These are momentous times for our people, our movement, and our collective liberation. Yesterday, on June 2nd, there were rebellions against policing and the state in all 50 states, and most major cities around the country. Black folks, and those fighting for Black Lives, are rising up to say no more, in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. It is especially heartening that this rebellion has only intensified as we enter Pride Month, our annual celebration of the Stonewall Riots and uprising, led by Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Storme DeLarverie. Black, Brown, sex working, street-organizing, nightlife mothering, community-uplifting, and movement-igniting mothers, ancestors, and revolutionaries.
It is in their names that Brave Space Alliance has continued and expanded our work during this most recent rebellion against White Supremacist state violence. And it is in their names that we call on the rebellions taking place across this country to center and uplift the lives, voices, and names of Black trans people. Trans people have always been at the forefront of liberation movements, and yet far too often, those movements forget that Black Trans Lives Matter, too. Just last night, a Black trans woman named Iyanna Dior was jumped by Black men at a protest in Minneapolis, and nobody stopped to intervene. Her life matters just as much as George Floyd’s. During the first days of this rebellion, a Black trans man named Tony McDade was murdered by police, after surviving a brutal prejudiced transphobic beating by five men. His life matters just as much as George Floyd’s. Practically every week, a Black trans person is murdered, whether at the hands of the state, or civilians doing the dirty work of the state. Nina Pop, Monkia Diamond, Layleen Cubilette-Polanco, Muhlaysia Booker, Bee Love Slater, Ashanti Carmon, Bailey Reeves, and a painfully long list of other Black trans people have been murdered in the name of transphobia and anti-Blackness.
Just as we showed up to mourn and fight back against the forces that caused their death, we will continue to show up, proudly and loudly, against any violent loss of Black life. Brave Space Alliance is an abolitionist organization, in the tradition of our liberation movements, and because we know that police have never been a friend to trans people. In keeping with these values, we are expanding our programs to all those impacted by police violence, and unjust arrests during the rebellion. All those needing to quarantine after an arrest at a protest, or those brutalized by police, who are recuperating can now have access to our Crisis Pantry. We have also opened our doors to the community, as a clearinghouse and stockpile of needed supplies for actions, and rapid response to police brutality.
Brave Space Alliance is founded on the idea that #BlackLivesMatter, and that #BlackTransLivesMatter. We will always live and work those values, and we unequivocally stand with our community during this rebellion and all future rebellions. There is no revolution without trans people, and justice for Black Trans Lives!
