An estimated 15,000 people gathered at the Brooklyn Museum on Sunday afternoon to rally and march for Black trans lives at an action called Brooklyn Liberation. The attendees all wore white, as a nod to a 1917 NAACP protest against anti-Black violence where thousands of people gathered wearing all white. It marks what is thought to be the largest trans-based protest in history, according to one of the action’s organizers, Fran Tirado.
Brooklyn Liberation was organized by a core team of Tirado; drag artist West Dakota; NYC Anti-Violence Project’s Director of Communications and activist Eliel Cruz; and writer, activist, and them. contributor Raquel Willis. Other key members of the organizing team include Instyle’s Special Projects Editor Peyton Dix, artist and Papi Juice founding member Mohammed Fayez, fashion brand Willie Norris, Across Frontlines co-founder Kalaya’an Mendoza, Okra Project founder Ianne Fields Stewart, and Nicholas Valit Andersen. Over 150 total organizers and volunteers came together to make sure the action ran smoothly.
The rally was organized in the midst of the ongoing nationwide uprising for Black lives and racial justice, and was held a few days after two Black trans women — Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells and Riah Milton — were reported murdered. Their deaths are a continuation of the epidemic of violence against trans people in the U.S., which disproportionately affects Black trans women.
The event began with speeches from speakers including Raquel Willis; Gays and Lesbians Living in Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.) founder Ceyenne Doroshow; Ianne Fields Stewart; National Organizer of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute Kei Williams. Drag artist Junior Mintt and artist, activist, and writer Joshua Obawole served as hosts. Among the addresses was one from Melania Brown, a sister of Layleen Cubilette-Polanco, the 27-year-old Afro-Latinx trans woman who was found dead in solitary confinement at Rikers last June. Her death was recently found to have “no criminality” according to the Bronx DA (who dead named Polanco in a press release about the ruling), sparking outrage among activists who are demanding for the decriminalization of sex work, as well as the end of solitary confinement and cash bail. A new video released by her family showed the negligence and failure of the prison guards to check on Polanco as she died. Other trans advocacy organizations involved in the action were For the Gworls, and the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective.
After the addresses at Brooklyn Museum, the large mass of people marched through Brooklyn to Fort Greene Park. See stunning photos of the rally and march throughout this post.
More stories on the George Floyd protests and movement for racial justice:
- Why Pride has always been about protest and rebellion
- One Minneapolis writer on why he marched for George Floyd
- How systemic racism is exhausting Black people
- Tips for how to protest safely and effectively
- Here are 6 small ways you can get involved in the anti-racism movement
- Remembering Tony McDade, the Black trans Tallahassee man who was fatally shot by police
- Iyanna Dior's assault sparks a conversation about transphobia and Black Lives Matter
- Over 70 LGBTQ+ organizations voice support for anti-racist protests
- The Okra Project launches mental health fund for Black trans people
- Why Black and Brown people need to be included in the Pride flag
- Keith Boykin among the dozens of journalists attacked by police while reporting on protests
Get the best of what's queer. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.
