1,000 March in Oxnard In Tribute to Slain Gay Teen

While the Los Angeles Times has been doing a good job of highlighting the anti-gay hate crime aspect of the murder of Lawrence King, a 15 year old student, the rest of the MSM has mostly ignored or glossed over the anti-gay motivation in the slaying. God forbid, reporting on that aspect of the murder since it might make it obvious that tougher hate crimes legislation is needed, as are non-discrimination provisions like those just enacted in California, albeit not soon enough to save Lawrence King. It is heartening that at least 1,000 young people came out in King’s memory. Here are highlights from today’s Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-oxnard17feb17,1,1523425.story?ctrack=1&cset=true):

The Goths in their black T-shirts were there. So were the punks with fluorescent hair and multiple piercings. There were even a few adolescent boys carrying skateboards among the nearly 1,000 Oxnard youth and other supporters who turned out Saturday for a hastily organized peace march to pay tribute to Lawrence King, 15, the Oxnard student shot to death in a classroom last week.

The size of the turnout surprised police, school officials and even the two Hueneme High School sophomores who put the event together just three days ago, spreading the word with fliers, cellphone calls and MySpace bulletins. "We were expecting maybe 100 or 200 people," said Courtney LaForest, 16, as she gazed at a broad "peace circle" formed by march participants at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard. "This is incredible." Courtney said the turnout reflected a community's anguish over a senseless shooting that has destroyed the lives of two young men. It was also a public plea for tolerance on school campuses for those who are different, she said.

"What he did was really brave -- to wear makeup and high-heeled boots," said Erin Mings, 12, who hung out with King at the school. "Every corner he turned around, people were saying, 'Oh, my god, he's wearing makeup today.' “ Erin said King was an outgoing and funny boy who stood his ground. "When people came up and started punking him, he just stood up for himself," Erin said. Jeremiah, another student and friend of the victim, said King had recently told the 14-year-old boy who is alleged to have shot him that he had a crush on him. "I see no point in shooting someone for telling them that you like them," said Jeremiah, who didn't want to give his last name.

Melissa Crutcher, 16, who helped organize the march, said King's slaying infuriated her. Sporting pink-tinged hair, hot pink pants and multiple ear piercings, Melissa said she knew what it was like to get picked on for looking different. "I know I stick out myself," she said. "And it's just appalling that just for being himself he got shot."