Austin - March Against Hate

* 11:45am Meet at Austin City Hall * 12:00pm March to the State Capitol * 12:20pm Arrive at the Capitol * 12:30pm Speeches from victims and community members Speakers Andrew Oppleman Nick Soret Bobby Beltran Wyll Paco Sylbas Local Survivors of Hate Crimes Sami-Di Williams - Grrlz Will Be Boiz Chuck Smith - Equality Texas Michael Diviesti - GetEQUAL TX Paul Huddleston, President of Austin Pride Join Us Saturday…You Are Not Alone! GetEQUAL TX / Equality Texas / Grrlz Will Be Boiz / Austin Pride / PFLAG Austin My name is Andrew Oppleman and this is my story… Little did I know, last Friday night Sept 22th 2012, I’d be changed forever. I was in town for Austin Pride. It was one of my many trips to enjoy all that Austin has to offer; great entertainment, outdoor recreation and most of all the people; laid back and easy going. My welcome started like this…My buddy Nick Soret was ordering pizza at 4th and Colorado at about midnight as I just arrived from a 3 hour drive from Houston. As I waited for Nick to grab his pizza and leave, another patron started screaming at Nick “What are you looking at?” over and over again. As he grabbed Nick’s hot pizza and threw it on Nick’s face, arm and body the man proceeded to start punching him. I immediately tried to quell the suspects rage and told the man to “STOP HITTING MY FRIEND!” With that he turned around and pushed me down into the construction on the street. I got up and as I turned back to the Pizza Truck I was immediately met with the amazing force of his fist hitting me square in the mouth. I then saw the man wildly punching Nick’s skull, and body as Nick fell to the ground in a fetal position trying to protect his face and head. As quickly as it started the suspect ran away, while his friend who is an Austin local just stood there and laughed as blood gushed from my mouth. I then spent 8 hours at Brackenridge Hospital. In the end Nick sustained a black eye, a busted and bruised lip and additional bruises on his body. I left Austin with a busted lip and 6 missing teeth. I invite you to join us and the rest of the Austin community this Saturday at 11:45am at Austin City Hall, to raise awareness and March Against Hate To the Capitol. Spread the word to take Austin back!