Boulder – The city’s Human Relations Commission is devoting $10,000 – about half its annual budget – to help the community fight racism following a violent attack on a University of Colorado student this month.
No decisions have been made about exactly where the money will go, but commission member Mariagnes Medrud said the group may hire a part- time worker to help. No matter how the money is spent, Med rud said, it won’t be just a set of meetings.
“Community forums draw people together, but there is no action taken from it,” she said. “We want to do more than just have people talk to make themselves feel better.”
After a smattering of racial incidents at CU in the spring, student Andrew Sterling, who is black, was attacked and beaten by a white man yelling racial slurs June 3.
Since then, police spokeswoman Julie Brooks said, investigators have linked two other nonviolent incidents to the same attacker.
The attack on Sterling – which broke his jaw – set off an outpouring of community concern. A reward for information about his attacker is near $20,000 after donations from CU, CrimeStoppers and citizens.
Detective Chuck Heidel said police have begun a detailed review of vehicles that match the attacker’s van.
Anyone with information about the attack is urged to contact Boulder police at 303-441- 3333. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Boulder County CrimeStoppers at 303-440-STOP (7867).
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 720-929-0893 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
