WHITEWATER — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Police Department is investigating the latest hate crime on campus involving three acts of car vandalism.

The incidents happened between 11 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Police say the three vehicles were parked in two residence hall lots.   Their owners, all African-American students, notified police the vehicle tires were slashed and “KKK” was written in spray paint on the doors and hoods. A group of gay rights advocates are organizing a march against intolerance at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater in light of that crime and two other hate crimes on campus recently. ”Hate is everywhere, not just in the gay community. It’s in every community,” said Benjamin Farwell “Bradley,” the creator of Pride Playground, a Facebook community dedicated to eradicating hate crimes against gays and others. The normally progressive University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus was shocked when police say three African American students discovered their tires slashed and KKK spray painted on the doors and hoods of their cars Tuesday morning. ”These incidents are not indicative of what we are, who we are,” said University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Police Chief Matthew Kiederlen. The KKK vandalism comes a day after two men pushed a female student into a fence and held her there while making derogatory remarks about gays.
 
Before that, someone punched a female student wearing a “legalize gay” t-shirt. ”We’ve already beefed up our police patrols,” said UWW Chancellor Richard Telfer. The university has arranged meetings with student leaders and faculty next week. But that isn’t enough for Pride Playground, the newly formed movement encouraging hundreds to come out for a protest march this weekend through the www.facebook.com/prideplayground website. ”No one was doing anything, so I decided I’m going to put it in my hands,” said Bradley. He says dozens will be marching along Main Street in front of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater sign beginning at 10 am Saturday, to fight back against hate. The Pride Playground members spent the evening creating signs for the protest, because they are fed up with bullying and verbal abuse. Stephanie Stimson said she rides a cab to work each day, driven by a man who bashed her as a member of the gay community to her face and “basically told us, told me, that I don’t deserve to have equal rights.” But she is one of many idealists who say they are not afraid of those who support the KKK and gay attacks, because they truly believe their words can straighten out those who hate.  http://www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=14842