Te Leicester October 21 - October 27, 2010 Vol. 3 No. 42


Leader


By Robin Wilson Erwin High School proudly


f launts its diversity in the library where a f lag from each of the 28 nations represented at the school hangs. Members of the Interact Club,


an extension of the school’s com- mitment to diversity, recently stepped off campus to stand be- hind a local family being victim- ized by racial taunts. They created a poster declaring


their support for the Hodge fam- ily that dozens of Erwin students signed. Peaches Hodge keeps the poster displayed on her home. “When [the students and


teachers] found out what hap- pened to the Hodge family, we were horrified and couldn’t be- lieve that happened in our com- munity. We are a very diverse high school and have created a culture of acceptance among our students,” Interact Club orga- nizer Ann Weatherly said. Hodge said the threats began


in early June shortly after they moved into their Leicester home. At first, the family’s “In God We Trust” sign was being uprooted, an act she attributed to the do- ings of an unruly neighborhood dog. Unfortunately, the threats then


began to escalate. As Hodge and her mother sat on their porch in the afternoons, people began driving by yelling racial slurs. The terror came to a hilt when a man in a truck showed up in the middle of the night doing doughnuts in their front yard and yelling obscenities. The Interact Club students


wanted to make a statement when they found out about the terror the Hodge family had been experiencing. They wanted them to know that racism is not tolerated or accepted in their community. Member Allison Huggins said,


“We wanted to let the Hodge family know that person doesn’t ref lect the attitude of our com- munity and school. I can’t be- lieve an issue like this is still ap-


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WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 50¢ Leicester • Erwin Hills • Alexander • Woodfin • West Buncombe • Newfound Fifty Cents High school reaches out to taunted family


Peaches Hodge is grateful for the support of the community after a recent rash of violent taunts.


parent in 2010.” Hodge said she has received


an outpouring of support with hundreds of letters and words of support and encouragement. She


wants the next generation to be educated about racism and hate crimes. “I am not moving my family. We are here to stay. My children and family have a right


to feel safe in their own home,” she said. “I want people to treat one another the way they would want to be treated themselves. This is a lesson I have instilled


in my children and want every- one to learn. “ The Buncombe County Sher-


iff ’s Office is still investigating the case.


October 21 - October 27, 2010 - THE TRIBUNE/LEADER 15


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