About 30 participants were Bates College students and 20 were from Lewiston High School. A dozen more were representatives of groups, including the Lewiston 21st Century After School Program, as well as individuals lending support to the effort.

Saturday’s Stand Against Racism was the second annual local observance of similar events organized by YWCAs around the country aimed at eliminating racism.

“The key (to eliminating racism) is to engage individuals and the community,” said Kathy Durgin-Leighton, executive director of the YWCA of Central Maine. She said the first Stand Against Racism event took place six years ago in New Jersey, and its participants nationwide now number a quarter-million.

Matt Gee and Tenzin Namdal, Bates College students, were organizers of this year’s local event.

Gee said their goal was “to give our own flavor” to this year’s talks, walk and street-side stand with posters, and “to make more of an open conversation” on the issues.

Namdal emphasized that they hoped to facilitate “talking about something that is hard to talk about.” She told the participants, “Many differences make up how beautiful we are as people.”

Keynote speakers related compelling personal experiences.

Julia Sleeper, founder of Lewiston’s Tree Street Youth program, described a shocking racist incident she observed Friday on a local street. She said a dog chased a terrified young black boy down the street as the woman who had released the dog hurled racial epithets at the boy.

“Racism is not gone,” she said.

Rilwan Osman, who was born in Somalia, said when he came to the United States he assumed that everything “would be smooth,” but he discovered that dealing with racism was a constant problem. He said he and a friend were walking along a sidewalk and conversing in their native language. A man shouted at them: “Speak English or go home.”

Osman, who is a graduate of the University of Maine at Augusta and is pursuing a master’s degree in social work, said, “This is home.”

In concluding remarks, Alyse Bigger, a Bates College graduate who was last year’s organizer, told the audience, “Ignorance is normal” when racist incidents occur, but “aggressive ignorance is what concerns me.”

She added, “What you feed will flourish and what you starve will die. This is my call to action: Feed minds, starve racism and do it together.”

Mohamud Abukar was one of eight members of the youth cooking class of the 21st Century After School Program who prepared a light breakfast for those who registered for the walk. He said he believes athletic activities are proving to be effective in combating racism.

Following the speakers, participants gathered at tables and created posters they would carry in the neighborhood walk. Among the statements they wrote on the posters were “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that.” “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that,” and “Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by color.”

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