SOUTHERN ALBERTA ANTI HATE RALLY
at Lethbridge City Hall
910 – 4 Avenue South
Thursday June 24 @ 6 pm

At 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 24th, 2010, citizens of Lethbridge and southern Alberta will stand together at Lethbridge City Hall in the wake of hate and violence in our community. This rally, hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge & Area (GALA/LA) and ULSU PRIDE follows the highly publicized, local hate crime that occurred in Lethbridge a week ago.

Statistics Canada recently released information about hate crimes reported to police in 2008. The report documented that the number of attacks motivated by sexual orientation more than doubled, with 75% of those attacks involving violence. The hate motivated attack in our community would seem to back up the disturbing reality that hate is still all too prevalent in our communities.

The program will include music and special guest speakers, including Mayor Bob Tarleck and Chief of Police Tom McKenzie. Additional speakers will include a number of community leaders involved in related human rights work.

Members of the public, and the media, are not only invited but encouraged to attend and bring posters and placards with messages of support. Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity affects the whole community. Violence and hate are unacceptable. We must take this opportunity to educate our communities, and continue to fight for a more just and equal community for all people.

Contact:
Mickey Wilson
President – GALA/LA
403-593-5923
www.galalethbridge.ca