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disneydream06I got this from my friend, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
truly_divine.
This is a letter I found this on the gay_writers community. The guy who wrote this recieved from the writer of The Matthew Shepard Story. PLEASE take action and call or write. this is NO joke.
Dear Friends,
I never forward mass emails, but this one comes directly from me. It's
important. And I need your help.
Please send an email to ABC and 20/20 by clicking the link at the bottom
and forward this along to anyone who can help.
As most of you know, a few years ago my writing partner, John Wierick, and
I wrote the screenplay for the movie "The Matthew Shepard Story". The film
documented the life and tragic death of Matthew Shepard, who was tied to a
fence and beaten to death in one of the most savage anti-gay hate crimes
in recent history. It also told the story of Matthew's parents, Judy and
Dennis, and their astounding act of mercy: a decision to put aside their
emotions, and convince Prosecutor Cal Rerucha to forego the death penalty
for Aaron McKinney, one of the two men responsible for their son's brutal
murder.
In exchange, the Shepards were given one small consolation, proposed by
the defense attorneys in the case. In exchange for his life, McKinney would agree to a plea bargain similar to that of the other killer, Russell Henderson. The deal would keep McKinney in jail for the rest of his life, with no possibility of parole
or appeal. More importantly, like Henderson had already done, McKinney would
agree to a permanent gag order,which would prevent him from talking to the
press. For the Shepards, it meant the closest thing to an end to the most
horrific event of their lives. They would never have to hear from their
son's killers again, or worry about them doing the same thing to someone
else.
Unfortunately, recently, McKinney and Henderson have mounted a new effort
to overturn the terms of their plea bargains-- terms that were proposed by
their own lawyers and accepted by the Shepards at a time when it seemed
there was no question that McKinney was heading for a death sentence. And
disturbingly, it seems that ABC's 20/20 is planning to help them achieve
their goal.
On November 26, the Friday after Thanksgiving, 20/20 will air a segment
featuring an interview with Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson-- in
direct violation of their agreement with the Shepards and the terms of their plea
bargain. For the Shepards, it means Thanksgiving will be spent once
again reliving their son's murder. For the killers, it means political capital in their quest to reverse the terms of their plea bargain In their interview, McKinney and Henderson attempt to rewrite history. They claimt that the murder was not a hate crime but a robbery linked to crystal meth addiction. In doing so, they attempt to recast themselves as victims. Desperate addicts who lost control of a terrible situation. Don't believe it.
Here are the facts. Matthew's murder was a hate crime. In his original
defense, McKinney and his lawyers even argued as much, claiming that when
he saw Matthew, McKinney experienced a state of "gay panic" during which he
could not be held accountable for his actions. Now, suddenly they ask us
to believe that homophobia had no role in the murder at all.
As if this weren't enough-- after beating Matthew at least 20 times with a
pistol, shattering his skull in 6 places, and leaving him tied to a fence
(where he hung, still alive, for 18 hours in the freezing cold, before he
was finally discovered and taken to the hospital where he died)-- the two
went on two commit ANOTHER hate crime that same night, in which they beat
an Hispanic youth so violently he ended up in the emergency room.
Despite their eagerness to violate a court order to help two convicted
murderers rewrite history, 20/20 has shown little interest in the other
side of the story. While Aaron McKinney was signing gloating autographs from
prison, Judy Shepard was teaching tolerance in schools, fighting for hate
crimes legislation in Congress, and talking honestly about her son's life
with parents throughout the country. Yet 20/20 did not even interview
her for the segment.
Aaron McKinney should be grateful to Judy and Dennis Shepard. Were it not
for their compassion he would almost certainly be on death row today.
But he and Russell Henderson have shown no more compassion Judy and Dennis
thanthey showed to their son. McKinney and Henderon's interview is an insult
to Judy and Dennis' Shepards' act of mercy, and a dishonor to Matthew's
memory.
And if they proceed with their plans to air it, 20/20 will be equally
culpable.
Fortunately, we can still stop them:
Please join me in sending e-mails to audience relations at ABC at netaudr@abc.com and to the producers of 20/20 at 2020@abc.com urging them
not to air the McKinney interview. You can also call ABC at 818-460-7477
to let them know how you feel.
You can copy this message into your e-mail if you like:
I stand with Judy and Dennis Shepard, urging you to recognize the
agreement embraced by Aaron McKinney and his lawyers at the time of his sentencing, which, in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty,
prohibited Mr. McKinney from talking to any news media organizations regarding the
criminal case against him. Please do not air the McKinney/Henderson
segment or any part of it,scheduled for November 26th, 2004. Sincerely, (Your
name).
Please forward or copy/ paste this e-mail to as many people as you can. The more pressure brought to bear on this issue, the better.
