Press

Activists in two states will renew the push for passage of strong federal hate crimes legislation in a series of panels, community discussions, press conferences and candlelight vigils beginning this weekend. The stepped-up focus on the need for a federal hate crimes law that covers sexual orientation comes as new details surrounding the brutality of Arthur “J.R.” Warren’s murder were released this week.

The events will include:

• Faith-based panels at several places of worship around Southern California (times TBA), Aug. 5-6 in Los Angeles. Community candlelight vigil, 6-9 p.m., Aug. 10 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro Avenue, Los Angeles. For information, contact Kathay Feng at 213-977-7500 ext. 212, Dr. Prosy De La Cruz at 323-933-1198, or Marshall Wong at 213-974-7617.

• Community Dialogue: 7-9 p.m. Aug. 8 at East Los Angeles College Student Activities Center; 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez. in Monterey Park, California. For information, contact Anna Gonzales at 949-824-2001 or Nora Ramos at 123-977-7500, ext. 224.

• UnitedAgainstHate.org press conference, 10 a.m., Aug. 9, Chicago (specific location TBA). More information is available at www.unitedagainsthate.org.

Warren, an African American gay man, was beaten, kicked, and repeatedly run over by a car on July 4 in Grant Town, West Virginia. On Thursday, West Virginia Circuit Court Judge Rodney Merrifield's "findings of fact" revealed that Warren's murder was even more horrific than previously believed. Merrifield determined that Warren was, in fact, alive even after he was severely beaten and kicked by his alleged attackers — both of whom were wearing steel-toed boots during the attack. 17-year-old David Parker will be tried as an adult and Judge Merrifield is still weighing the evidence to determine if the other alleged attacker, also a 17-year-old male, will be tried as an adult.

"During the drive to the power plant [where Warren's body was found by police], Mr. Warren climbed from the hatchback area into the back seat and requested to be taken home. No one responded to Mr. Warren's request to go home," wrote Merrifield. At a deserted point on the road, Warren was taken out of the car, beaten and kicked again, and then, "[Parker] re-entered the Camaro and drove over Mr. Warren's body twice — once going forward and once in reverse. After stopping for [another suspect] to get in, [Parker] drove over Mr. Warren's body twice more before leaving the scene."

Despite the new evidence, West Virginia law enforcement officials steadfastly refuse to classify the killing as a hate crime. In West Virginia, attacks motivated by sexual orientation are not considered hate crimes. Racially motivated attacks, however, are covered under the state's hate crimes law. Both of Warren’s alleged killers, as well as a 15-year-old witness who has been charged as an accessory, are white.

The hate crimes measure pending in Congress would add actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender and disability to federal hate crimes laws, which currently include race, color, national origin and religion. It would also enable federal law enforcement officials to better enforce hate crimes laws and prosecute hate crimes. Similar legislation has passed the Senate twice, but conservatives in the House have not allowed it to come up for a floor vote.

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.