but that's what prejudice is really saying."

Staff writer Michael Sluss and correspondents Elissa Milenky Golan from Washington and Martha Hindes from Detroit contributed to this report.

Lisa Applegate can be reached at 981-3209 or lisaa@roanoke.com

Let any elected or appointed official know what you think and how you feel by CLICKING HERE. Here's your chance to petition the government for a redress of grievances.