A memorial reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard took place upstairs at Library Sports Grille & Brewery on the night of October 8, 2023. Shepard would have known the Library as the Fireside Bar 25 years ago. It was where his killers met him the night he was murdered. Organizers from Laramie PrideFest and the Shepard Symposium on Social Justice hosted and attended the event.
A collage of pictures outlining the likeness of Mathew Shepard is placed in front of the room. Various speakers took the stage Sunday.
UW students, faculty, administrators, and Laramie community members of all ages and backgrounds attended the 25th anniversary memorial.
Artemis Langford was among the many speakers Sunday. Langford spoke about the importance of Shepard’s memory 25 years later and the strength of Laramie’s modern LGBTQ community.
Memorial attendees were invited to make yellow armbands with green circles. Similar armbands were made 25 years ago, during solidarity protests by UW students and other members of the Laramie community following the murder of Mathew Shepard.
A yellow armband symbolizing peace and solidarity is tied around a guest’s arm during the 25th anniversary memorial.
Aspen Brown speaks to the crowd about their personal journey and the impact Matthew Shepard’s memory and legacy have had on their life on Sunday during the 25th anniversary memorial.
Audience members applaud despite the sometimes somber mood at the 25th anniversary memorial.
Attendees hold electric candles while observing a moment of silence Sunday, during the 25th anniversary memorial. Amid the moment of silence, one could hear the sounds of a busy sports bar below.
After the memorial, attendees took time to catch up with neighbors and hug their loved ones, returned candles to the basket and left through the busy sports bar below.
