Rally Against Hate

Judy Shepard, the mother of murder victim Matthew Shepard, will be in Washington to lobby for the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA) and she needs your help. Annually, more than 1,500 people are killed as the result of hate crimes based on sexual orientation. Since Matthew's murder, Judy has been an impassioned and effective advocate for the importance of strong legislation aimed at preventing hate crimes.

HCPA would provide for federal protection against hate crimes in two ways. First, it would extend federal hate crimes protections to victims of crimes based on gender, disability and sexual orientation. Second, the new law would allow for federal prosecution of crimes perpetrated even when the victim is not engaged in a limited range of "federally protected activities," such as voting or serving on a jury. This legislation has repeatedly garnered bipartisan support but has been blocked in the past by right-wing leadership. The bill needs your help.

Judy Shepard will rally with many of the leaders on this issue in the Senate, including Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). Come to the rally and show the Republican congressional leadership that their obstruction of this important legislation is unacceptable and now is the time for the federal government to stand up to hate. The rally will be held Tuesday, June 17, at 11 a.m. in Russell Park at the intersection of Constitution and Delaware Avenues, across from the Capitol.