DOJ Unites with Madison, Wis., to Prevent Hate Crimes

The Equality Federation Institute has announced that its summer meeting panel will bring together federal and local law enforcement agencies for a groundbreaking presentation on federal hate-crimes prevention.

According to a press release, representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Department of Justice will team up with police departments from the city of Madison, Wis., and the University of Wisconsin-Madison to discuss the continued implementation of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

"Federal, state, and community collaboration to address hate crimes against LGBT people sends a strong signal that these crimes will not be tolerated," says Rebecca Isaacs, executive director of the institute. "We applaud this joint effort and hope that it leads to a reduction in attacks on members of our community."

The Shepard-Byrd Act, named for Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr., extends federal coverage to victims of crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, whether actual or perceived.

Katie Belanger, executive director of Fair Wisconsin Education Fund, is proud of the partnership between local law enforcement agencies in the Madison area and the LGBT community. "It is through strong collaborations with these individuals and agencies that we will continue to build a more inclusive community for all people," she says.

The Equality Federation Institute is an organization dedicated to eliminating prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people by supporting and conducting programs that educate the general public on the harms of anti-LGBT discrimination and building a more skilled and effective state-based equality movement.