Community leaders hold vigil in honor of alleged hate crime victim

Hate crimes are a problem around the world, across the country and in Davis, Calif. This month, a young Mikey Partida was attacked outside his home by another man because of his sexual orientation.

On Saturday, March 17, Partida’s family held a candle light vigil at Central Park. Members from the community came to show their support and light a candle in his honor. Participants included Davis City Mayor Joe Krovoza, Davis Chief of Police Landy Black and members of the local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ally, or LGBTQA, community.

Leah Hernandez is Padilla’s cousin. She says that she is angry that something like could happen to her cousin just because he was gay.

“What happened to Mickey is really sad because of someone’s else’s own opinion of someone’s else’s decisions,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez added that she hopes that whoever is responsible is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. She fears that hate crime may affect another innocent person, like her cousin.

“Those people are still in Davis [and] it doesn’t make it [Davis] any more safe. This situation can still happen later on, with a different Mikey, with a different person,” Hernandez said.

Davis High junior Lorraine Casillas is another cousin of Mikey. She is very upset that somebody would attack her cousin—a man, she says, who could never hurt anybody.

“Mikey was just a kind hearted soul,” Casillas said. “He’s a sweet guy that would not do any harm to anybody. I’m sad that this happened to him.”

Casillas said that she is impressed and comforted by the community’s reaction.

Between 150-200 people attended the memorial and lit a candle in Partida’s honor. A protest is scheduled on the UC Davis campus to speak out about hate crimes.

“I feel like the city is really supportive and I’m glad,” Casillas said.