WASHINGTON – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the families of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. held a call with the members of the press to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the ongoing work of the Lawyers’ Committee to combat hate. The legislation was passed as an Act of Congress on October 22, 2009 and signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 28, 2009.
Although the law makes large strides in federal funding and accountability in preventing hate crimes in the U.S., ten-years later, crimes motivated by actual or perceived gender, race, sexual orientation and disability persists. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law continues to combat hate through its Stop Hate Project including the organization’s recent investigation into law enforcement with known ties to white supremacist and extremist organizations.
“The Matthew Shepard Hates Crimes Prevention Act is one of our nation’s most important tools in the current battle against rising hate crimes and white supremacy,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “From the massacre in El Paso and arsons targeting Black churches in Louisiana, from the infiltration of white supremacists inside the ranks of law enforcement to a spike in bullying inside our nation’s schools, the administration must do more to counter hate and hold perpetrators accountable.” The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law stands with the James Byrd Jr. and Matthew Shepard families in redoubling efforts to fight our nation’s current hate crime crisis on multiple fronts.”
“On behalf of the Byrd family, we heartily applaud and celebrate the passage of this hate crime bill,” said Louvon Harris Byrd, sister of James Byrd Jr. “Hate and hate related crimes are steadily increasing and hopefully this bill can serve as a deterrent when it is enforced. It is very important for us to keep any kind on the forefront of our minds and our society. We need to address the root causes of hate and provide resources to educate, especially our children, on the ratification of actions related to hate and prejudice. The fact still remains that hate divides us and separates us as a people. Hate leaves an everlasting scar on victims of hate. Hate has no boundaries or geographic location. Hate controls us as an individual and hate has no conscience. So let us continue to be the voices of the victims who lost their lives because of hate. We would like to thank everyone that had a part in the passage of this bill. It was through your hard work, determination, and endurance that this momentous task was finally accomplished. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act will forever be a tribute to James’ life and his legacy.”
“The Shepard-Byrd Act is the law of the land and is needed now more than ever. Unfortunately, we have seen government funding and resources shift to fighting international terrorism in the decade since the passage of Shepard-Byrd, despite the fact that hate crimes have led to far more deaths of Americans here at home. Acts that would be considered domestic terrorism in any other country,” said Judy and Dennis Shepard, parents of Matthew Shepard. “We don’t want to see another incident or life lost as we lost Matt. Any loss of life, any loss of job, any loss of desire to work towards fulfilling a person’s dreams and goals because of hate related words or actions is a loss to the local community where that person lives, and a loss to this country. We look forward to a re-focus on the causes of hate crimes and the reduction of hate crime incidents as America changes direction and moves forward towards a more equal and just country. Read the Shephard family’s full statement here.
The Lawyers’ Committee’s 1-844-9-NO-HATE Resource Hotline (1-844-966-4283) serves as a resource for organizations and individuals working to combat hate in their respective communities. Trained staff and volunteers will provide legal information about hate incidents and crimes, and provide callers with general information about reporting, as well as the kinds of legal remedies that may be available in different states. The project connects people with these resources by leveraging the pre-existing relationships with state and local groups that the Lawyers’ Committee has built through decades of legal and organizing work in its other project areas.
