Bloomington remembers Yoon

The Fourth of July has remained a cause for celebration since the day the Declaration of Independence was signed and continues to inspire even the least patriotic among us to show appreciation for our country.\nUnfortunately for some, the holiday has become an entirely different day of remembrance.\nSunday will mark the fifth anniversary of one former IU student's shooting spree from Chicago to Bloomington, which left seven people injured and two dead, including a fellow Hoosier. \nThe 26-year-old victim, Won-Joon Yoon, was standing in front of the Korean United Methodist Church on Third Street with a friend, waiting for Sunday service to start when the lone gunman, Benjamin Smith, fired from his car.\nPresident of the Korean Student Association, Yongkuk Chung, said he is still as puzzled today about the tragedy as he was five years ago. \n"He (was) neither a social activist nor an object of resentment of others," Chung said. "I can't think of any logical reasons to connect him and his death."\nAs an outspoken member of the white supremacist group the World Church of the Creator, Smith targeted blacks, Orthodox Jews and Asian Americans during his rampage. This event has brought more attention to hate crimes in Bloomington since.\nBarbara McKinney, director of Bloomington's Human Rights Commission, insists the shooting was so unusual that its effect on the severity of hate crimes is actually very difficult to judge.\n"The numbers go up and down," she said of hate crimes since the murder. "So I wouldn't want to try and draw any connection between this and any other incident."\nThe public outcry following the murder drew not only large crowds, but even a visit from former Attorney General Janet Reno. Despite the community's emphatic response, however, incidents like the defacing of a Jewish student's car with swastikas in April prove hate crime is unfortunately still a problem.\nEven so, McKinney is very quick to remind residents that communication is key. \n"It's very important to speak out when these things happen," McKinney said.\nThe incident drew enough attention to create a scholarship in Yoon's name.\n"The victim's parents have been very appreciative of the scholarship," said Patrick O'Meara, dean of the Office of International Programs.\nThough the parents will not be able to attend the scholarship ceremony this year, O'Meara said they have attended it in the past. \n"Even though they can't be here, it's a very important reminder of their son's life, and they are very interested in the winners as well," O'Meara said. \nThe Won-Joon Yoon Scholarship has annually rewarded students who exemplify tolerance and understanding across racial and religious lines for the last four years and will continue the tradition this fall. A ceremony for the two $1,500 winners and three honorable mentions has been delayed until the end of the summer.\nA memorial service for the anniversary will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Korean United Methodist Church, 1924 E. Third St.\nFor more information about the services for Won-Joon Yoon, contact the Korean United Methodist Church at 331-2080.\n-- Contact staff writer Russell Puntenney at