In response to this hate crime directed against a GLBT youth, the city
and school district organized a public forum, intended by the city as
"a first step to identify ways to promote respect, tolerance and
acceptance" of all Newark residents. At that meeting Mayor David Smith
challenged all of us to put forward proposals for positive change. 'Not
in Newark' was founded to promote tolerance in Newark and to
specifically address ways to better protect the safety of gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender kids and adults.

Other communities around the country have successfully organized using
the “Not In Our Town” model to prevent hate crimes in their midst. “Not
In Our Town” is a national movement that encourages community response
to hate crimes. To learn more about NIOT, and the PBS coverage of
Newark's response to the Araujo murder, see www.pbs.org/niotand
www.pbs.org/niot/citizens_respond/newark.html .