Join us in honoring the life of Jorge Lopez Mercado and in calling on U.S. Attorney General Holder to prosecute this horrific slaughter as a federal hate crime.

For more information: Call Chip Alfred, Communications Director, Equality Forum, 215-732-3378 x 116, or email chip@equalityforum.com.

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, the body of 19-year-old and openly gay Jorge Lopez Mercado was found by the side of the road near the victim's hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Jorge was partially burned, decapitated and with both arms and legs dismembered from his torso.

There were over 16,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender hate crimes since Matthew Shepard's death in 1998, including 29 murders in 2008.

Stop the Slaughter!