StudioGlyphic: Stop ABC

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November 23, 2004

Stop ABC

From a friend of mine:

Dear Friends,

I never forward mass emails, but this one comes directly from me. It's important. And I need your help. Please send an email to ABC and 20/20 by clicking the link at the bottom and forward this along to anyone who can help.

As most of you know, a few years ago my writing partner, John Wierick, and I wrote the screenplay for the movie "The Matthew Shepard Story". The film documented the life and tragic death of Matthew Shepard, who was tied to a fence and beaten to death in one of the most savage anti-gay hate crimes in recent history. It also told the story of Matthew's parents, Judy and Dennis, and their astounding act of mercy: a decision to put aside their emotions, and convince Prosecutor Cal Rerucha to forego the death penalty for Aaron McKinney, one of the two men responsible for their son's brutal murder.

In exchange, the Shepards were given one small consolation, proposed by the defense attorneys in the case. In exchange for his life, McKinney would agree to a plea bargain similar to that of the other killer, Russell Henderson. The deal would keep McKinney in jail for the rest of his life, with no possibility of parole or appeal. More importantly, like Henderson had already done, McKinney would agree to a permanent gag order, which would prevent him from talking to the press. For the Shepards, it meant the closest thing to an end to the most horrific event of their lives. They would never have to hear from their son's killers again, or worry about them doing the same thing to someone else.

Unfortunately, recently, McKinney and Henderson have mounted a new effort to overturn the terms of their plea bargains-- terms that were proposed by their own lawyers and accepted by the Shepards at a time when it seemed there was no question that McKinney was heading for a death sentence. And disturbingly, it seems that ABC's 20/20 is planning to help them achieve their goal.

On November 26, the Friday after Thanksgiving, 20/20 will air a segment featuring an interview with Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson-- in direct violation of their agreement with the Shepards and the terms of their plea bargain. For the Shepards, it means Thanksgiving will be spent once again reliving their son's murder. For the killers, it means political capital in their quest to reverse the terms of their plea bargain

In their interview, McKinney and Henderson attempt to rewrite history. They claim that the murder was not a hate crime but a robbery linked to crystal meth addiction. In doing so, they attempt to recast themselves as victims. Desperate addicts who lost control of a terrible situation. Don't believe it.

Here are the facts. Matthew's murder was a hate crime. In his original defense, McKinney and his lawyers even argued as much, claiming that when he saw Matthew, McKinney experienced a state of "gay panic" during which he could not be held accountable for his actions. Now, suddenly they ask us to believe that homophobia had no role in the murder at all.

As if this weren't enough-- after beating Matthew at least 20 times with a pistol, shattering his skull in 6 places, and leaving him tied to a fence (where he hung, still alive, for 18 hours in the freezing cold, before he was finally discovered and taken to the hospital where he died)-- the two went on two commit ANOTHER hate crime that same night, in which they beat an Hispanic youth so violently he ended up in the emergency room.

Despite their eagerness to violate a court order to help two convicted murderers rewrite history, 20/20 has shown little interest in the other side of the story. While Aaron McKinney was signing gloating autographs from prison, Judy Shepard was teaching tolerance in schools, fighting for hate crimes legislation in Congress, and talking honestly about her son's life with parents throughout the country. Yet 20/20 did not even interview her for the segment.

Aaron McKinney should be grateful to Judy and Dennis Shepard. Were it not for their compassion he would almost certainly be on death row today. But he and Russell Henderson have shown no more compassion to Judy and Dennis than they showed to their son. McKinney and Henderon's interview is an insult to Judy and Dennis' Shepards' act of mercy, and a dishonor to Matthew's memory. And if they proceed with their plans to air it, 20/20 will be equally culpable.

Fortunately, we can still stop them:

Please join me in sending e-mails to audience relations at ABC at netaudr@abc.com and to the producers of 20/20 at 2020@abc.com urging them not to air the McKinney interview. You can also call ABC at 818-460-7477 to let them know how you feel.
You can copy this message into your e-mail if you like:

"I stand with Judy and Dennis Shepard, urging you to recognize the agreement embraced by Aaron McKinney and his lawyers at the time of his sentencing, which, in exchange for prosecutors not seeking the death penalty, prohibited Mr. McKinney from talking to any news media organizations regarding the criminal case against him. Please do not air the McKinney/Henderson segment or any part of it, scheduled for November 26th, 2004. Sincerely, (Your name)."

Please forward this e-mail to as many people as you can. The more pressure brought to bear on this issue, the better.

Thank you,

Jacob Krueger
Writer - "The Matthew Shepard Story"

For more info about Matthew Shepard click this link:

http://www.matthewshepard.org/

Update. Got a tip from a reader:

...the real leverage on what's shown and what's not is from the advertisers. These appear to be:

Capital One
webinfo@capitalone.com
Customer Relations 1-800-955-7070

S.C. Johnson (Oust Air freshener)
http://www.scjbrands.com/contact/
1.800.494.4855

Colgate-Palmolive
Allison_Klimerman@colpal.com
1-800-468-6502

Pizza Hut
1-800-948-8488
http://www.pizzahut.com/contact/feedback_type.asp

Phillip Morris - pmusa.com
1-800-343-0975
http://pmusa.com/contact_us/contact_us_by_email.asp?action=init