Statement from One Iowa Executive Director Donna Red Wing
A woman in Lincoln, Nebraska, was viciously attacked by three masked intruders who broke into her home, tied her up, mutilated her, and then lit her house on fire—all while yelling brutal anti-gay slurs. According to reports, one of the attackers carved a homophobic phrase into her skin. The woman escaped the fire and ran to a nearby house where she called for help.
Citizens in Lincoln and beyond have planned vigils in the wake of this horrific incident and are calling upon the community to come together in support of the LGBT community.
Statement from One Iowa Executive Director Donna Red Wing:
“This past Sunday, hundreds of people gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska, at a vigil for a woman who had been brutalized in a bias-motivated attack. We grieve for this woman, a survivor of senseless violence, and we grieve for our community. While we continue to move forward, as equality becomes more of a reality, we sadly realize that there are those who will respond with violence and intolerance. And this unthinkable and cruel tragedy is a very painful reminder of how much work we have ahead of us in the fight for full equality.
On a daily basis, we work towards a society that embraces and celebrates diversity. We work for equality in our laws, in our communities, and in the hearts and minds of our neighbors. But today we will stop for a moment and think about a woman targeted and brutalized simply because of who she is, and because a group of men decided that she would be the focus of their fear and their rage.
Our thoughts and prayers are with this woman and with her family and friends. We hope that she will recover from her wounds and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”
