Dozens Rally For Tolerance In St. Cloud

May 26, 2011 6:11 AM

(Left to right) Matthew Thomas, Chad Hands and Ryan Frane. (credit: Stearns County Jail)

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ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — Dozens of people gathered in downtown St. Cloud Wednesday night to demonstrate against an apparent hate crime.

Three men, Matthew Thomas, Chad Hands, and Ryan Frane were arrested for beating a 22-year-old St. Louis Park man early Monday in an alley near a bar. Police say the man was attacked because his assailants believed he was gay.

Organizer Janet Cleland-Dullinger says the rally came together quickly through the use of Facebook, Twitter and email. Cleland-Dullinger says demonstrators wanted to show hate crimes won’t be tolerated in St. Cloud. She tells WJON that everyone has a right to feel safe in their own community and those they visit.

red

I doubt it

Darcell

Maybe they just need some Glitter!!

Lee

These “comments” are disgusting….look at the names used. WCCO…do you even read the comments? WCCO….you are just as guilty of the bigoted remarks that are posted here, due to your lack of oversight. I need to find another station to watch the news on. Yuck…..

hoover

Oh quit your whining and find another station already- do you think anyone cares if you do? If you don’t like it just leave…..

Jim

No, I think I’ll stay here and complain about the idiots. Thanks for the advice, “hoover.”

bryce

big Brother “Lee”. thanks for the making the world a better place for everyone. what you deem appropriate should be honored by everyone else? boycott BS. If you dont believe what I believe than I will make policy/law to make you?

The Trend

I wonder if these 3 cuties will be LOL’ing when they get their “poop pushed” in county jail. Hmmmmm?

Good Ol Boy

There’s no poop pushing that goes on in county jail.

st paul

Well let them be tried as adults. They can get their jail time and learn a lesson.

Hate crimes are wrong, and these losers will learn.
Charlies Angel

Yep – maybe even 2 of them. Blacks and gay bashing would be double the coverage

just saying ….
RedTipper

Drop the gay bashing label – they just gutless bastids that need 3 to handle 1.
The dudes inside will teach ‘em about being a victim I imagine. They’ll learn a lesson.
They punks but once again it’s the friggen Booze bringing out the worst that hides within. Betcha if no booze around, and no dope, 80 % or better of crimes go away. Except for the white collar thieves that is – legal or otherwise. They always shall be safe. lol

Jones

I have to disagree RT! What’s in the hearts of men will come out whether they have alcohol or not! Drugs on the other hand, I have no experience in that department.

Matt L

Nope! I was jumped right out in front of my house by 4 black guys that made it a point to bring out how I’m a white Germain guy married to a black woman. As I was kicked I was called everything from a nazi to an zebra. The police caught them and didn’t once bring up how it was a hate crime against me. The court later dropped the charges down to something small and none of them had to serve jail time, all were given probation with stayed jail time.

Jones

Thats too bad Matt! Those little A-holes! Lol! Nest time just have your woman call up the “homies” or brother in-laws and get some real justice.
Jim

You should get a better lawyer.

MLK

There is no excuse for racism. There is no excuse for violence.

Period.
The Trend

Calm down Osama…

Cry me a river

Nice!

Good Ol Boy

So it’s ok to attack gays?

What should be done with gays?
Jones

Are you serious!? If it were Black men, their addresses and entire family would be on there. LOL

Jones

The police probably agreed with them about you being married to a Black woman.

Jones

It seems that there is a lot of bigotry and hatred in St. Cloud. Everytime I read or watch the news, it’s a hate crime going on. Reminds me of Mississippi or Alabama. They say that racism doesn’t exist in the North but I guess it does. Duluth hung a few black men!

LoveItOrLeaveIt

WHOA! That happened in 1920! I think we’ve come a long way since then. It’s not perfect, and never will be. St. Cloud has been a VERY conservative area, and continues to be to some extent. It will take some time for the new immigrants to assimilate (if they want to) and time for the natives to get used to a very different culture living among them. But I don’t see a hanging happening in the future. No way!

rich

what sick god do you worship? it is not your job to judge, either join the 21st century or crawl back into your cave.
Vomitousconsumption

My god can whip your gods ass
CatCall

It’s people like you that keep the evil of the world going, and all in the name of God. What a joke!

