From: Date: Mon, 10 Oct 94 00:21:08 EDT Subject: Murders in Mississippi PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Carl Lange 404-876-1398 October 10, 1994 GAY MEN MURDERED IN JONES COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI ATLANTA CHAPTER OF THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION DEMANDS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION Atlanta, Georgia - The Atlanta Chapter of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD/Atlanta) demanded today that the Federal government investigate the execution style murder of two gay men Saturday night in Jones County, Mississippi. The two gay men were found shot in the back of the head after they had been apparently taken from their vehicle and beaten. Jones County is the home of Camp Sister Spirit where anti-gay/lesbian hate crimes have escalated. "Jones County and Mississippi officials have shown little concern for hate crimes being committed against gay and lesbian citizens. Since "religious leaders" in Ovett launched a campaign against Camp Sister Spirit over 64 anti-gay/lesbian hate-crimes have been reported. Local authorities continue to ignore these acts as hate crimes," stated Carl Lange, executive director of GLAAD/Atlanta. According to Todd Emmerson of the Buloxi gay and lesbian center, the Laurel Police Department, Jones County Sheriff's Department and Mississippi Highway Department, all involved with this case, have refused to acknowledge that these two men were gay and that this brutal murder was a hate crime. "The situation has become critical, gays and lesbians are justifiably fearing for their lives. We demand that the Federal government investigate this case and intervene in this escalating insanity. How many more bodies must be found before something is done?" - stated Carl Lange. Robert Walters, 34 and Joe Shoemaker, 24, two white gay men were last seen leaving friends on the evening of Saturday October 8. When friends discovered they had not arrived at home a search discovered their bodies in a wooded area off of Houston Road just outside of the town of Laurel, MS. According to witnesses who saw the bodies, Walters and Shoemaker had been taken from their vehicle, beaten and apparently humiliated before their deaths as one had had his pants pulled below his knees. Each had been shot execution style with one bullet in the back of the head. The Atlanta chapter of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD/Atlanta) is dedicated to providing more fair, accurate and diverse portrayals of lesbians, bisexuals and gay men. For more information write GLAAD/Atlanta, PO Box 55111, Atlanta, GA 30308; phone 404-876-1398; email glaadatl@aol.com ####