MAGALIA - Passers-by waved and sounded their car horns in support of the dozens lined up along 'the southeast corner of the Skyway and Coutolenc Road during Thursday's rally for harmony.
      The group was demonstrating at the site where someone painted racist graffiti, including a Nazi swastika, on a wooden fence May 7.
      The event was organized by the Paradise Center for Tolerance and Nonviolence to show the community is we1coriring of people of all backgrounds. Wendy Hartley, the group's past president, was impressed with the positive response from the vehicles.
      "I don't think there's been a single negative response," she said.
      The number of participants in the rally pleased Hartley. The rally started at 5 p.m. with 18 and swelled to more than 40 residents including people of all ages... and a dog. She said many in attendance weren't part of the center's core group.
      "A lot of these are new faces," Hartley said.
      The demonstration was "geared to counter the 16-foot wide message someone wrote "9n the fence. The graffiti, which .has been removed, read "Keep Magalia White" and had a Nazi swastika.
      David Barnard of Paradise said he attended the rally because he wanted to let people know the racist graffiti was unacceptable on the ridge or .anywhere else.
      "I think that anytime it's "done, it's a problem," Barnard said.
      The graffiti happened in the county, but the Paradise Police Department reported eight examples of racist graffiti, including swastikas, in the town over the past five months. There have been two recent incidents of an Oroville man passing out white supremacist literature in town.
      About 94 percent of Magalia's population identifies themselves as being white, according to the 2000 census. Barnard said the some residents lack of exposure to people of different ethnicities likely leads to ignorance and hate.
      He's hopeful some driving by will be receptive to a message of equality for all.
      "Someone's got to, break the cycle and maybe that's what will happen here," Barnard said.

PCTN Photo

      He said he's heard of some people of color being harassed in the town. Barnard has relatively few problems, although he's half-black. He said he's raising his kids to help break the cycle for children in their age group.
      "I'm sure that eventually it will be a big issue for my kids and their friends," Barnard said.
      Marcella Sincoff of Magalia said her neighbor was the victim of racism. She said her neighbor, who is black, installed some driveway lights, but people kept knocking them down and he eventually gave up.
      Sincoff said this doesn't happen to other neighbors and she's disappointed about the discrimination.
      "You'd think in a small community that no one would be thinking of that, but apparently they are," she said.
      Gwen Nordgren, Barnard's mother-in-law, said she wanted to support people of color living on the ridge. Enthused by the positive response, she said she hoped the event raised awareness in the community.
      "The majority of .people clearly support diversity and are against hate crimes and it's very clear," Nordgren said.
      Jim Souci brought his daughter and granddaughter to the rally, but he didn't stand on the line. He said the rally was a symbolic gesture that probably won't change anything.

      "If people haven't figured it out in this country in the 21 century..." he said. "It will always exist."
      Nonetheless, Souci said people should still fight against racism.
      "I'm glad that they can express their disdain for racism wherever it exists," he said.
      The fence, which is set back from the intersection, is owned by Larry Beiger and his family who moved into a new home at that location last October. Beiger said he didn't know why someone would put graffiti on to his fence.
      "We're in Magalia, but not really. There's no one else around," Beiger said.
      He said he appreciated the group protesting the graffiti's message.
      Biegler removed the graffiti as soon the wood was dry.
      "The thing was that it was raining," he said. "We couldn't take it off right away."
      In front of the fence, the rally continued past its scheduled 6 p.m. conclusion. The demonstrators kept waving their signs . at the passing cars.
      "The cars are coming," Nordgren said. "1' d hate to leave."



Staff writer Ryan Olson can be reached at 896-7763 or rolson@chlcoer.com.