PHOTOS United.

[Jackeens]

Betty Byrd Boatner, sister of James Byrd, Jr, embraces Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, alongside US President Barack Obama after Obama spoke in honor of the enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. , Hate Crimes Prevention Act during a reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, October 28, 2009. In 1998, when he was a college student in Wyoming, Shepard was murdered because he was gay. Byrd, an African American man, was dragged behind a pickup truck to his death in Texas the same year.

[Lisa0825]

1. .

:cry:

[HopeOverFear]

2. pass the tissues

:cry:

[angee_is_mad]

12. K&R

God Bless them and God Bless the United States of America.

Fired up and Ready to Go!!!

[luvspeas]

3. I have had the honor of meeting both of these women and their families...

Just wonderful wonderful beautiful amazing people who are fighting so hard to change this world through love and understanding. This is so amazing that they have been brought together. And from what I know of both of them, this is going to be the start of some big collaborative efforts!!!! Obama the community organizer strikes again!

[madmax]

4. There are no words.

[Cha]

5. ..

:cry: So poignant.

[liquid diamond]

6. It wonderful to see something good come out of these

tragedies. Right wing heads are exploding. They detest the idea of "hate" crimes.

[firedupdem]

7. K&R n/t

[archiemo]

8. This is one of the good moments that

we, as a people, should be proud of. I know it is cheesy but it makes me think of the words Neil Armstrong said when he landed on the moon..."One small step for man..." and I'm sure you know the rest!!!

[Obamacare]

9. Wow

Seeing these two women and knowing what they have been through breaks my heart.:(

[UrbScotty]

10. In solidarity with them and all of those affected by hate crimes...

:grouphug:

[PopSixSquish]

11. To Quote the Tom Hanks Character in the Movie Philadelphia

"It's that every now and again - not often, but occasionally - you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens. "


:toast:

[AspenRose]

13. That's powerful.

Especially powerful in light of this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8720354

[sonias]

14. Incredible emotion

Two women united in their fight for justice for their children/family and to make sure it doesn't happen to another mother's child.

:cry: for joy and peace for both Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. May they rest in peace.

Thank you Congress and Mr. President for doing the right thing!

Sonia

[noiretextatique]

15. so sad that they had to meet because their loved ones were murdered

but very glad about this law :cry:

[uponit7771]

16. Amen!!!

[rvablue]

17. What a powerful image! n/t

[JNelson6563]

18. No words.

:cry: