November 6, 2009

Ryan Skipper, left, Damien Skipper, Pat and Lynn Mulder

The last few weeks must have been bittersweet for the family and friends of Ryan Skipper, the fresh-faced 25-year-old student who was killed by a pair of young meth addicts in Polk County, Fla., two years ago because he was gay.

From the moment they were thrust in the spotlight by this deeply personal tragedy, Ryan’s parents, Pat and Lynn Mulder, and his brother, Damien Skipper, have shown the world what grace in the wake of tragedy looks like.

A long and heart-rending chapter in their saga ended on Tuesday when a jury in Polk County found the second suspect in the killing, William “Bill-Bill” Brown, now 23, guilty of first-degree murder. He will be sentenced to life in prison next month. In February, Joe “Smiley” Bearden, now 22, the other suspect, was found guilty and also sentenced to life.

Eight days earlier, on Oct. 28, Damien Skipper and his wife, Tricia, were on hand in Washington when, after a years-long slog through Congress and vitriolic opposition from Republicans, Pres. Obama signed legislation that expands federal hate crimes statutes to cover gay and transgendered people.

After the verdict against Brown, Ryan’s family issued this statement:

[…]

Day: November 6, 2009

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Second Killer of Ryan Skipper Convicted Eight Days After Signing of Gay Hate Crime Law

Verbatim

In response to the RNC’s 12-hour online town hall to “explain the Democratic health care bill,” DNC Press Secretary Hari Sevugan issued
the following statement: “We’re planning a 12-second town hall to explain every last detail of the GOP health care plan.”

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

— Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), quoted by CBS News.

“Here’s the problem with the red meat: It becomes an addiction. Once you go there and you put that out there, then you’re forced to defend it. So what do they do? They double down. They triple down again.”

— Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D), quoted by the Washington Post, on Republicans relying on anti-Muslim attacks in the Michigan U.S. Senate race.

— Stephen Miller, quoted by The Guardian, pledging “total devotion” to President Trump.

Numerati

3,824

$1.4 billion

-35 points

31%

63% to 38%

KFF Poll: “With the 2026 midterm campaigns in full swing and early voting about to begin, there is a wide enthusiasm gap between partisan voters, with Democratic voters 25 percentage points more likely than Republican voters to say they are ‘more motivated’ than usual to vote (63% vs. 38%).”

In response to the RNC’s 12-hour online town hall to “explain the Democratic health care bill,” DNC Press Secretary Hari Sevugan issued the following statement: “We’re planning a 12-second town hall to explain every last detail of the GOP health care plan.”

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

— Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), quoted by CBS News.

“Here’s the problem with the red meat: It becomes an addiction. Once you go there and you put that out there, then you’re forced to defend it. So what do they do? They double down. They triple down again.”

— Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D), quoted by the Washington Post, on Republicans relying on anti-Muslim attacks in the Michigan U.S. Senate race.

— Stephen Miller, quoted by The Guardian, pledging “total devotion” to President Trump.

Numerati

3,824

$1.4 billion

-35 points

31%

63% to 38%

In response to the RNC’s 12-hour online town hall to “explain the Democratic health care bill,” DNC Press Secretary Hari Sevugan issued
the following statement: “We’re planning a 12-second town hall to explain every last detail of the GOP health care plan.”