The events of March 16th provide a grim reminder of the hatred that plagues this nation. And in the muddiness of the media accounts, law enforcement interviews and expert reports, only one thing is clear – 8 innocent people lost their lives in a senseless crime motivated by hate. Whether that be hate for a…
MSF Supporters, After almost four years with the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the time has come for me to leave. I’ve accepted an offer to work for a tech company that is expanding their civil rights platform. Today is my last day. I’m eternally grateful to Dennis and Judy Shepard, members of the Board of Directors,…
The Washington Post – Opinion by Cynthia M. Deitle and Wade Henderson (Feb. 22, 2021) Cynthia M. Deitle is the Matthew Shepard Foundation’s director of civil rights reform and a former special agent with the FBI. Wade Henderson serves as interim president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. The worst way to respond to the Jan. 6 assault on the…
Charleston, SC – The Charleston Police Department, in partnership with the Matthew Shepard Foundation and Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, will host a training on hate crime prevention for local law enforcement officers, investigators and prosecutors on Friday, February 12th. The curriculum will address the importance of effective investigation and prosecution of hate…
Testimony of Judy Shepard Friday, January 29, 2021 Before the House Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee Chairman Michael Mullin, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for today’s hearing and for the honor to testify in support of H.B. 2132 on behalf of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. I am Judy Shepard, President and co-founder of…
Four years ago, I sat in front of my television alone and grieving. Dennis was working overseas, but he checked in on me via FaceTime – he was worried about me. I couldn’t stop weeping – no, weeping is too calm a word. I was bawling, near hysterics. I was angry, afraid and ashamed. Angry…
Wyoming Groups Call for Transparency and Accountability in the Aftermath of the Attack on the Capitol Last week, horrified Americans watched as a violent assault was staged in our nation’s capital, putting the lives of our elected leaders and other public servants in danger, and disrupting a constitutionally mandated meeting of Congress to advance the…
MSF Friends & Supporters, It is with some sadness and great pride that I want to let you know I am leaving the Matthew Shepard Foundation. These eleven years have been an extraordinary tour of duty, kindling friendships and partnerships across the globe in the memory and name of a single extraordinary member of our…
(Washington, D.C.) – Newly released FBI hate crime statistics for 2019 paint a distressing picture of a crisis in growing bias-motivated crime paired with declining transparency from police, the co-founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation said Monday. “In many ways it’s the worst of both worlds,” said Judy Shepard. “Hate crimes continued their five-year rise…
Official Media Release: (Washington, D.C.) – The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, signed by President Barack Obama 11 years ago this month, was a milestone hate crime law which increased the jurisdiction of the FBI and Department of Justice to investigate bias-motivated violence targeting vulnerable individuals, and added gender and…