More than 1,000 people turned up at The Center for a rally Aug. 4 responding to hate crimes committed against members of the GLBT community during San Diego Pride weekend.

Six gay men were attacked with baseball bats in five separate incidences as they were walking from the Pride festival on July 29. The attacks took place during the course of several minutes as the six men walked along a path behind the lawn bowling area in Redwood Circle in Balboa Park, east of Sixth Avenue and north of Laurel Street.

According to police reports, the attackers made anti-gay remarks before a fight broke out in which the attackers proceeded to beat the men with the bats. One victim was stabbed in the back and another remains hospitalized with a fractured skull.

Three men and one teenager have been arrested and charged for the attacks. All have pleaded not guilty.

City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez announced at the rally the establishment of a permanent Hate Crime Reward Fund that will provide financial rewards to those who assist in the arrest and conviction of anyone who commits a hate crime in San Diego.

“Our message today is that, from this day on, all those who commit hate crimes against any community in San Diego will have an immediate bounty on their head,” Murray-Ramirez said.

A $35,000 check from various GLBT business owners and community members was presented to San Diego County Crime Stoppers executive director Sally Cox and San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne.

“But, my brothers and sisters, this old queen is tired of attending rallies, vigils and protests for over 40 years, so today we take action,” Murray-Ramirez said.

Murray-Ramirez also announced the establishment of the Lavender Citizens Patrol. He said the group, created by American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) in partnership with the San Diego Police Department, will patrol and monitor Balboa Park, Hillcrest and North Park during Pride weekend next year.

Mayor Jerry Sanders said that while the crimes committed were clearly shameful, he believes the attackers’ actions do not represent the views of most San Diegans and commended the work of the SDPD. He said SDPD detectives Kim Robinson and Tim Johnson worked 40 hours straight on the case before the three men and a teenager were arrested for the attacks.

The citizen who provided a tip for police was crucial to finding the suspects, Sanders said.

“Without that person putting themselves on the line, we would not be able to solve this case as quickly as we did,” he said. “This citizen and many others who called in tips on this case thought enough of their community and the San Diego community and had enough confidence and trust in our police department to report what they knew.

“The quick resolution in this case is further proof that community policing continues to be a major part of crime-fighting efforts in our city,” he said.

Todd Gloria, chair of The Center’s board of directors, said The Center has received numerous phone calls from across the city, state and country from people who share the community’s outrage about the attacks and who support the victims.

“They are crimes that seek to frighten and intimidate a person and an entire community to which that person belongs,” said Delores Jacobs, The Center’s chief executive officer. “But here tonight, you say to all victims of hate crimes in this city: ‘You are not alone. You will not be intimidated. Thousands of fair-minded San Diegans will stand with you and stand up for you against hate.’”

Jacobs said the swift response and cooperation from police and the community at large was not always the norm in San Diego, and still isn’t in many other communities around the country.

Chief Lansdowne said the SDPD set a new standard in their response time as they handled the case.

“I believe this event, as tragic as it was, is a unifying event for the city of San Diego to move forward once again, to give everybody equality and the rights that the Constitution guarantees you,” he said.

Atkins said the investigation revealed the attackers intentionally came to the area to hunt and beat Pride festival-goers.

“This kind of savagery toward fellow human beings is almost beyond comprehension. I am greatly relieved that three people have been apprehended,” she said.

Atkins thanked the police department for their swift response, the community member for providing the police with the tip that led to the arrest of the suspects and Mayor Jerry Sanders for his hard work and cooperation.

“Like many of you, I’ve been to more of these rallies than I care to remember. No one should have to fear for their safety because of who they are,” Atkins said. “No one should ever feel that by going to a public event they have made themselves a target.”

Kehoe said she participated in a march to protest a series of attacks, mostly on gay men in San Diego, 13 years ago when she served as a City Council member.

“We have to do it over and over and over again. We can never say it’s behind us, not until we accomplish a lot more,” she said.

Other speakers included Congressmember Bob Filner, Assemblymember Lori Saldaña, Deputy District Attorney Oscar Garcia, Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla, the Rev. Art Cribbs and Latino activist David Valladolid.

City Attorney Mike Aguirre said although his office is not prosecuting the case, it will further investigate it and issue an in-depth report detailing the attacks.

The rally was followed by a candlelight march from The Center along University Avenue to Obelisk Bookstore, the site of a previous hate crime attack in 1991, when 17-year-old John Wear was stabbed to death while walking down the street.

Individuals and businesses who contributed to the Hate Crime Reward Fund include Hamburger Mary’s, Baja Betty’s, Tom Felkner, Bob Lehman, GLBT Vote 2006, the Imperial Court, Rick Ford, the San Diego chapter AVER, Numbers, Rich’s, The Flame, Bourbon Street, Lei Lounge, Bacchus House, the Gay & Lesbian Times and an anonymous donor.