On October 6, outside Laramie, Wyoming, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student, was tortured, beaten, and left tied to a
pole in the freezing cold. Six days later, he died of his wounds in Poudre Valley Hospital, Fort Collins, Colorado. Matthew was murdered
because he was gay and because he was a prominent and charismatic member of the gay and lesbian student group on campus. Right now
Wyoming and Colorado have no anti-hate crime laws; the state legislature in Wyoming has voted down anti-bias bills for each of the past three
years. There is an effort in Wyoming and Colorado to enact Matthew Shepard Laws, which would strongly punish the perpetrators of hate
crimes. This petition demands the broadening of federal anti-hate crime law.
Opening Statement:
"As a religious voice, we state strongly that violence on the basis of sexual orientation, race or gender is wrong, is evil, is reprehensible."
- -John Buehren, President of The Unitarian Universalist Association, speaks for Unitarian Universalists but his words are reflected in the
hearts of people everywhere who believe we must speak out, take action against, and condemn hate crimes in all their ugly forms.
A resolution follows:
WHEREAS: We affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; and
WHEREAS: We commend the efforts of those individuals who dedicate their lives to causes of social justice and human rights; and
WHEREAS: We support actions that protect the individual's rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That we hereby urge the passage of The Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), H.R.3081 and S.1529
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), H.R.3081 and S.1529, would amend current federal law (which permits federal prosecution of a hate crime
only if the crime was motivated by bias based on religion, national origin, or color) to include real or perceived sexual orientation, gender, and disability so the FBI would be able to investigate and prosecute violent hate crimes against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.
Under this bill,
hate crimes that cause death or bodily injury because of prejudice can be investigated federally, regardless of whether the victim was
exercising a federally protected right.
The only way that our representatives can be aware of the base of support for this change to the current law is by making our voices
heard.
Please add your name to this petition and forward it to friends who believe in what it stands for. The petition will then be forwarded to
the President of The United States; the Vice President of the United States; and our United States Senators and House Members.
Petition Management:
1. This petition is being passed around the Internet. Please add your name to it so that we can have tougher laws against all hate crimes.
Please keep the petition rolling. Do not reply to me. Please sign and forward to others to sign. This is being forwarded to several people at
once to add their names. It will not matter if many people receive the same list as the names are being managed.
2. If you print out this petition for signing please email the listing of names with locations to the email address:
AllRunique@aol.com (an email address created to receive this petition) Include a note to indicate you have a hand-signed petition and include
the number of names listed.
3. If you happen to be the 100th, 150th, 200th, 250th, etc. signer of this petition, please forward a copy to the email address: AllRunique@aol.com
4. If you sign, please pass it on to others. If not, please do not kill it: send it on to the email address:
AllRunique@aol.com
I cannot stay silent, my outrage and compassion will not allow.
Note: It is preferable that you Select the entirety of this letter and then COPY it into a new outgoing message, add your name to the bottom of the list, then send it on. Or if option is available, please do a SEND AGAIN
