Kelley -----Original Message----- From: John Aravosis <john at wiredstrategies.com> PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK <psn at csf.colorado.edu> date: Friday, October 16, 1998 9:26 AM subject: ALERT: Religious right orders Lott/Gingrich to kill Hate Crime bill
Personal note from John of Wired Strategies: a well-placed Senate source told me tonight that a certain well-known "family values" group has told Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) to kill the Hate Crimes Prevention Act before Congress finishes up today (Friday). Today is Matthew's funeral. And while the Rev. Fred Phelps is protesting at Matthew's grave, his henchman are doing their best to keep hate alive in Washington. We HAVE to get as many calls - not emails (it's too late for that) - as possible to Lott and Gingrich IMMEDIATELY!
Let's do this one for Matthew, folks.
PS Don't let them tell you they're passing, or have passed, a "resolution" on Matthew's death. These are do-nothing bills, like declaring "National Butter Day", that Congress passes to kiss up to special interests - we want a real law that protects our lives.
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ONLINE DAY OF ACTION FOR MATTHEW Friday October 16, 1998
*** NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ANNOUNCE DAY OF URGENT ACTION TO HONOR MATTHEW SHEPARD *** *** EVERYONE URGED TO PHONE LOTT AND GINGRICH NOW!!! ***
WHO: The Human Rights Campaign, Wired Strategies, GLAAD, NGLTF and PlanetOut are jointly sponsoring a national day of action to tell Congress "Enough is Enough - Pass the Hate Crimes Law NOW!"
WHAT: We are mobilizing the Net to shut down the phones of House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott until they pass the HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT. Congress' last day for the year is Friday October 16 - so we need to act now, and close them down all day long.
WHEN: Friday October 16, naturally.
HOW'S IT WORK?: The action is easy.
1) Pick up the phone and call Sen. Lott and Rep. Gingrich now!
* Lott's phone numbers: (202) 224-3135, and (202) 224-6253
* Gingrich's phone numbers: (202) 225-0600, and (202) 225-4501
* TELL THEM: "Matthew Shepard's death in not just a tragedy, it's unacceptable. Congress has been sitting on the Hate Crimes Prevention Act for over a year. Pass it now before the Congressional session is over!"
2) Send this email to as many friends as possible, urging them to act.
3) If you have a Web site, we would ask that you post a new home page all day Friday - which we provide below - honoring Matthew and calling on everyone visiting your site to call Sen. Lott and Rep. Gingrich immediately. The html text for the page is included below.
A FINAL WORD: Matthew Shepard may be gone, but we refuse to let his too short life and untimely death be in vain. Please join us now in turning our sorrow and anger into positive action. If you need some inspiration, take another look at the Virtual Vigil page on the Matthew Shepard Online Resources Web site, read the quotes and see the pictures, again. And remember why we're doing this. <http://www.wiredstrategies.com/shepard.html>
TODAY
I black out my homepage.
I call for an end to hate and violence.
I call on religious political extremist groups to stop their anti-gay ads.
I call on Congress to pass the Hate Crime Prevention Act.
I am right now callingTrent Lott (202) 224-3135 and Newt Gingrich (202) 225-0600 demanding passage of this bill.
I ask you to call them as well.
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>Get the latest on the Matthew Shepard anti-gay hate
>crime case at the Matthew Shepard Online Resource center:
><http://www.wiredstrategies.com/shepard.html>
>
>The site includes:
>* latest news on the case
>* action center to: email Congress; email Matthew's family; donate money
>* info on anti-gay hate crimes
>* photographs from the DC candlelight vigil - Oct. 14
>* email subscription list
>* email links to major and local newspapers
>* links to other useful sites
>* online bulletin board to share your views on the case
>
>To subscribe to the email update list, visit
><http://www.wiredstrategies.com/shepard.html> and use the
>easy online subscription form. Generally I only send one email
>per day. This site is sponsored for free by Wired Strategies
>Political Internet Consulting <www.wiredstrategies.com>.
>
>"The opportunity to be threatened, humiliated and to live in
>fear of being beaten to death is the only 'special right'
>our culture bestows on homosexuals."
> - Diane Carman, Denver Post, October 10, 1998