A fundraising letter sent out by a local organization listing several discriminatory incidents have proven difficult to substantiate, according to local officials.

The Paradise Center for Tolerance and Nonviolence recently sent out a membership letter requesting funds, listing several incidents that reportedly resulted in the involvement of the PCTN, including racial and anti-homosexual graffiti, as well as bullying of minority students. The organization claims nine active cases in their "Victim Support and Advocacy Program," including "two teens severely beaten in an apparently racially motivated incident," several high school students chanting "white power" and giving the Nazi salute, repeated bullying of an African American child, a bi-racial child and a Hispanic child, as well as three children of lesbians parents experiencing harassment at school and on the bus.

However, police and school officials have little to no documentation of several of the alleged incidents. Paradise Unified School district Superintendent Roger Bylund said the only incident reported to him was of an alleged harassment of three children of lesbian parents. He is currently investigating that incident and interviewing personnel.

He said he received an anonymous report claiming high school students were doing the Nazi salute and chanting 'white power' but would not provide a name or any details of the alleged incident in order for him to investigate the claim.

Principal Mike Lerch, contacted earlier this week, said he knew nothing of the alleged 'white power' incident and had not heard any reports of teens severely beaten. He said he asked his administrative staff and no one reported any familiarity with the incidents described in the PCTN's letter. Sgt. Paul Hegenbart asked dispatch to comb through police records and found no reports of "severely beaten juveniles." Though he said the department always receives reports of minor altercations, he said it is difficult to find records without specifics such as date, time and place. If it was reported, however, he said the department would have a record of it.

"Well that didn't happen in Paradise," Sue Bordelon, PCTN Director said when questioned.

The PCTN gets calls for assistance in places outside Paradise and Magalia, she said. While Bordelon said the alleged beatings occurred outside the Ridge, she would not specify the location, time, race of the teens, how badly injured they were, or how the incident was "racially motivated."

"Well I did say apparently," she said, referring to the exact wording used in the membership letter. Bordelon said she used the word "apparently" based on the story from the teens and their parents.

"We don't overlay our own opinions on any report," she said.

According to the perception of the people involved, the incident was racially motivated, Bordelon said. Bordelon would not disclose any further details, stating the parents involved were not ready for the incident to be made public. As for the alleged incident, involving high school students chanting "white power," (which police and school officials said they were not aware of) Bordelon said the PCTN received a call from a parent whose child reportedly witnessed it on the Paradise High School campus. The alleged incident involved "a group" of students and it occurred during a lunch period sometime in the fall, Bordelon said.

Bordelon said she informed Principal Lerch of the alleged incident and noted that he was not aware of the alleged incident when she called. "We always strive to be objective," Bordelon said. "We don't just go with one side."

"It's not entirely unique," Bordelon said, stating that, at times, she hears of students doing the Nazi salute or saying "white power." She said she knows the school administration tries to be aware of these types of situations. Bordelon said the PCTN often has parents come directly to them if their children have had some sort of problem, and the PCTN offers support.

Sometimes, PCTN personnel will accompany the child to speak with their principal and report the incident, act as a facilitator to communicate both sides of view and help come up with a remedy to the situation. At other times, however, the student does not wish to be known. The student who reportedly observed this alleged incident may not want to be known, Bordelon said, adding that students worry about retaliation.

Bullying incidents were also listed as active cases the PCTN is assisting with, including the "repeated bullying," of three minority children. Not all of the incidents occurred on the Ridge, Bordelon said. Though they are listed as "active cases" Bordelon said the listed items include clientele the PCTN is currently helping. Some of the cases were brought to the PCTN months ago.

"I don't think it's relevant to pinpoint (when the incidents occurred)" Bordelon said.

As for whether or not the alleged bullying is racially motivated, Bordelon said the PCTN "is not making assumptions we're not trying to turn them into racial incidents or hate incidents."

She said the motivation for the bullying is often described by the parents. She declined to disclose any further details regarding the alleged bullying incidents. Superintendent Roger Byund said the school district takes seriously any type of bullying or harassment.

"Certainly no one in the school district supports bullying or harassment of any nature," he said. "And certainly not hate crimes. If students are raising their hands and saying 'white power,' we would consider that inappropriate behavior on campus, just like flashing gang signs."

Bylund said he met with the PCTN earlier this week to discuss some of the items in their letter. He was told the only item that concerned the school district was regarding the school board's resolution regarding Proposition 8. (The letter states the board of trustees approved a resolution that was "clearly a discriminatory action" toward lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender individuals).

"I told the PCTN, if there is anything I need to investigate, please tell me," Bylund said. "I'm dealing with non-specific rumors I'm not implying things don't happen, but they have to be reported in a way that they can be investigated. There are fights and conflicts on campus sometimes," he said, "but are some of them racially motivated? I don't know."

Bylund said he did hear a report that a Hispanic child was hit, but he was hit by another Hispanic child and Bylund said he failed to see how that could be considered a racially motivated incident.

Other items listed in the PCTN's fundraising letter included graffiti of racial and discriminatory slurs, some of which the police department can corroborate, such as the pre-election vandalism of several Yes on Proposition 8 signs with an "I hate gays" template.

However, some of the items listed were difficult to for police to pinpoint, especially without a specific time and location. One item reported was a resident's front yard Halloween decoration, which included an effigy hanging of a black man with the N-word written underneath.

Sgt. Hegenbart said he responded to the incident and saw the hanging effigy, but it didn't have the n-word and no other racial slurs. The incident was documented but it did not rise to the level of a hate crime, he said.

When there is an incident, and it is properly determined to be a hate crime, the department always pursues it as an investigation, Hegenbart said. The PCTN closed out their letter asking where those targeted by prejudice would go for help or to speak out publicly with others against discriminatory legislation or hate-behavior, and asks for donations.

"We know many of you want us to continue this valuable work," the letter states. "PCTN needs your support together we CAN make a difference and cultivate a Ridge community that is hospitable for all!"