Sci-Fi Storm

Do you remember the story of Katie, the girl who was bullied for liking Star Wars when the entire universe rose up in support? Well, she’s passing the torch, so to speak, to another girl facing a similar challenge.

Allison, a girl who loves Spider-Man in addition to Star Wars, faced relentless bullying after her older sister moved up to the middle school. The school was of little help.

Enter the 501st Legion.

The 501st Legion helped out Katie by getting together and building her a full in-spec set of Stormtrooper armor in 2012. Brian Troyan, a member of the 501st, contacted Katie’s mother Carrie Goldman, to see if Katie might be willing to pass it on. Carrie posted:

I sat on the edge of Katie’s bed Thursday night and told her about Allison. She asked me questions. “Do the other kids hit her? Does she have any friends? Did she tell her parents? Why didn’t the teachers make the other kids stop?” And then, after I answered to the best of my ability, she simply said, “That is terrible.”

“So,” I said, “Would you be willing to give Allison your Stormtrooper armor?”

“Yes! Of course,” she answered immediately. “That’s a great idea!” I emailed Brian Troyan to let him know Operation Armor Transfer was a go.

And so the armor was passed. Not only that, but Katie, her sister and their friends wrote to Allison in support and friendship. And with the help of Brian and the others in the 501st, Allison took part in an Autism Speaks event with other members.

I’m telling you, Stormtroopers may not be able to hit the side of a bantha, but when they band together, they are unstoppable.

Major props to Katie, Allison and the 501st Legion! I’m a father two two sci-fi loving girls, I’ve been fearful but fortunate that they do not face bullying for the things they like…quite the opposite – their friends ask us about when the next Doctor Who is on!

Not bad for a show that was technically canceled over a year ago…Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which had 13 more episodes released on Netflix after completing the already-in-progress work when the announcement was made, won two Daytime Emmy awards! Christopher Voy won an Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation award for his color work, and the show itself won Outstanding Special Class Animated Program! Congrats to our friends involved in the show, Dave Filoni, George Lucas and all the rest!