Free Republic

Monday, December 13, 2004 The trouble with hate crimes Posted: December 13, 20041:00 a.m. Eastern Editor's note: Parent's are advised that the following column contains information that may not be appropriate for children. By Joseph Farah © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com His parents thought he was working as a hair stylist on weekends. But when Prairie Grove, Ark., police responded to a 911 emergency call at 5 a.m., Sept. 26, 1999, they found 13-year-old Jesse Dirkhising on the floor, unconscious, near death, one of his wrists bound with duct tape. His genitals and abdomen were covered with feces. His mouth was blue. He had...

ABC is preparing a major investigation of the Matthew Shepard gay-bashing murder that contends it may not have been a hate crime — but a mugging gone wrong. Friends and family of Shepard — who became a national symbol of the senseless violence against gays — as well as gay activists are upset about the report, scheduled to air on "20/20" later this month. [snip] In a press release promoting the show, ABC promised "surprising revelations, including Laramie's underground world of methamphetamine use that may have contributed to the crime and whether or not Shepard knew his killers." "ABC...

City Council prepares for Phelps By Eric R. Wright rep7@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - City officials said Friday they have talked about what to do if a controversial pastor wants to put up an anti-gay monument on public property here. But they don't have a definite plan of action yet. "I think there are as many options as there are ideas," Mayor Jack Spiker said. The Rev. Fred Phelps and his Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church made clear this week their intention to erect such monuments in Casper; Rupert, Idaho; and in cities nationwide where the Ten...