Thousands Rally Together in Brooklyn for Black Trans Lives Matter

“I believe in your power. I believe in our power. I believe in trans power.”

Thousands of demonstrators gathered around the Brooklyn Museum on Sunday in support of the black transgender community. Protestors joined together dressed in white as a symbol of unity and a homage to the 1917 NAACP’s Silent Protest Parade, one of the first public demonstrations held by African Americans in the fight for civil rights. 

The event, Brooklyn Liberation: An Action for Black Trans Lives, follows the murders of two black trans women last week — Dominique “Rem’Mie” Fells, 27, and Riah Milton, 25. The protest also addressed the death of Layleen Polanco, a 27-year-old trans woman who died in solitary confinement on June 7 of last year after suffering from an epileptic seizure. The family of Layleen Polanco spoke at the Brooklyn rally this weekend. 

During the demonstration, black transgender activist Raquel Willis gave a speech and led protestors in a chant. 

“I believe in my power,” she said. “I believe in your power. I believe in our power. I believe in trans power.”

A march was held afterwards with black transgender women and event organizers — including The Okra Project and Marsha P. Johnson Institute — in front. 

“This was #BrooklynLiberation,” Willis wrote. “This is just the start.”

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