FULLERTON : Bridging the Gap of Intolerance

Students wore tie-dyed clothes and chanted “make love, not war” at an anti-bigotry rally this week at Ladera Vista Junior High School.

“It’s like Woodstock relived,” said Sam Rumpak, 12, one of hundreds of students milling around the sunny campus Wednesday while a tape of the Beatles played. Prizes were given for best ‘60s attire, but the goal was to change attitudes in the ‘90s.

“Something definitely has to be done about racism,” said Santhi Iyer, 13, as she addressed the gathered students. “We are all people who deserve to be respected.”

Iyer is a member of an eighth-grade group called No Real Gap, led by school Principal Robert Taylor. The group, which has about 30 members, was formed last fall to educate other students about racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination.

“You are not superior to another, and what you think of someone else is not always the truth of that person,” Sarah Miles, 13, told students. “Let’s band together and stop the ignorance.”

Taylor led the students in a pledge. “I promise to be ignorance- and violence-free and keep that promise,” repeated the students, who represented a diversity of ethnic groups.

About 45% of the approximately 750 students at Ladera Vista are not Anglos, and racist behavior is sometimes a problem, according to Taylor.

“Sometimes they’ll make fun of my face or the color of my skin,” said Rumpak, a seventh-grader, adding that the schoolwide event might help fight racism. “I think . . . we can educate them,” he said.

Rumpak’s friend from the school jazz band, Jeremy Akers, 14, agreed that racism exists at Ladera Vista. He said educating students to be tolerant of others is important.

At weekly No Real Gap meetings, students talk openly about their own experiences with bigotry, according to member Arthur Nieves, 14. “Sometimes we get into situations with stuff that’s not very comfortable,” he said.

Students in the group and at the rally seemed eager to work together against discrimination and expressed confidence in their ability to change attitudes.

“If you convince others to be anti-ignorant, then we can all realize there is no real gap--NRG,” Anthony Ramirez, 13, told students, reading from a short speech he wrote with Iyer.