Sophie's brutal murder unites Goths against 'hate crime' » Communities » 24dash.com

The brutal murder of Sophie Lancaster led to a huge outpouring of grief and anger within the online Goth community.

Thousands of web users from around the world logged on to www.myspace.com/inmemoryofsophie to post messages of sympathy and to share their experiences of abuse suffered due to their appearance.

A memorial fund, Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere (Sophie), was also established by her family and friends to raise money to teach young people about alternative cultures and to respect everyone.

Ironically, the first seeds of the campaign were planted a week before the 20-year-old Goth was kicked to death.

Her mother, Sylvia Lancaster, told how Sophie and her boyfriend, Rob Maltby, also a Goth, were subjected to abuse in a local KFC restaurant.

"As soon as we walked in there were comments," she said.

"'Oh look dad, there's some Goths there' or 'oh look he's got make-up on'.

"If kids do that when their parents are with them what do they say when they are not there?

"You would even get people tutting and saying 'God's sake'.

"It's a steady build-up of this type of thing they have to put up with which is quite nauseating really."

That incident triggered the idea to highlight prejudice against Goths but within days her daughter was lying in a coma in hospital. She never regained consciousness and died two weeks later..

"We were with her all the time (during the coma). We weren't aware of anything going on outside.

"It was only two days before she died that I thought 'oh my God, they've killed her'.

"You hope she's going to get better. On the day she died I knew there was no chance but you still hope she's going to pull through."

Ms Lancaster said the website - which was launched while she was in hospital - has given her a lot of comfort.

"It's been wonderful. People have been really supportive.

"When people say a card gives them comfort you think that's a load of rubbish, but it does give you support because then you think you're not on your own.

"The attack on Sophie has been a catalyst. I feel angry and the website has given me a way to channel that, otherwise I don't know what I'd do."

More than 4,000 people signed an online Downing Street petition urging the Government to widen the definition of hate crime to include offences committed because of a person's appearance or subcultural interests.

Sophie's myspace website was inundated with accounts from Goths worldwide of being physically assaulted from an early age.

"Random attacks on youngsters from the age of 13 onwards appear quite common everywhere," Ms Lancaster said.

"I think it's been a hidden problem for a number of years and we want to bring it to people's attention."

When asked why these assaults take place, Ms Lancaster said: "When I was younger it was mods and rockers who fought it out between themselves.

"Now there are alternative cultures and there are so-called chavs. The Goths are seen as easy pickings as most of them are not going to fight back as they are a non-violent community.

"Making it a hate crime would change things as the attacks and abuse suffered would be taken more seriously."