Thank you,
Jacob Krueger
Writer - "The Matthew Shepard Story"
truly_divine.This is a letter I found this on the gay_writers community. The guy who wrote this recieved from the writer of The Matthew Shepard Story. PLEASE take action and call or write. this is NO joke.
Dear Friends,
I never forward mass emails, but this one comes directly from me. It's
important. And I need your help.
Please send an email to ABC and 20/20 by clicking the link at the bottom
and forward this along to anyone who can help.
As most of you know, a few years ago my writing partner, John Wierick, and
I wrote the screenplay for the movie "The Matthew Shepard Story". The film
documented the life and tragic death of Matthew Shepard, who was tied to a
fence and beaten to death in one of the most savage anti-gay hate crimes
in recent history. It also told the story of Matthew's parents, Judy and
Dennis, and their astounding act of mercy: a decision to put aside their
emotions, and convince Prosecutor Cal Rerucha to forego the death penalty
for Aaron McKinney, one of the two men responsible for their son's brutal
murder.
In exchange, the Shepards were given one small consolation, proposed by
the defense attorneys in the case. In exchange for his life, McKinney would agree to a plea bargain similar to that of the other killer, Russell Henderson. The deal would keep McKinney in jail for the rest of his life, with no possibility of parole
or appeal. More importantly, like Henderson had already done, McKinney would
agree to a permanent gag order,which would prevent him from talking to the
press. For the Shepards, it meant the closest thing to an end to the most
horrific event of their lives. They would never have to hear from their
son's killers again, or worry about them doing the same thing to someone
else.
Unfortunately, recently, McKinney and Henderson have mounted a new effort
to overturn the terms of their plea bargains-- terms that were proposed by
their own lawyers and accepted by the Shepards at a time when it seemed
there was no question that McKinney was heading for a death sentence. And
disturbingly, it seems that ABC's 20/20 is planning to help them achieve
their goal.
On November 26, the Friday after Thanksgiving, 20/20 will air a segment
featuring an interview with Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson-- in
direct violation of their agreement with the Shepards and the terms of their plea
bargain. For the Shepards, it means Thanksgiving will be spent once
again reliving their son's murder. For the killers, it means political capital in their quest to reverse the terms of their plea bargain In their interview, McKinney and Henderson attempt to rewrite history. They claimt that the murder was not a hate crime but a robbery linked to crystal meth addiction. In doing so, they attempt to recast themselves as victims. Desperate addicts who lost control of a terrible situation. Don't believe it.
Here are the facts. Matthew's murder was a hate crime. In his original
defense, McKinney and his lawyers even argued as much, claiming that when
he saw Matthew, McKinney experienced a state of "gay panic" during which he
could not be held accountable for his actions. Now, suddenly they ask us
to believe that homophobia had no role in the murder at all.
As if this weren't enough-- after beating Matthew at least 20 times with a
pistol, shattering his skull in 6 places, and leaving him tied to a fence
(where he hung, still alive, for 18 hours in the freezing cold, before he
was finally discovered and taken to the hospital where he died)-- the two
went on two commit ANOTHER hate crime that same night, in which they beat
an Hispanic youth so violently he ended up in the emergency room.
Despite their eagerness to violate a court order to help two convicted
murderers rewrite history, 20/20 has shown little interest in the other
side of the story. While Aaron McKinney was signing gloating autographs from
prison, Judy Shepard was teaching tolerance in schools, fighting for hate
crimes legislation in Congress, and talking honestly about her son's life
with parents throughout the country. Yet 20/20 did not even interview
her for the segment.
Aaron McKinney should be grateful to Judy and Dennis Shepard. Were it not
for their compassion he would almost certainly be on death row today.
But he and Russell Henderson have shown no more compassion Judy and Dennis
thanthey showed to their son. McKinney and Henderon's interview is an insult
to Judy and Dennis' Shepards' act of mercy, and a dishonor to Matthew's
memory.
And if they proceed with their plans to air it, 20/20 will be equally
culpable.
Fortunately, we can still stop them:
Please join me in sending e-mails to audience relations at ABC at netaudr@abc.com and to the producers of 20/20 at 2020@abc.com urging them
not to air the McKinney interview. You can also call ABC at 818-460-7477
to let them know how you feel.
You can copy this message into your e-mail if you like:
I stand with Judy and Dennis Shepard, urging you to recognize the
agreement embraced by Aaron McKinney and his lawyers at the time of his sentencing, which, in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty,
prohibited Mr. McKinney from talking to any news media organizations regarding the
criminal case against him. Please do not air the McKinney/Henderson
segment or any part of it,scheduled for November 26th, 2004. Sincerely, (Your
name).
Please forward or copy/ paste this e-mail to as many people as you can. The more pressure brought to bear on this issue, the better.
Thank you,
Jacob Krueger
Writer - "The Matthew Shepard Story"
