Students rally in response to gay slurs

Danbury, Conn. (WTNH) - Students at Western Connecticut State University are rallying in response to a recent hate crime. They are holding a silent protest today, after a gay slur was found on a door at one of the dorms.

"We're trying to stop hate crimes," said Brittany Madore, student. "There's been too many of them and it just needs to stop."

Madore is one of many West Conn students who were demonstrating on campus Wednesday morning, after multiple slurs against gays and lesbians at the university.

"There have been comments that were made on whiteboards," Madore said, "outside of dorm rooms, and a lot of online hate."

Reportedly, there were several incidents last semester, then some more just last week.

Alyssa Kolessar, one of the apparent victims, explained why those rallying had tape over their mouths, saying they don't need to say much to make their point.

"The point behind a silent protest is not to be quiet," said Kolessar, "it's just to show that we're doing this as peacefully as possible, to show that we're not ignoring the issue, but we don't want it to get violent."

The message is multi-generational, as even a grandmother was present giving her support.

"The nasty notes and the gestures and remarks, why," asked Nancy Madore. "People cannot help who they fall in love with."

And that's not all, the West Conn "Gay-Straight Alliance" says it's getting plenty of backing from the school and police.

"They told us they're behind us 100 percent," said Brittany Madore, "and the President of West Conn actually sent an e-mail out to everyone the other day saying it needs to stop."

The hope being, of course, that even in symbolic silence, their message imploring peace rings loud and clear.

"We're good people and we just want people to be good to us because we're good to them," Kolessar said.

News 8 is told that the University President will seek prosecution at the collegiate, state, and even federal levels if the guilty parties are caught.