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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Yesterday changed something in me, in all of us. No longer will we ever doubt whether we are winning or folks are transforming in the ways that we need them to keep us all alive and safe. No longer will we doubt whether it’s possible for the #BlackTransMovement to be elevated and supported. No longer will we doubt #BlackTransPower. . Today starts a new day as sister @thefreeactorvist said in her speech. Transphobia, transmisogyny, and white supremacy ended yesterday. Thanks to @iamwestdakota, @fransquishco, @elielcruz, @peytondix, @mobaby, and so many more who stepped up to provide space for Black trans people. Y'all modelled how glorious true allyship can be. We salute you. And to all my beautiful, brilliant Black trans people who spoke and showed up and showed out—I love you and let’s keep this fire burning! . Our movements, our liberation WILL be built of the little reclamations of power we heard in that crowd of 15,000 yesterday. We won’t go back. For Marsha, for Sylvia, for @doroshow, for @deedeechamblee, for @missmajor1, for Layleen, Rem’mie, Riah, Tony, Nina, Monika, Chyna, and countless more. This was #BrooklynLiberation. This is just the start. . ?: @colewitter

A post shared by Raquel Willis (@raquel_willis) on Jun 15, 2020 at 7:07am PDT