CIVIL RIGHTS
Historic Turnout for Black Trans Lives in Brooklyn
Crowd of 15,000-plus fi ghts back against epidemic of lethal violence, police abuses
BY MATT TRACY
Everyone knew it was
coming — and they
made their voices heard
in a big way.
One day before the US Supreme
Court declared it’s illegal for employers
to fi re workers because of
their sexual orientation or gender
identity, an estimated crowd of at
least 15,000 people mostly donning
white shirts fl ocked to the
Brooklyn Museum on the edge of
Prospect Park and Grand Army
Plaza for a “Brooklyn Liberation”
rally and march focused on Black
transgender lives.
Raquel Willis, a Black trans
woman who is a writer, editor, and
activist led the crowd at the museum
in a chant, saying, “I believe in
my power. I believe in your power.
I believe in our power. I believe in
Black trans power.”
She continued, ““Let today be
the last day that you ever doubt
Black trans power… You know, I
might get in trouble for saying this,
and yes the legislation matters, but
white queer folk get to worry about
legislation while Black queer folk is
worrying about our lives.”
Willis also delivered a message
to white-dominated groups, saying,
“If you have an organization
that has no Black people in leadership,
if your organization has no
funding or programs specifi cally
for Black trans people, you are obsolete.”
The historic demonstration, on
the heels of two more deaths of
Black transgender women in the
previous week, started with the
lively rally at the museum. The
massive group then stepped off on
a silent march, fi rst heading west
toward Grand Army Plaza before
shifting north on Vanderbilt Avenue,
west on Atlantic Avenue past
Barclays Center, and concluding at
Fort Greene Park for another rally.
Black trans women took center
stage at both locations, leading
speeches and paving the way for
the tens of thousands who followed
behind in the march on a beautiful,
sunny day in the city. Cardboard
Thousands gathered at the Brooklyn Museum Sunday to affi rm the power and dignity of Black transgender
people.
Trans Black Live Matter rally and march from the Brooklyn Museum.
Sunday’s crowd was fi erce in asserted the power of the Black transgender community.
signs along the march paid
tribute to slain Black transgender
individuals such as Layleen Xtravaganza
Cubilette-Polanco, Tony
DONNA ACETO
DONNA ACETO
DONNA ACETO
McDade, Nina Pop, and others who
have lost their lives due to deadly
violence. Numerous other signs
read messages like “Black trans
lives matter,” “A trans woman was
lynched yesterday,” “Black trans
power,” and “Black trans women
deserve to thrive.”
Like numerous other protests
in recent weeks, a police helicopter
circled along the perimeter of
the event and often drowned out
the noise of speakers, including at
the fi nal rally at Fort Greene Park.
Police vehicles trailed behind the
march as cops closely surveilled
the peaceful protesters.
The demonstration also featured
strong support systems in place by
volunteers who offered marchers
water, hand sanitizer, masks, and
medical assistance. Some individuals
brought along bags of snacks
for anyone who was hungry.
Other speakers included Ceyenne
Doroshow, Ianne Fields Stewart,
Kei Williams, Junior Mint,
Joshua Obawole, and the family
of Cubilette-Polanco. Organizing
partners listed for the event included
the Okra Project, the Marsha P.
Johnson Institute, For the Gworls,
GLITS, Black Trans Femmes in the
Arts, and the Emergency Release
Fund. Willis, Anti-Violence Project
communications director Eliel
Cruz, drag artist West Dakota,
and Fran Tirado were among those
who helped spearhead the organizing
effort behind the event.
In a nationwide show of solidarity,
there was also a focus on Black
trans lives at demonstrations in
Los Angeles and Chicago on the
same afternoon.
Notably, the action coincided
with the new details surrounding
the death of Polanco just days after
Bronx District Attorney Darcel
Clark deadnamed her in a press
release (for which she later apologized)
announcing that there would
be no criminal charges in connection
to her death. There is now new
video footage showing guards who
were supposed to be monitoring
the well-being of Polanco when she
was locked up in restrictive housing,
or solitary confi nement. Contrary
to previous reports, guards
ended up waiting roughly an hour
and a half to take action during
Polanco’s fatal health emergency.
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