Recently a tragedy occurred that resulted in a young woman losing her life in a shooting at a campus event held at California State University of Bakersfield.

Among the suffering the family already has to endure due to the loss of their loved one, they are also exposed to public ridicule and criticism stemming from ignorance and hate-filled comments on public forums like the one on The Bakersfield Californian’s Web site.

Following the story on bakersfield.com, anonymous comments flow with righteous remarks from people that have no idea what really happened yet feel they have the right to speculate and judge.

Their racist commenting primarily suggests that the shooting was unavoidable because that’s what happens when a lot of young blacks get together and how it’s basically her fault she died.

What has this city become for its people to think and behave this way? Is race the only factor that comes into play when a tragedy befalls upon a group of minorities?

This display of bigotry is embarrassing to the city of Bakersfield, and what’s worse is that all of this is done under the hood of protected anonymous commenting on TBC’s Web site. We believe in free speech, we believe that everyone has the right to his or her own opinions, too, but if you feel the need to share your ignorance with the world, do so boldly and don’t bully others behind the shield anonymity.

In the end, however, it doesn’t matter what comments are made because they won’t change anything. A young woman is still dead, a daughter will still be missing, and a home will still be empty.

So be proud, Bakersfield, and treat your community as one family and do away with social bigotry. Support your city instead of tearing it down from within.