LACP.org
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Students Together Organizing Peace
Take Back the Hyperion Bridge Vigil

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Students Together Organizing Peace
Take Back the Hyperion Bridge Vigil


A Project of the Los Angeles Commission on
Assaults Against Women

605 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 400
Los Angeles, California 90015
213 / 955-9090

the violence and sexual assaults
in Northeast LA

For Immediate Release:
March 28, 2003
Contact: Jennifer Luck
213 / 955-9090 x113

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High School Students / Community Members
Demand an End to Sexual Violence at

Take back the Hyperion Bridge Vigil

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Silverlake - The Marshall High School chapter of Students Together Organizing Peace (STOP) has organized the Take Back the Bridge vigil in response to attacks on young girls and women committed by the "Hyperion Bridge Attacker."

The purpose of Take Back the Bridge is to raise awareness about rape and make the area safer for the youth that live and attend school there.

The Hyperion Bridge attacker, an active sexual predator since 1995, is believed to have committed more that 18 attacks on young women in the areas surrounding the Hyperion Bridge, a major access route for Marshall and Franklin High Schools.

As recently as 3 months ago, another Marshall student was grabbed and assaulted on her way to school.

"Young people have the right to travel to and from school without being targeted for sexual or any other type of violence," says Carlos Morales, assistant project director for the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women, (LACAAW) the organizers of STOP. "We're living in a stressful time right now but we can't forget that Homeland Security begins in our own back yards."

Mary Rodriguez, community activist, parent, and co-organizer of the event, speaks for concerned parents. "I believe that it is my duty as a parent and a citizen of this community to keep my child and her friends safe from this horrible vicious attacker who has plagued our neighborhood far too long."

Parents began organizing after LAPD sponsored a meeting at Marshall High in January. Parents and LAPD highlight resident involvement as a strategy to keeping youth safe.

"Someone out there has seen this guy. We need your help. Without community participation, LAPD can only do so much," says Detective Greg Stone, LAPD Robbery Homicide/Rape Special Section.

City council members, community advocates, law enforcement, school officials, parents and others will join the youth at the Take Back the Bridge vigil kicks off Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a bang, Friday April 4, 6:00 p.m. at Marshall High School.

What: Take Back the Hyperion Bridge Candlelight Vigil
When: Friday, April 4, 2003 at 6:00 pm
Where: Opening program at Marshall High School
3939 Tracy Street Los Angeles

followed by a procession to the Hyperion Bridge

STOP is a youth movement whose goal is to educate youth people on how they can prevent violence in their lives, schools and communities. A project of the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women (LACAAW), S.T.O.P is committed to preventing sexual, relationship and community violence.

S.T.O.P. also addresses issues of poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of oppression as they relate to violence against youth.

LACAAW is a not-for-profit, multicultural organization dedicated to the elimination of sexual and relationship violence. LACAAW has developed and implemented violence prevention programs throughout it 31- year history as a service provider to survivors of violence.

LACAAW's prevention and intervention programs reach the entire Los Angeles community including under-served and high-risk women, children and teens, those who are Deaf, homeless, elderly, physically or developmentally disabled and recent immigrants. Last year, LACAAW served 55,000 Los Angeles residents through its various programs.



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Hyperion Bridge Attacker Update:

Reward - Candlelight Vigil
Students Together Organizing Peace


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Officers from LAPD, students at Marshall High School,
and the residents of the community are out to
stop the Hyperion Bridge Attacker.

A candlelight vigil on the bridge is planned on April 4
to heighten public awareness of the problem.

A reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.

Reward: $20,000 or More

Take Back the Bridge

Take Back the Bridge is a month-long campaign
that will culminate with a candlelight vigil on the Hyperion Bridge on
April 4 from 6 to 8:30 PM.

The campaign is aimed at increasing community involvement,
and will include door-to-door canvassing with specific
information about safety and preventing violence.

Students Together Organizing Peace (STOP)

STOP is a youth movement created in 1997 to address these
issues and has chapters in many California High Schools.

The group is affiliated with LACAAW
(Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women)

Organizers are working with the City to mount banners on
the bridge streetlights to further awareness of the campaign.

Everyone is encouraged to attend the vigil the evening of April 4

For more information contact:

Abigail Sims
Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women
In Touch With Teens Program Coordinator

213 / 955-9090 ext. 109
email: abby@lacaaw.org

Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women
605 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite #400
LA, CA 90015
www.lacaaw.org

Or visit the wonderful Park2ParkLA community website:
main page --> www.Park2ParkLA.com
article --> Hyperion Attacker - article
.
.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please also see the LA Community Policing article written earlier this year about this issue: Most Wanted Criminals. Of course we'll continue to follow the effort to stop violence and sexual attacks throughout LA, and we encourage community members to get involved!