Obama Expands Federal Hate Crimes Act

Attached to the $680 billion defense authorization bill, President Obama on Wednesday signed a law that makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. The expanded federal hate crimes law now, which also covers crimes motivated by disability, is hailed by supporters as the first major federal gay rights legislation.

The hate crimes measure was named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped and severely beaten in October 1998, and James Byrd Jr., an African-American man dragged to death in Texas the same year.

"No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love. No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are or because they live with a disability," Obama said, referring to Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr.

Robert Kennedy, Jr. on the Constitution and the Press

Words worth hearing, too bad you won't hear them on ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS...

MLK Does a Body Good: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Week) Events

Below are a number of events in Iowa City commemorating the life, works, and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus."

Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
Moving Forward Together Series
Date: 01/17/2008 Time: 11:30am-01:00pm
Location: 15 , Schaeffer Hall
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King Interfaith Celebration Service

The interfaith celebration is part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week.

When: 7 p.m., Sunday, January 20, 2008
Where: First Christian Church
Admission: Free
More information: 319-335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
Interfaith Dialogue Breakfast
Date: 01/21/2008 Time: 10:00am
Location: APACC
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-2719
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
Human Rights Awareness Social
Date: 01/21/2008 Time: 11:00am-01:00pm
Location: Colonial Lanes Bowling
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation
The convocation will be in the second floor ballroom.

When: 4:30 to 6 p.m., Monday, January 21, 2008
Where: Iowa Memorial Union
Admission: Free
More information: 319-335-3994
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Martin Luther King Day of Service
Meet in the east lobby.

When: 9 a.m., Monday, January 21, 2008
Where: Iowa Memorial Union
Admission: Free
More information: Mary Mathew Wilson (319) 335-7589
Link: go here
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Stomping Out Stereotypes Discussion
As part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week, a discussion about stereotypes will be in the Illinois Room (room 348).

When: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Where: Iowa Memorial Union
Admission: Free
More information: (319) 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week AGEP Annual MLK Celebration
The celebration will be in the second floor ballroom.

When: 4 p.m., Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Where: Iowa Memorial Union
Admission: Free
More information: 319-335-6223
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
An Evening of Poetry
Date: 01/22/2008 Time: 06:00pm
Location: Afro-American Cultural Center
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
Diversity Discussion
Date: 01/23/2008 Time: 12:15pm
Location: HP Conference Room, 256 , General Hospital
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
Community of Color: Getting Connected
Date: 01/23/2008 Time: 04:30pm
Location: Van Oel Multipurpose Room , Currier Hall
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Dialogue on Diversity Workshop
The workshop, part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week, will be in the Kirkwood Room (room 257).

When: 6 p.m., Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Where: Iowa Memorial Union
Admission: Free
More information: 319-335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
Bayard Rustin: To be Black, Gay and a Civil Rights Leader
Date: 01/23/2008 Time: 06:00pm
Location: LGBT Resource Center
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
"Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence"
Lecture & Panel Discussion
Date: 01/23/2008 Time: 07:00pm
Location: Bijou Theater , Iowa Memorial Union
Sponsor: Graduate Social Work Student Assoc.
Contact: Emily Blaedel / Phone: 358-6646
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
"The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in Hollywood"
Date: 01/24/2008 Time: 04:00pm
Location: Conference Room 2032 , Library
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
!Salud!
Film
Date: 01/24/2008 Time: 05:00pm-07:00pm
Location: Minnesota Room, 347 , Iowa Memorial Union
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
J{AMnesty} Human Rights Benefit Concert
Date: 01/24/2008 Time: 06:00pm
Location: Old Brick, 26 E. Market
Sponsor: UI Amnesty International/Global Health
Contact: Shajia Ahmad / Phone: 573-8366
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
"Las Mujeres" de la Caucus Chicana
Film
Date: 01/24/2008 Time: 07:30pm
Location: Iowa City Public Library, Room A
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
"I Got Something to Say: A Black Woman's Sonata"
Date: 01/24/2008 Time: 08:00pm
Location: Theatre B , Theatre Building
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
Community Outreach Drive
Date: 01/25/2008 Time: 10:00am
Location: 2nd Floor Ballroom , Iowa Memorial Union
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
Diversity Lecture by Jacqueline M. Hughes-Oliver
"Building Bridges from the Past, to the Present, to the Future"
Date: 01/25/2008 Time: 03:30pm
Location: Senate Chambers , Old Capitol
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059
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Economic Human Rights Conference
Date: 01/26/2008 Time: 08:00am-05:00pm
Location: Richey Ballroom , Iowa Memorial Union
Sponsor: Economic Human Rights Organization
Contact: Ryan Bopst / Phone: 563-320-1315
Link: http://www.ehr2008.blogspot.com
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Week
"Still Pursuing the Dream"
Potluck/Social Gathering
Date: 01/26/2008 Time: 05:00pm
Location: 1117 University Capitol Center
Sponsor: OSL/ Human Rights Week Committee / Phone: 335-3059