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CSI in the News October 2011 - CSI Today

CSI in the News October 2011 - CSI Today

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At <strong>CSI</strong>, po<strong>in</strong>ts of light to dispel <strong>the</strong> hatredWednesday, <strong>October</strong> 12, <strong>2011</strong>, 6:43 AMKiawana RichBySTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Notwithstand<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong>ir different backgrounds, participants <strong>in</strong>last night's second annual Candlelight VigilAga<strong>in</strong>st Hate at <strong>the</strong> College of StatenIsland, Willowbrook, proclaimed anidentical message: Hate should never betolerated and it should never def<strong>in</strong>e whoyou are.Featured speaker D<strong>in</strong>a Ahmed of Mar<strong>in</strong>ersHarbor, an 18-year-old student, told of alife-chang<strong>in</strong>g experience that occurredseveral years ago while she was with herStaten Island Advance/Hilton FloresStudents turn out for <strong>the</strong> Gay Straight Alliance of <strong>the</strong> College of StatenIsland's second annual Candlelight Vigil Aga<strong>in</strong>st Hate outside <strong>the</strong>Campus Center <strong>in</strong> Willowbrook.Terrorists are gett<strong>in</strong>g on and <strong>the</strong>y are go<strong>in</strong>g to bomb us all!"best friend <strong>in</strong> Brooklyn.Dressed <strong>in</strong> traditional Muslim garb, <strong>the</strong>girls boarded <strong>the</strong> R tra<strong>in</strong>. She heard ateenage boy shout: "Get off <strong>the</strong> tra<strong>in</strong>.Miss Ahmed didn't try to hold back tears <strong>the</strong>n -- nor could she hold <strong>the</strong>m back last night. But, she said,unlike so many times before, she did not want "to look back at this moment and regret not do<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g."She sought to confront <strong>the</strong> culprit -- now anonymous among 20 high school boys. When he would not stepforward, she addressed <strong>the</strong> group: "He had no right to hate o<strong>the</strong>rs who are different," and, "Read a damnbook so maybe you wouldn't be so ignorant.""I did someth<strong>in</strong>g about someone's hatred, I didn't just sit <strong>the</strong>re and take it. And s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong>n, I don't tolerateany hatred from anyone," she said.O<strong>the</strong>r speakers shared similarly poignant stories with <strong>the</strong> audience of about 40.Page 113 of 154

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