Law Enforcement Officials Are Deeming the Attacks 'Hate Crimes' After Finding Noose Tied Around the Neck of the Tupac Statue
ATLANTA, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation (TASF) regrets to report that a series of attacks have taken place at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, 5616 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, Georgia. The first incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, October 20th, when vandals defaced the building as well as tying a noose around the neck of the bronze statue of Tupac Shakur located in the Center's Peace Garden. The attacks are being investigated as hate crimes by the De Kalb County Sheriff's Office. The second incident occurred at the Center at 2:00 AM Monday morning when the statue was damaged further. A male has been arrested and is currently being held in custody.
The noose hung around the statue's neck is an imitation of other cases recently reported in the media after a surge of hate crimes. The statue was also plastered with handbills of garbled rants that include references to 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina as well as vague threats against various record companies and rappers. The manner of the attack indicates it is the work of one or more individuals.
Says Afeni Shakur, "We thank everyone for their prayers and support. Although our hearts are temporarily in pain, our spirits have already forgiven the perpetrators. Hate comes in all colors and genders therefore we will use this act of hate and ignorance to bring our community together and to pray for the healing of those who harbor such feelings. With God's guidance, the work of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts and Peace Garden will continue to positively impact and transform our community."
The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation is now in the process of raising money to construct a fence around the parameters of the Center to prevent these types of incidents from occurring again.
The Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts will kick off its 2nd Bi-Annual Film Screening with a re-dedication service of the Peace Garden on Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 1:00 PM. Following the service will be a film screening and panels from film industry experts. Both events are free to the public.
Donations can be sent to TASF, 5616 Memorial Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 or at http://www.tasf.org/ and http://www.2paclegacy.com/
About the Foundation:
The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation (TASF) was founded by Afeni Shakur to provide training and support to artists who aspire to enhance their creative talents. TASF fosters an environment that encourages freedom of expression, serves as a resource for the arts, and empowers through education. To date, more than 700 students have benefited from the program with a broad range of training available via the Annual Performing Arts Day Camp held at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts (home of the Foundation in Stone Mountain, Georgia).
Publicity contact:
Versa Manos
(323)782 9000
versa@gorgeouspr.com
Source: The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation
CONTACT: Versa Manos, +1-323-782-9000, versa@gorgeouspr.com, for The
Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation
Web site: http://www.tasf.org/
http://www.2paclegacy.com/
