*The Last Days of Matthew Shepard: October 9* *My late friend Thomas Alan Heald sadly passed away last May. He was a humorist, editor and writer, and I want to carry on his tradition of sending out one of his works, "The Last Days of Matthew Shepard." I do this to honor both Matthew Shepard and my friend Tom Heald. May they both rest in peace and may we all learn a lasting lesson from the senseless homophobic murder of Matthew Shepard. -Tommy News I invite you to join our Matthew Shepard Pride and Tolerance Group here:* http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MatthewShepardPrideandTolerance/
*The Last Days of Matthew Shepard: October 9* ** On this day in 1998, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson are arraigned in court, along with their girlfriends who have now been named accomplices for helping them dispose of their bloody clothing. All four remain in police custody. Robert H. Knight, of The Family Research Council, holds a press conference to denounce the attack on Shepard: "Although the motivation for the attack is not confirmed at this time, violently attacking a person is unconscionable, whatever the reason. It is indicative of a culture that has become inured to violence and has lost respect for the human person." But while he says that "this young man, no less than anyone else, should be protected, and his attackers should feel the full force of the law," the attack should not be used by activists seeking to exploit the tragedy to strengthen "so-called 'hate crimes laws" because "every crime is a 'hate' crime. 'Hate crimes' laws skew the legal system and afford unequal protection by design." Walter Boulden, a friend of Shepard, tells The University of Wyoming newspaper, the "Branding Iron," that "they're not expecting him to ever wake up." At seven o'clock, Matthew Shepard's parents and brother arrive at his hospital bedside in Fort Collins. No interviews will be given to the media, but the family has issued a statement to be read by the hospital's president and CEO noting that in lieu of flowers, donations are requested for a fund started today by the town's First National Bank. In their nine o'clock. media update, Poudre Valley Hospital reports that two to three dozen phone calls of support and donation have come into the hospital switchboard from not only Colorado but around the nation. Shepard's medical status remains unchanged. He still rests in the surgical-neuro intensive care unit in critical condition, on respiratory support and a ventilator. It's not encouraging news for a now-growing candlelight vigil. === "The Last Days of Matthew Shepard October 1998" © 2008 Thomas Allen Heald, originally written and researched in 2001. Sources: The Seattle Gay News, the PR Newswire, the University of Wyoming LGBTA, Wired Strategies, and The Branding Iron. -- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
