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Vigil Decries Hate Crime
by Courtney Robinson
Hundreds of people with candles and armbands
all gathered for one cause. Chancellor Moeser offered some words about
solidarity to the crowd.
"We are all in this together,” Moeser
said. “This is one great family of
Carolina, let us stay together."
The community gathered to show support
for 21-year-old Thomas Stockwell, the victim
of what police are investigating as a hate
crime. Stockwell told Carolina Week his version
of what happened on the corner of Franklin
and Columbia streets.
"I heard people yelling ‘fag’ and
other derogatory comments," said Stockwell. "At
first I didn't realize they were talking
to me, and then I looked over and--it looked
angry."
That's when Stockwell said he ran, but he
couldn't get away from his three assailants.
“They
caught up to me, and I turned around, and
they punched me in the face," he
said.
Stockwell suffered a broken nose, bruises
and other injuries.
On Thursday night, Franklin Street was full
of people and Stockwell wondered why no one
stopped to help him. One
man saw it happen and did say something. Tyron Edwards, a bus driver, told WTVD he
saw the fight and pointed police in Stockwell's
direction.
"It wasn't a fight, it was a beating,” said
Edwards. “They caught him and beat
him. They were punching him and kicking him."
Edwards also said he saw a girl stop to help
Stockwell after the men left. Stockwell says he's not scared, he's tired
of being a victim.
"I think as far as the students that are
here now, it will definitely raise awareness,” said
Stockwell. “It could happen at any
time, and if it's going to happen here, it's
going to happen anywhere else."
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