Goths step out with a message of tolerance
ALMOST 100 goths and alternative dressers joined the black
parade and walked proudly through the city centre yesterday in
a mass show of solidarity.
The goths' message was made loud and clear – an end to
oppression against those who dress differently and they want
people to be free to be individuals.
The procession of alternative dressers, most clad in black,
moved from the Sundial at midday, up Armada Way, and around the
city centre.
The march was also organised in memory of Sophie Lancaster,
a young woman who was murdered simply for the way she looked.
She was brutally attacked along with her boyfriend, Robert
Maltby, while walking through a park near Manchester almost a
year ago. The couple wore gothic fashion and were members of
the goth subculture.
The march was one of a handful of processions across the
country yesterday for the SOPHIE campaign – which stands for
Stamp Out Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere.
Doka Chapman, one of the organisers of the Plymouth march,
kicked off the event with a rallying speech.
He told The Herald: "We wanted to organise the march to show
people that they are not alone if they are being picked on for
what they wear.
"It was also to remember Sophie. It was an excellent turnout
by many people."
Hayley Seeney, 23, from Stonehouse, took part in the march.
She said: "The march was not just for goths. It was for
everyone who wants to stamp out prejudice.
"It also gave young people more courage to be
themselves.
"There is a problem with the way people treat goths and
alternative dressers in Plymouth. We get a lot of abuse – I
have had stones thrown at my house.
"But marches like that help to raise awareness that things
like that happen. It was a fantastic event in Plymouth."
55 Comments
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by sheila, reality
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 12:11PM
“God, woteva Jamie aka Jools lol, you are just proving to the readers exactly what I have said below about being the poor old victim again, just thriving for attention. Also why have you used the plural again of ..... us ? ? ? Its only you on this forum Jamie and who is becoming extremely boring by proving again and again the comments that I have put below are true. You simply do not realise you are doing it because of your immaturity and mundane attention seeking. Do you also need to feel part of a group this much ! Is this because of your insecurity and non individuality like a clone ! ? Not really worth falling into your tit for tat nonsense is it Jamie as this is what you require due to the fact that you do not really know what to say. Just another clever way of what children do when they cannot answer the initial question. I'll let you get back to your serial killer book now, and to C.S............yawn zzzzz , wot exactly are you trying to say, does even yourself know !!! ??? zzzzzzzzzz”
by sheila, reality
Monday, October 20 2008, 7:51PM
“God, woteva Jamie aka Jools lol, you are just proving to the readers exactly what I have said below about being the poor old victim again, just thriving for attention. Also why have you used the plural again of ..... us ? ? ? Its only you on this forum Jamie and who is becoming extremely boring by proving again and again the comments that I have put below are true. You simply do not realise you are doing it because of your immaturity and mundane attention seeking. Do you also need to feel part of a group this much ! Is this because of your insecurity and non individuality like a clone ! ? Not really worth falling into your tit for tat nonsense is it Jamie as this is what you require due to the fact that you do not really know what to say. Just another clever way of what children do when they cannot answer the initial question. I'll let you get back to your serial killer book now, and to C.S............yawn zzzzz , wot exactly are you trying to say, does even yourself know !!! ??? zzzzzzzzzz”
by James, Plymouth
Saturday, October 18 2008, 11:11AM
“Sheila, move on and grow up!”
by sheila, the working, contributing real world
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 8:14PM
“Tanya, you have now become extremely boring and you have resorted to actually copying my statements and replying with them as you have no mind of your own and can only go through the motions of what adult minds can do yet not actually think for yourself when you have to ! Looks like your argument is now with this Goth that you you say you are sticking up for. You have said he wasnt there from the offset and you were so sure of yourself werent you Tanya ! Dont you now feel embarrassed ? Or are you trying to change the subject again now as usual and put it off the main point and back on to me and also how the Goths are victims again ! God..... so boring, get over it, change the record ! You said in the beginning James wasnt there, now he said he was, simple as that ! Just goes to show how people like yourself Tanya are so sure of yourself yet even the person you are sticking up for has proved you wrong and made you look a complete idiotic fool which yes thats what I have said about you from the beginning ! So yes you can now be a victim as well Tanya.....but I was still correct wasnt I !!!! I'll let you have the last word Tanya as you seem that sort, and I and James have now proved my point ten fold. This is why readers never listen to so sure un-educated do-gooders like yourself ! lol”
by Tanya, Plymouth
Monday, September 22 2008, 9:34PM
“wow sheila now u spurt ur nonsense on a thread about a march which was done to promote tolerance and understanding, to raise awareness of a campaign set up by a woman whose daughter was brutally murdered for being different by intolerant bigots. says it all really. nice.”