July, 02 2009, 12:30pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brad Luna | Phone: 202/216.1514,Trevor Thomas | Phone: 202/216.1547
Man Convicted in Anti-Gay Killing Released from Prison One Year After Sentencing; Victims Mother Notified by Automated Message
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder highlighted case while testifying in support of hate crimes legislation last week
WASHINGTON
The
Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today condemned the early
release of Stephen Andrew Moller, who was convicted in June of 2008 in
the death of 20-year-old Sean Kennedy. Sean's mother, Elke Kennedy,
was informed of the release by automated message last night. Witnesses
testified at trial that Kennedy's attacker shouted anti-gay slurs while
punching Kennedy outside a Greenville, SC bar in May of 2007.
Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today condemned the early
release of Stephen Andrew Moller, who was convicted in June of 2008 in
the death of 20-year-old Sean Kennedy. Sean's mother, Elke Kennedy,
was informed of the release by automated message last night. Witnesses
testified at trial that Kennedy's attacker shouted anti-gay slurs while
punching Kennedy outside a Greenville, SC bar in May of 2007.
"This adds insult to injury. To
release a man just one-year after his sentencing in this heinous crime
and to inform the victim's mother through an automated recording is
despicable," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Sean
Kennedy was violently attacked for no other reason than his sexual
orientation. This is a text book case of why we need to pass federal
legislation that would bring stiffer penalties and provide local
authorities with the full resources of the U.S. Justice Department to
address vicious hate crimes."
release a man just one-year after his sentencing in this heinous crime
and to inform the victim's mother through an automated recording is
despicable," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Sean
Kennedy was violently attacked for no other reason than his sexual
orientation. This is a text book case of why we need to pass federal
legislation that would bring stiffer penalties and provide local
authorities with the full resources of the U.S. Justice Department to
address vicious hate crimes."
"They say one thing and do something
else," said Elke Kennedy, Sean's mother. "He should have served every
single day of the already short sentence, instead he was released from
prison one week early. Where is the justice?"
else," said Elke Kennedy, Sean's mother. "He should have served every
single day of the already short sentence, instead he was released from
prison one week early. Where is the justice?"
U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder
Jr. highlighted Sean Kennedy's case last week while testifying before
the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of federal hate crimes
legislation. Holder, the first time an Attorney General has testified
in favor of this legislation, said Sean's death was an example of an
"appalling crime" where "state prosecutions may not always fully
vindicate Federal interests."
Jr. highlighted Sean Kennedy's case last week while testifying before
the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of federal hate crimes
legislation. Holder, the first time an Attorney General has testified
in favor of this legislation, said Sean's death was an example of an
"appalling crime" where "state prosecutions may not always fully
vindicate Federal interests."
Both Elke Kennedy and Joe Solmonese
submitted written testimony at the hearing in support of the Matthew
Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). To read the testimony,
visit www.HRCBackStory.org.
The legislation, which was passed in the U.S. House by a vote of
249-175 in April, would provide local police and sheriff's departments
with federal resources to combat hate violence. The legislation is
currently awaiting a vote in the U.S. Senate.
submitted written testimony at the hearing in support of the Matthew
Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). To read the testimony,
visit www.HRCBackStory.org.
The legislation, which was passed in the U.S. House by a vote of
249-175 in April, would provide local police and sheriff's departments
with federal resources to combat hate violence. The legislation is
currently awaiting a vote in the U.S. Senate.
"Sean is among many American's who
are targeted just because of who they are. These crimes not only harm
individuals, they terrorize entire communities," said Solmonese. "After
more than a decade and nine successful votes in Congress, there is no
good reason for any delay on bringing hate crimes legislation to the
President's desk. We must finally pass this bill and start the
important steps to erasing hate in our country."
are targeted just because of who they are. These crimes not only harm
individuals, they terrorize entire communities," said Solmonese. "After
more than a decade and nine successful votes in Congress, there is no
good reason for any delay on bringing hate crimes legislation to the
President's desk. We must finally pass this bill and start the
important steps to erasing hate in our country."
U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), the
Kennedy family's senator, recently wrote a shocking letter to local
priests and pastors advocating against hate crime legislation. DeMint,
who has regularly spoken out against the LGBT community, wrote the
following in reference to hate crimes legislation: "Many pastors
hesitate to explain that government policies have helped cause the
decline of America's culture, morality and spirituality. ... I am
writing you today to remind you that religious principals and biblical
teachings produced the values and polices that made America
exceptional, prosperous, and good."
Kennedy family's senator, recently wrote a shocking letter to local
priests and pastors advocating against hate crime legislation. DeMint,
who has regularly spoken out against the LGBT community, wrote the
following in reference to hate crimes legislation: "Many pastors
hesitate to explain that government policies have helped cause the
decline of America's culture, morality and spirituality. ... I am
writing you today to remind you that religious principals and biblical
teachings produced the values and polices that made America
exceptional, prosperous, and good."
The Matthew Shepard Act gives the
Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias
motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim
because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion,
national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or
disability. It provides the Justice Department with the ability to aid
state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where
local authorities are unwilling or unable, by taking the lead in
investigations and prosecutions of violent crime resulting in death or
serious bodily injury that were motivated by bias. It also makes
grants available to state and local communities to combat violent
crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers, or to
assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias
motivated crimes.
Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias
motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim
because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion,
national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or
disability. It provides the Justice Department with the ability to aid
state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where
local authorities are unwilling or unable, by taking the lead in
investigations and prosecutions of violent crime resulting in death or
serious bodily injury that were motivated by bias. It also makes
grants available to state and local communities to combat violent
crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers, or to
assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias
motivated crimes.
To learn more about Sean Kennedy's story and HRC's working coalition to pass hate crimes legislation, visit www.FightHateNow.org.
The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
LATEST NEWS
Biden 'Moving the Goal Post' With Threat to Withhold Bombs From Israel
"Now Israel has a green light to destroy Rafah in slow motion," said one critic.
May 08, 2024
While some Palestine defenders on Wednesday welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden's threat to withhold bombs and artillery shells from Israel if it launches a major invasion of Rafah, critics noted that an invasion is already underway and accused the American leader of walking back a previous "red line" warning against an Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city.
Biden said for the first time that he'll stop sending bombs, artillery shells, and other arms to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians forcibly displaced from other parts of the embattled Gaza Strip are sheltering alongside around 280,000 local residents.
Referring to Israel's use of U.S.-supplied 2,000-pound bombs—which can destroy an entire city block and have been used in some of the war's worst atrocities—Biden toldCNN's Erin Burnett that "civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers."
Even the U.S. military—which has killed more foreign civilians than any other armed force on the planet since the end of World War II—won't use 2,000-pound bombs in urban areas. But Israel does, including when it launched a strike to assassinate a single Hamas commander by dropping the munitions on the Jabalia refugee camp last October, killing more than 120 civilians.
"If they go into Rafah, I'm not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities," Biden said Wednesday.
Israeli forces have already gone into Rafah, and it was reported Tuesday that Biden was taking the unusual step of delaying shipments of two types of Boeing-made bombs to Israel to send a message to the country's far-right government. It was, however, a mixed message, as the president also earlier in the day reaffirmed his support for Israel's war on Gaza, which the International Court of Justice said is "plausibly" genocidal in a preliminary ruling in January.
Critics noted the shifting and subjective language used by Biden—who previously said that any Israeli invasion of Rafah would constitute a "red line" resulting in unspecified consequences.
"He said invading Rafah was a red line. Israel invaded Rafah anyway, bombing buildings, burning and crushing children to death," political analyst Omar Baddar said on social media. "Biden is now moving the goal post by adding a completely subjective descriptor: 'Major.' Now Israel has a green light to destroy Rafah in slow motion."
During the course of the seven-month Israeli assault on Gaza—which has killed, maimed, or left missing more than 124,000 Palestinians—Biden has said Israel has killed "too many civilians" with its "indiscriminate bombing," even as he's pushed for more and more military aid for the key ally.
Wednesday's interview came on the heels of Biden's approval of a $14.3 billion emergency military aid package to Israel, multiple moves to sidestep Congress to fast-track armed assistance, nearly $4 billion in previously authorized annual military aid, and diplomatic cover in the form of several United Nations Security Council vetoes.
Reporting that the Biden administration will delay a highly anticipated report on whether Israel is using U.S. military aid in compliance with international law also drew backlash Tuesday from human rights advocates.
Referring to Israel's U.S.-funded anti-missile system, Biden continued his supportive rhetoric during Wednesday's CNN interview, telling Burnett that "we're going to continue to make sure Israel is secure in terms of Iron Dome and their ability to respond to attacks."
But the president added that Israel's use of devastating weaponry against civilians is "just wrong," and that "we're not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells."
Some peace groups welcomed Biden's threat to withhold bombs and artillery shells from Israel, even while urging him to do more to stop his ally's genocidal onslaught.
"Biden's statement is as necessary as it is over overdue," Jewish Voice for Peace executive director Stefanie Fox said in a statement. "The U.S. already bears responsibility for months of catastrophic devastation: The nearly 40,000 Palestinians that the Israeli military has killed, the two million Palestinians being intentionally brought to the brink of famine, the decimation of all universities and almost every hospital in Gaza."
"Today's statement shows that Biden can no longer ignore the will of the majority of Americans who want a permanent cease-fire, release of all hostages, and an end to U.S. complicity in Israeli war crimes," Fox added.
Keep ReadingShow Less
House Dems Save 'MAGA Mike' Johnson From Marjorie Taylor Greene Ouster
"The GOP chaos caucus continues to do nothing for the American people and instead waste time infighting," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who did not support saving the far-right leader.
May 08, 2024
The majority of Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday saved far-right Speaker Mike Johnson from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's attempt to oust him after less than seven months in the leadership position.
Johnson's (R-La.) election to the role in October—following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who then left Congress early—was seen as a signal of the MAGA flank's hold on the Republican Party. However, since then he has faced criticism from Greene (R-Ga.) and others for, among other things, not shutting down the government.
