The Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) of Greater New York is leading a Call to Action on August 18, marking one year since the brutal assault of Islan Nettles. Nettles, a 21-year-old Black transgender woman, was killed outside of a police station in Harlem. She was walking with friends when a group of men approached. According to accounts, one of the men, upon realizing Nettles was transgender, struck her to ground until she lost consciousness. Nettles died 4 days later.
The Call to Action will take place on Monday, August 18, at 5:00 pm at Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem, where last year a widely attended vigil was held for Islan Nettles. Organizations supporting the action include Garden of Peace Project, Harlem Pride, Rivers at Rehoboth, and LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent. Within 42 days of New York City's Pride celebrations, five transgender women of color – Yaz'min Shancez, Tiffany Edwards, Zoraida Reyes, Mia Henderson, and Kandy Hall – were reported killed. Several transgender advocates and allies have been invited to speak at today's vigil including GLAAD's Senior Strategist, Tiq Milan. Find out more on the Facebook event page.
On August 17, trans Latina activist Brooke Cerda Guzmán is also holding a demostration for Islan Nettles, and the many trans women of color who have been targets of violence, in front of the police pricint where Nettles was killed. Find out more on the Facebook even page here.