9:30am | A rally is planned to take place tonight of the campus of California State University Long Beach in protest of an attack made on a transgendered graduate student about two weeks ago. The school has not gone so far as to call the attack a hate crime, but tonight’s rally is clearly energized by that theory – based on reports that say the attacked used a knife to carve the word “It” into the victim’s chest.

Several equality and community activist organizations are scheduled to attend.

The rally also expresses frustration with the university, which released details about the attack eight days after it occurred, although yesterday the victim released a statement in passionate defense of the school’s actions and asked people to focus their frustrations on the attacker and not the school.

The rally will begin at 7:00pm in Maxson Plaza, a central campus location where the university’s famous fountains are located. There will be speakers in attendance and the group will begin a march through campus at 8:00pm, followed by a skit performance in the Soroptomist House at 9:00pm.

Among the groups involved are the Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club, led by President Cory Allen, also a member of 1st District City Councilmember Robert Garcia’s staff. Allen sent an e-mail about the planned rally to rally additional protestors that included sharp remarks about the university, including saying that the school “cannot sweep an attack like this under the rug.”

The victim of the attack in questions yesterday released a statement that said, in part, “I think it’s really unfair that the university is being criticized. I requested time alone to heal privately with my family and the university honored that request.”

While some pressure may have been lifted from the school, protestors plan to apply heavy pressure to intolerance and bigotry tonight.