Greene delivered on her threatened motion to vacate—provoking boos from fellow lawmakers—after meeting with Johnson for hours on Monday and Tuesday. The final vote to table her resolution was 359-43, with 196 Republicans and 163 Democrats backing the far-right speaker. Seven Democrats voted present and 21 lawmakers did not vote.
Ten Republicans joined Greene in trying to give Johnson the boot: Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Eric Burlison (Mo.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Alex Mooney (W.Va.), Barry Moore (Ala.), Chip Roy (Texas), and Victoria Spartz (Ind.).
Addressing the position of most Democrats, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) said in a statement:
Our decision to stop Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from plunging the House of Representatives and the country into further chaos is rooted in our commitment to solving problems for everyday Americans in a bipartisan manner. We need more common sense and less chaos in Washington, D.C.
Marjorie Taylor Greene and the extreme MAGA Republicans are chaos agents. House Democrats are change agents. We will continue to govern in a reasonable, responsible, and results-oriented manner and to put people over politics all day and every day.
Some of the 32 Democrats who supported ousting Johnson framed the vote as proof that—in the words of Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (Fla.)—the "GOP really can't govern" and the "chaos caucus is on display."
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) similarly declared on social media that "the GOP chaos caucus continues to do nothing for the American people and instead waste time infighting."
"Speaker Johnson organized an amicus brief effort to overturn the 2020 election. He opposes abortion rights, trans rights, and voting rights," Jayapal also said. "That's why I did not vote to save his speakership."
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) also explained his vote on social media, saying: "Mike Johnson is the most ideological, right-wing speaker since the 1830s. His views and values are directly antithetical to mine. He stands for everything we, as freedom-loving Democrats, proudly stand against. I will never vote to keep him in that chair."
Congressman Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) was one of the members who voted present, which does not count for or against passage.
"Did I vote with the extremist white Christian nationalist who called a motion to vacate the speakership or did I vote to save the extremist homophobic Christian nationalist speaker to keep him in office?" Pocan said. "Neither. I voted 'present' on this sideshow."
Keep ReadingShow Less
Extending Trump Tax Cuts Would Add $4.6 Trillion to Deficit: CBO
"We can't afford 10 more years of giveaways to the wealthy and corporations and fail to invest in the people who drive our economy," said the head of Groundwork Collaborative. "This tax law should expire."
May 08, 2024
As former U.S. President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans campaign on extending their 2017 tax cuts if elected in November, a government analysis revealed Wednesday that doing so would add $4.6 trillion to the national deficit.
When Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act during his first term, the initial estimated cost was $1.9 trillion. Last year, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that extending policies set to expire next year would cost $3.5 trillion through 2033.
The new CBO report—sought by U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)—says continuing the income, business, and estate tax cuts will now cost $4.6 trillion through 2034.
"The Republican tax plan is to double down on Trump's handouts to corporations and the wealthy, run the deficit into the stratosphere, and make it impossible to save Medicare and Social Security or help families with the cost of living in America."
Responding in a statement Wednesday, the senators cited an Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) estimate that "extending the Trump tax cuts would create a $112.6 billion windfall for the top 5% of income earners in the first year alone."
They also slammed their GOP colleagues, who Whitehouse said "are awfully eager to shield their megadonors from paying taxes."
He recalled that just last year, "Republicans held our entire economy hostage," refusing to raise the debt ceiling and risking the first-ever U.S. default, because they didn't want the Internal Revenue Service to get more funding to "go after wealthy tax cheats."
"Remember the Trump tax scam cutting taxes for billionaires and big corporations," Whitehouse continued. "Now they're set on extending those tax cuts, even though it would blow up the deficit. The Trump tax cuts were a gift to the ultrarich and a rotten deal for American families and small businesses. With their impending expiration, we have a chance to undo the damage, fix our corrupted tax code, and have big corporations and the ultrawealthy begin to pay their fair share."
Wyden similarly took aim at the GOP, warning that "the Republican tax plan is to double down on Trump's handouts to corporations and the wealthy, run the deficit into the stratosphere, and make it impossible to save Medicare and Social Security or help families with the cost of living in America."
"Republicans have planned all along on making Trump's tax handouts to the rich permanent, but they hid the true cost with timing gimmicks and a 2025 deadline that threatens the middle class with an automatic tax hike if they don't get what they want," he argued. "In short, they're focused on helping the rich get richer, and everybody else can go pound sand. Democrats are going to stand by our commitment to protect the middle class while ensuring that corporations and the wealthy pay a fair share."
Groundwork Collaborative executive director Lindsay Owens also responded critically to the CBO report, saying Wednesday that "extending Trump's tax law and effectively subsidizing corporate profiteering and billionaire wealth is a nonstarter."
"This tax law, on top of decades of failed trickle-down cuts, has come at the expense of workers and families," Owens stressed. "We can't afford 10 more years of giveaways to the wealthy and corporations and fail to invest in the people who drive our economy. This tax law should expire."
While some of the tax cuts in the 2017 law are temporary—unless they get extended—the legislation permanently slashed the statutory corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. As Common Dreamsreported last week, a new ITEP analysis shows that tax rates paid by big and consistently profitable corporations dropped from 22% to 12.8% after the law's enactment.
Keep ReadingShow Less
Most Popular