Kentucky Town Rejects Racists

Berea, of course, is the home of the first interracial college in the South - established in 1855 - so racists have never been welcome there.

From the Herald:

When Damon Dunson and Melanie Stamper of Berea woke up one morning last week, they said they couldn't believe that someone had used spray paint and markers to write racial slurs on their vehicles.

"I was angry, but at the same time I knew whoever did it was ignorant," said Dunson, who is black.

"They spelled the n-word three different ways," said Stamper, his girlfriend, who is white.

The message left on Stamper's Jeep, she said, told her to get out of the neighborhood.

But the couple said that in the aftermath of the incident, people in Berea have rallied around them, inviting them to a potluck to discuss discrimination and creating a fund to help pay to repair the vehicles.

"It was a pretty bad shock to many of us in the community," said Mae Suramek, who set up the fund at U.S. Bank. "Many people wanted to make it known as a community that this would not be tolerated."

Berea police Lt. Daniel Brewer said that he was investigating the July 7 incident as a bias crime and that there were "persons of interest" but no suspects.

"It's a cowardly, deplorable action," Mayor Steven Connelly said in an interview Wednesday. "Our community is and should rally around to support the couple and also to make it clear that this is not to be tolerated or considered acceptable."

Liberals reject racism in all its forms, and celebrate communities that support their injured members.