Houston, TX, June 6, 2018– June 7, 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the dragging death of James Byrd, Jr.  It was a horrific hate crime that not only rocked East Texas, but the entire world.

On June 7, 1998, Shawn Allen Berry, Lawrence Russell Brewer, and John William King chained James Byrd, Jr. by his ankles to the back of a truck and dragged him down a rural road near Jasper, Texas until his right arm and head were severed from his body.  Brewer and King were avowed white supremacists.  All three men were convicted of Byrd’s murder and Brewer and King were sentenced to death, while Berry was sentenced to life in prison. Brewer was executed in 2011.  King remains on death row.

The heinous murder of James Byrd, Jr. reminds us how violent and cruel white supremacists can be.  It also reminds us that the Anti-Defamation League’s ( ADL’s) dedication to fighting hate for good is more important than ever.

Our thoughts are with the family of James Byrd, Jr. at this time. They endured unimaginable pain after his death, yet they responded with dignity, grace, and resolve to make the world a better place.  James Byrd, Jr.’s family worked with ADL in the aftermath of his death to strengthen Texas’ hate crime law by supporting passage of the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act, based on the model hate crime law crafted by ADL. They also helped a coalition of organizations spearheaded by ADL work on passage of the federal Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

On the 20th anniversary of this monumental crime, ADL continues to fight for hate crime laws in all 50 states and stronger, more comprehensive hate crime laws across the country.  We work with law enforcement and communities to encourage better reporting and vigorous investigation and prosecution of hate crimes, and we train law enforcement all over the country to recognize and respond to hate crimes.  In James Byrd, Jr.’s memory, and in honor of his remarkable family, we can do nothing less.