Kevin

No. It is the followers of Satan like yourself that keep breeding evil in the world. Read the bible and repent your sins before God! You can twist the words of God all you want. But in the end they are the words of God the King of Kings. No morales worked will for Rome…..that great emplire…..learn from the past or face the same ending.

The Trend

Your imaginary friend in the sky does not exist- get over it.

Bobby

The Trend- thank you. Took the words out of my mouth.

Cry me a river

Kevin I’m sorry your rapture didn’t happen this past weekend but you can save us your preaching
CatCall

Kevin, If this is your god he is as evil as you are. Listen to The Trend, he has a point.
Hmmmm

The Roman Empire lasted over 2000 years. Boy, God sure takes his freaking time.

The Trend

I thought the roman empire lasted 750 years and collapsed in 50 AD….

Frednich

The empire lasted about 500 years (more or less), following a 500 year Republic. The collapse took place shortly after the empire adopted Christianity as its official religion. Seems God was quite prompt in responding, no?

I Love Diversity

If you rally to hate …..hate…..then isnt that a Federal Hate Criime against hate? Shouldnt have the dozens of pro gay protesters been charged with a Federal Hate Crime for hateing hate? NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!
Jeremy Pettit

But I can’t see St. Cloud rallying for tolerance of Somalis any time soon. They tend to condone that here.
Nancy Aleshire

There is a lot of ignorance going on in St. Cloud. I’ve heard it referred to as “White Cloud” and it’s basically correct, although there are more Spanish speaking and Somalis now than when we lived there during the mid 1990′s. It needs to be addressed in the schools–zero tolerance against bullying and racist comments from first grade on. I know kids learn this from their parents, but this is not acceptable. I travelled in the south during the early 1960′s before civil rights laws were introduced and you think people in Minneasota should know better in 2011–real sad!!!!

Tony Rozycki

I think St Cloud is safer than parts of Mpls & St Paul. Have lived in all three cities for several years & visit all frequently.
LoveItOrLeaveIt

I used to live in St. Cloud, too, back in the mid-60s. However, I’ve also lived in Arkansas, the Deep South, in the mid-80s. The difference is this: The citizens of St. Cloud are faced with accepting a culture that is completely foreign to them — the Somalis. The population in this foreign culture refuses to assimilate even to the point of Second Harvest buying “culturally sensitive” foods for them at almost 2X the cost of “regular” food, simply because they wouldn’t use canned foods given them and threw them away. Also, students have to condone the Somali students crouching over the bathroom sinks washing their private parts! They were given a room to pray in (in another part of the country) but Christian kids were refused the right to pray before school at the flag pole. Persons with guide dogs have been refused taxi service by a Somali because of their attitude toward dogs. The Mexicans have come and assimilated, for the most part. Illegal immigration is a big factor in the anti-Mexican situation.

When two cultures are so VERY different — which was the case with the Native Americans and the white settlers — there are bound to be serious clashes.

The best solution I have is that the sponsoring agents of immigrants educate them as to American customs and traditions and the value of assimilation. I believe THAT would go a long way although there would still be those who won’t accept ANYONE who isn’t like them.

LovItOrLeaveIt

A computer message led me to believe this message would not be posted. Sorry for having it posted twice.

LoveItOrLeaveIt

Somalis refuse to assimilate, even to the extent of throwing out canned foods from Second Harvest and having the food shelf supplier purchase “culturally sensitive” foods at an almost 2X the cost of the other food. Students must condone them crouching over or dangling into the bathroom sinks cleaning their private parts. In another part of the country, Christian students were denied the right to gather around the flag pole for prayer before school while their Muslim counterparts were given a room to pray in, as is done in St. Cloud, too. A disabled person with a therapy dog was refused the services of a taxi driven by a Somali because of their attitude toward dogs.

When two cultures are so dissimilar as was the case of the American Indians and the colonial settlers, there are bound to be clashes. Add the factor of one group getting special treatment and being able to deny the rights of others (a ride in a cab) , fuel has been added to the fire.

The only reasonable solution I can come with is for their sponsoring agents to educate them on the morays, customs and traditions that they will be expected to assimilate to. Certainly some cultural differences will remain — as with the Mexicans, which suffer because of illegal immigration. But their foods, music, dances, art, etc. are welcomed by many.

James

Please stop taking drugs. It’s affecting your reasoning HTL
Jim

Your “Lord” is not my lord, so keep that supernatural mumbo jumbo to yourself.

LoveItOrLeaveIt

Jim, we don’t care that your agnostic or atheist. This forum is NOT about you. There always seems to be at least one of you or a politcal junkie who must get off topic. Grow up and take your religious views elsewhere. Craig’s List has a discussion board you might enjoy. Go there.

Good Ol Boy

I care to read it. I get sick of the Xtians telling everybody else how right they are about the decay of America and how they get to create laws to discriminate. The Xtians can go pound sand.

Rob

How many gays does god have to create before people realize that god wants them around?

blahblah

God’s intention were never to put more poop crammers on the earth.

The Trend

Cuz it said so in a book written by superstitious goat herders 2000 years ago- so there!

LoveItOrLeaveIt

Trend, AGAIN you contributed NOTHING to the conversation. This is NOT about YOU. Get over yourself. Go back to your mommy’s basement and play your video games. Or do your homework so you can learn how to contribute to forums.

Good Ol Boy

@LoveItOrLeaveIt

What gives you the right to start insulting people by telling them to go back to “mommy’s basement?”

That is uncalled for. Grow up.

Metal DJ

I like turtles.
bryce

Why not just protest crime? Is attacking a gay guy any worse than attacking a straight guy? They are both assaults. These guys and all the other drunks in st. cloud (probably st. john students) should get serious punishment for beating people up….gay or straight. Dozens protesting? Dozens? Is this a news story?

Good Ol Boy

Don’t attempt to discredit what these rally attendants are standing for and standing up to by saying it’s just a simple case of drunk kids kicking another kid’s A55.

That isn’t what happened here.

Dozens. Yes. It’s a news story. People are sick of h0m0phobes acting out their intolerance by committing acts of violence.

Sorry, we won’t stand for it.

Dale Gribble

Established: Good Ol’ Boy likes gays. He does not like blacks. What about gay blacks?

Good Ol Boy

False. My best friend for the last 25 years is black. It probably wouldn’t go over well if I disliked blacks.

Don’t try to assume you have any clue what you’re talking about. I know I generally assume you don’t. This is another example of that.

bryce

good ole boy: I’m saying i’m just as important as a gay student….if I get beat up its OK or less of a crime? How about rallying against assaults? I agree they beat him up cuz they hate gays but its still an assault on another human being…gay or straight. the law should not discriminate. just make assault laws more serious. “Dozens rally” is it a rally if only a dozen show up?

LoveItOrLeaveIt

bryce, I see your point. I don’t necessarily agree, however. Something great about this country is that we have the right to try to change things we don’t like. Perhaps you should look into what it would take to get assault penalties increased and to get hate crime laws off the books. Get involved in the political process BEFORE our legislators make laws. That’s actually easier than trying to change something already out there. Just saying.
Good Ol Boy

It’s less of a crime.

Why? Because this person was singled out TO assault. He wasn’t a crime of convenience. They weren’t just going to paste whichever guy walked by. This kid was FOUND and attacked.

Can you see the difference now?

Is it a rally if a dozen show up? Who cares? It seems your big thing is to discredit the idea that bigotted people attack gays and you want to distract from anybody paying that problem any attention.

Do you have a problem getting surrounded and getting your A kicked, Bryce? Or are you making that up to prove a point you can’t prove… I thought so…

Herr Goebbels

We’re talking Stearns county – the Alabama of Minnesota. There has been so much inbreeding among the Germans there, that behavior like this isn’t surprising.
JustMe

It’s against the Terms of Use to threaten anyone. You’ve been reported.