Matthew Shepard Act to be voted on tomorrow, Please Please call now

[BirminghamExaminer]

EXCERPT:

Congress will be voting on the Matthew Shepard Act tomorrow. The Human Rights Campaign has launched a national call-in campaign urging supporters of the anti-hate bill to call their representatives in Congress.

Dubbed the Matthew Shepard Act, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would provide local police departments with federal resources to combat hate violence.

Extremist right wing groups are flooding Congress with calls and emails urging their representatives to vote against the Matthew Shepard Act. The right wing groups are spreading so-called 'fact sheets' that are made up of some fairly horrendous lies in order to urge their representatives to vote against the bill.

The true facts are:

* Hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are on the rise.
* One out of every six hate crimes is because of the victim's sexual orientation.
* Hate crimes are intended to create an atmosphere of fear and loathing
* The Matthew Shepard Act targets only violent acts, not speech.
* The Matthew Shepard Act does not prevent clergy or others from speaking against homosexuality
* Hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are underreported


(SNIP)

If you need to know who to contact and their phone number: http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/your_elected_officials.asp

For more information, go here. The right wing coalition is calling in record numbers to tell their reps NOT to vote for the Matthew Shepard act. The phone call is super easy to make...the article walks you through it.

[AspenRose]

1. Fellow DUers of the Methodist persuasion. Please call.

Call Your Representative and Urge them to Stop Hate Crimes, April 28-29

As United Methodists, "We deplore acts of hate or violence against groups or persons based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or economic status." (Para. 161 III, The Social Community)

Call toll-free at 866-346-4611 Tuesday or Wednesday, April 28-29, and urge support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA) to fight hate crimes and ensure safety and security for all people.

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1913) expands the coverage of existing hate crime laws to include not only victims of crime based on race, color, religion, and national origin, but also bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. This is important legislation that Christians can and should support.

Take action today and learn more abvout the act by visiting our Action Center.

H.R. 1913 also provides for federal involvement in prosecuting hate crimes in states where current law or local actions are inadequate. This legislation will not prevent any form of free speech, unless that speech directly incites violence against someone.

Hate crimes cut across all of our communities and the LLEHCPA (H.R. 1913) is needed to ensure that all people have the right to be safe and free from physical harm and intimidation. Call your representative toll-free at 866-346-4611, Monday-Wednesday, April 27-April 29, and urge support of H.R. 1913 to fight hate crimes and provide safety and security for all people.

In Christ,

Bill Mefford
Director, Civil and Human Rights
(General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church)

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Will do little good for me to contact my Rep., John Boozman, who tows the extreme GOP line 99.9%.

[AspenRose]

4. He still represents you.

Whether he "tows the line" or not.

Choose to be counted.

[BirminghamExaminer]

6. I live in ALABAMA and I called, so there are no excuses for not calling

Our Freeper friends and wingnut whackjobs are calling, so we really need to also!

[JonLP24]

2. K&R

[QueenOfCalifornia]

5. It's sad

that there even has to be a bill passed to protect people. It's also sad that the rw idiots would want to take time out of their idiotic day to make sure that human rights are minimized.

[chill_wind]

7. To the GP. n/t

[dem629]

8. I was harangued by a local activist on this subject just two days ago.

The person couldn't even explain it. Sigh.

[BirminghamExaminer]

9. What do you mean? n/t

[dem629]

10. There's a group that is sending people out to "inform"

the public, trying to get people to act and influence our congressman's vote.

I asked this person one question (one that is at the heart of this issue) and they couldn't answer it.

I'm just making the point that I find it fascinating that activist groups of any kind would send people out into the community completely unable to answer the most obvious questions. That's all.

[Occulus]

11. What was your question? n/t

[BirminghamExaminer]

13. I was wondering if the person you're referring to was for or against the bill

[donheld]

12. Why didn't you offer the volunteer some coaching

rather than make his/her job difficult. Do you even support hate crimes legislation?

[Duncan Grant]

15. delete

HiYa! Wrong spot, donheld. :hi:

[Duncan Grant]

16. Would you like to talk to me about hate crimes legislation?

Should we start with "thought crimes"? Isn't that the fulcrum on which opponents balance their argument?

[Ohio Joe]

14. K&R - nt

[Echo In Light]

17. K&R