MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- About 100 people gathered in Mt. Vernon's town square Friday to draw attention to inequality and injustice in Knox County and elsewhere.
NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
Robert Cantu, his mother, Marcie, and members of several community groups rallied at noon to make sure residents know Ohio ranks seventh nationally in the number of hate crimes, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Robert was the victim of a hate crime involving a noose that happened in May 2008.
The suspect was convicted of ethnic intimidation.
People of all races and ages attended the peaceful demonstration.
"All of us are immigrants to this land. The only difference is the length of time between us and our first ancestors to this soil," said Pastor David Meredith, of the Broad Street United Methodist Church.
The message at the rally focused on unity. The call for action was change.
"We have failed to protect people like Robert Cantu from hateful attacks. We have failed because we have not properly taught our children to love and embrace diversity instead of being threatened by it," said Rabbi Michael Ungar, of Congregation Tifereth Israel.
Sponsors included the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, the Jewish Federation of Columbus and the League of United Latin American Citizens of Ohio.
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