By Wiliam Murray

Following a recent rash of gay teen suicides and homophobic attacks in the city, a gruesome hate crime struck home for Morris Heights’ residents, making a bad situation worse for the borough’s community as a whole, especially the gay populace.

Earlier this month, three young men were brought to a vacant apartment at 1910 Osborne Place where they’d fallen victim to assailants who, motivated by prejudice, committed unspeakable violence against the individuals targeted because of their sexual orientation. The word spread fast throughout the Bronx Community College campus of the tragedies in our vicinity, and the feeling of most people, faculty and students alike, was that direct action should be taken. Led by Sue Moss, a BCC professor of Dance and Physical Education, the plan was laid to have a silent protest-rally demonstrating our alliance against discrimination and cruelty. Hundreds of collegial participants assembled on Oct. 28 outside of the Roscoe C. Brown Jr. Student Center, accompanied by Public Safety, police, local news reporters and partner organizations such as Montefiore Medical Center’s own Adolescent AIDS Program for “The March for Dignity.”

In peaceful dissent, we marched and distributed a statement to pedestrians and shopkeepers en route: “We will not tolerate belittling or abuse of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgendered people on our campus. Bronx Community College must be a safe space for all students, faculty, staff and community members to explore and grow.”

At the building, we solemnly placed 100 white and purple carnations in honor of the victims, and took the moment to reflect on our intentions. There we stood, together, on our dignity, and against all bigotry.

The writer is a student senator at Bronx Community College.