Hate Crimes Trainings come to Biloxi

Yesterday, in the aftermath of Wednesday night’s mass shooting that killed nine members of a Charleston, S.C. church, President Obama addressed the nation to express his “deep sorrow over the senseless murders,” and, simply put, said these hate-fueled attacks are happening too many times.

This tragedy that took nine lives and shocked a community is currently being investigated by the Department of Justice as a possible hate crime. The importance of accurately and efficiently investigating and reporting hate crimes cannot be understated. Yesterday in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Department of Justice held this year’s second set of hate crimes trainings to educate local law enforcement personnel on proper reporting procedures and the history and significance of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Judy and Dennis Shepard, along with Dave O’Malley, who led the investigation into Matthew’s murder in 1998, were in attendance to speak from the victim’s perspective and the importance of the Shepard-Byrd Act, which they spent more than a decade advocating for. The Shepards and O’Malley remind law enforcement officials that reporting these crimes matters; accurate data helps us better assess the violence that threatens those of a certain sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, etc.

But more importantly, the Shepards remind those in attendance of Matt’s story and the thousands of others like his that happen every day around the world that don’t garner national attention. The horrific event that took place this past Wednesday, and the lives lost to hatred and nonsensical violence, is evidence of a persisting problem. The hatred that lives within our communities needs to be addressed.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation is dedicated to Erasing Hate: through the Shepards’ work changing hearts and minds around the world, creating dialogues about hate and prejudice at talkbacks for The Laramie Project, giving a voice to our youth on MatthewsPlace.com, and partnering with the Department of Justice to provide local law enforcement agencies with proper hate crimes reporting education and training.

But we can’t facilitate this change alone. Your support, and your willingness to start the necessary conversations that address the hate that surrounds our lives is a crucial component to our progress as a country and as human beings. Help us to erase hate and replace it with understanding, compassion and acceptance.