Well, this is probably more than you want to know. On June 7, 1998, James Byrd, Jr. of Jasper, Texas was picked up on a deserted road outside of town by John W. King, Lawrence Brewer, Jr., and Shawn Berry. They proceeded to put a rope around his neck and drag him on a dirt road until he died. Details are very gory. (GOREy, ha)
Byrd was a well known, well liked, black resident of Jasper. His death attracted much attention throughout the United States. Then President Clinton called Byrd’s mother to convey his condolences. It was widely claimed to be a hate crime.
The Byrd family approached then Governor Bush to enact a hate crime to punish the 3 men involved. He said the men were on death row and what could be more punishment then this.
In a nutshell, the democrats blamed Governor Bush and made this an issue during the presidential race in 2000.
Google ‘James Byrd’ to find lots more on this.
Thank you for the synopsis of the Byrd story. I remember how horrible that whole thing was - such an awful way to die, and the pain his family his family had to relive.