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."
"I believe in your power. I believe in our power. I believe in trans power."
Text: Michaela Zee
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."