Tag Archive for "violence"

Posts Tagged violence

#MillionHoodies for Trayvon Martin takes over NYC’s Union Square

Last night I threw on my hoodie and attended the #MillionHoodies march for Trayvon Martin in New York City. The turnout was strong (although there is a bit of debate over whether that was because of Occupy Wall Street or not) and Trayvon’s parents were there to speak to supporters. This senseless tragedy has capture the nation’s attention and there have even been comparison’s to the murder of Emmet Till another senseless murder of a black teenage boy.

The parents of Trayvon Martin are calling for the immediate arrest of George Zimmerman the man who shot and killed Trayvon on February 26th. “Our son is your son,” Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon’s mother, told the crowd, “My heart is in pain. ...

By Lori Adelman • 12 years ago

TODAY: Wear a hoodie in honor of Trayvon Martin

Yesterday we reported on the horrific case of Trayvon Martin, a black teen who was gunned down while visiting his father in a gated community in Florida, armed only with skittles and an iced tea. So far, George Zimmerman — a 28-year old unregistered community watch member who followed Martin from his SUV and was armed with an automatic weapon — has been allowed to walk free. Though the FBI & Department of Justice have agreed to look into Trayvon Martin’s death, it’s clear that there’s a lot to be angry about here, and a lot of progress to be made before young men of color can be liberated from the racist violence that has plagued our community for so many years.

It ...

By Vanessa • 12 years ago

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Yesterday, November 20th, marked the 13th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to commemorate individuals in the transgender community who were killed due to anti-trans violence and hatred. Below is a short round-up of coverage from the day:

Melissa at Shakes names those lost this past year, and highlights an important point by Julia Serano — that it’s action, but also inaction that allows transphobia to kill.

Natacha Kennedy tells us why focusing on the horror of anti-trans violence is so important, despite how difficult it may be.

PFLAG focuses on the experiences of transgender people of color.

SheWired reminds that violence against the LGBT community is rising.

LGBTQ Nation

By Jos Truitt • 12 years ago

What happens when the police don’t keep you safe?

I noticed that the New York City “rape cop” case seemed to cause a shift in the thinking of some feminists, who saw police officers using their position of authority to do violence and basically get away with it. At around the same time, the SlutWalk movement caught on in a big way, inspired by the slut-shaming words of a Toronto police officer. I got the sense a lot of privileged white feminists learned a lesson many people of color, undocumented, poor, and trans folks have known forever: the police are not your friend.

Yes, there are decent people on the police force. But the job of the police is to preserve the status quo. Topeka, Kansas decriminalizing ...

By goddessjaz • 12 years ago

Resisting violence and practicing what we preach

As I was leaving “Preventing Violence, Promoting Justice,” the first ever summit organized by Sakhi for South Asian Women (an anti-domestic violence organization based in New York City that focuses on South Asian communities), I witnessed a young couple (both were people of color) arguing in the street. The young man was in the woman’s face aggressively yelling and cussing at her. This was not a mere lover’s quarrel. I remember what that’s like and my body tensed. The day’s discussions about structural oppression, supporting abuse survivors, and detaching from outcomes flashed through my mind as I figured out how to respond.

I stood back and watched the couple’s interaction, and looked around at passersby who would stare but kept walking. Though ...

By Vanessa • 12 years ago

It’s World Peace Day

…and Troy Davis is still scheduled to be executed tonight. He will refuse his last meal.

…and 6 out of every 10 women in the world will experience physical or sexual assault in their lifetime.

…and teens with disabilities are nearly twice as likely to experience violence than able-bodied teens

…and civilian deaths in Afghanistan are up by 31%.

…and 1,100 women are raped as a weapon of war every day in Congo.

…and violence against the LGBTQ community in the U.S. is up 13%.

…and 70% of anti-LGBT murder victims last year were people of color.

…and 44% of them were trans women.

It’s

…and Troy Davis is still scheduled to be executed tonight. He will refuse his last meal.

…and 6 out of every 10 women in the world will experience physical or ...

By Samhita • 12 years ago

A trans woman found dead in DC: What is causing this increase in violence?

It has been a violent summer in DC after a series of hate crimes against trans women. This past Saturday a trans woman was found dead and while it is unclear still who she is or if she was murdered–police have said it looks like she suffered trauma to her face. This is scary and infuriating.

Metro Weekly reports,

Jason Terry, an organizer with the DC Trans Coalition, told Metro Weekly that police called him around 6:15 a.m. this morning to tell him that a transgender woman was involved in the incident, which took place in the 2600 block of 11th Street NW, just south of Fairmont Street.

Officer A. Clay, a spokesman for the MPD’s public information ...

It has been a violent summer in DC after a series of hate crimes against trans women. This past Saturday a trans woman was found dead and while it is unclear still who she is or ...

By Courtney • 12 years ago

D.C. activists fight back against violence targeting trans women

Another hate crime against trans women in the D.C. area, this one by an off-duty police officer no less, sheds a glaring flood light on the work ahead in challenging gender-based violence.

Last week, the off-duty District police officer allegedly fired a pistol at three transgender women and two male friends while the group was sitting in a car on a city street, after propositioning them for sex and being turned down. The police issued a statement saying three people “sustained non-life threatening injuries” and that the officer involved was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and driving while intoxicated. What the statement didn’t explain, but was clarified by Jeri Hughes of Transgender Health Empowerment, was that one of ...

Another hate crime against trans women in the D.C. area, this one by an off-duty police officer no less, sheds a glaring flood light on the work ahead in challenging gender-based violence.

Last week, the off-duty District police ...