Title:

Help Bring This Hate Crimes Documentary Series to Life – Support Empathy Through Education

Main Story:

Hi, my name is Liz Latham, and I’m an independent filmmaker with a mission: to create a powerful, 3-part documentary series that explores how the tragic murders of James Byrd, Jr. and Matthew Shepard led to the creation of hate crime laws in Texas and across the U.S.

This series will be more than just a documentary — it will be a teaching tool. Using real, original footage I captured at the time, we’re building a video learning series that explores hate, empathy, and the need for justice-based education in schools from pre-K through 12th grade.

Why This Matters:

In a time when teaching empathy is being criticized as "woke," this project dares to say:

“Let’s stop the hate and educate.”

The footage I’ve preserved is raw, powerful, and historic — and it’s ready to be shaped into something that can make a real impact.

Why We’re Raising Funds:

Right now, we need $5,000 to take the next critical step:

Hiring Lionel Flynn, a talented editor based in Los Angeles, to work directly with the 33 reels of digitized and categorized footage.

These funds will cover:

• Lionel’s time and editing labor

• Postage and hard drives for footage backup

• Software and computer needs

• Filmmaker’s time and production expenses

This is the foundation we need to begin assembling a teaching tool that explores hate crimes, empathy, and non-violence in a deeply human way.

What You’re Supporting:

Your donation supports:

• A one-of-a-kind learning series rooted in historic footage

• Honest conversations around hate crime laws

• Empathy education that can reach future generations

• The completion of an important work that’s been years in the making

Whether you can give $5 or $500, every bit helps us move forward.

And if you believe empathy is not a radical idea—but a necessary one—please help us share this campaign and start the conversation.

Thank You

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting independent film and truth-telling. Let’s make something that helps create a more understanding and just world.

With gratitude,

Liz Latham

Filmmaker & Advocate