Obama to sign defense bill, hate crime legislation
Oct 27, 2009
The White House just announced that President Obama will hold two White House ceremonies tomorrow on the new defense authorization bill.
After a signing ceremony for the $680 billion defense spending plan, Obama hosts a second event on a new law attached to that bill: The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The act makes it a federal crime to assault someone because of their sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. It is named for the victims of two horrific crimes in 1998: Matthew Shepard, a gay teenager from Wyoming who was beaten to death; and James Byrd. Jr., a black man from Texas who was tied to a pick-up track and dragged to death.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and members of Congress will attend the signing ceremony; Attorney General Eric Holder and civil rights leaders will join Obama for the second event.
(Posted by David Jackson, Associated Press)
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/10/620000517/1