Thousands of protesters have gathered across the US in support of Black Trans Lives Matter.
One of the largest protests took place outside the Brooklyn Museum in New York last night, in honour of black trans people, who are at extremely high risk of losing their lives.
Protesters wore white, just as some of the first activists to demonstrate in support of civil rights for black Americans had in New York in 1917.
Beautiful, huge crowd at the Black Trans Lives Matter rally at the Brooklyn Museum. #BlackTransLivesMatter https://t.co/RbEvnBjvKv— Julie Ann Pietrangelo (@Julie Ann Pietrangelo) 1592157984
Black Trans Lives Matter These photos don’t even begin to show the scale of the protests at the Brooklyn Museum. 1… https://t.co/sGiibSn6LK— colby (@colby) 1592157178
The protests were partly in response to the murders of two black trans women last week.
Riah Milton was shot during an attempted robbery in Ohio, while the mutilated body of Dominique Fells was discovered by a river in Philadelphia.
Both women were misgendered in initial police reports.
NYC said BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER. Happening right now. TONY MCDADE. NINA POP. DOMINIQUE FELLS. RIAH MILTON. SAY TH… https://t.co/7g9CRcaFNK— amaterasu (@amaterasu) 1592161142
Protesters were also reacting to Trump's announcement that he is reversing Obama-era legislation that makes it illegal to discriminate against transgender people when providing healthcare.
He made the changes during Pride month, and on the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Florida, that claimed 49 lives.
@croissantcrust1 I know. It pains me that trans people are treated this way, and now, with Trump in office, the tre… https://t.co/DXRgrkfCTg— Molly Harris (@Molly Harris) 1592010025
The crowd listened to speakers on the steps of Brooklyn Museum.
Seeing all these people show up today to say “Black Trans Lives Matter” is really making me emotional. https://t.co/4SQepotqWE— Michael. (@Michael.) 1592161612
Was honored to be able to show up for Black Trans Lives today. It was one of the most beautiful marches and rallies… https://t.co/vNNwYM6szq— 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚒𝚡𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 (@𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚒𝚡𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕) 1592170006
They then began marching silently, another nod to the NAACP's 1917 Silent Protest Parade, before chanting their support for Black Trans Lives Matter.
Black Trans Lives Matter protest. #NYCProtests #TonyMcDade #NinaPop https://t.co/WkptHdOCQO— Scott Goldberg (@Scott Goldberg) 1592154880
everyone who walked in the black trans lives matter protest was so beautiful and had such great energy💖 https://t.co/JFPlP1dSHr— amandi (@amandi) 1592192790
The protest was organised by multiple organisations that support trans people.
The Okra Project offers free meals to trans people who need them, while GLITS help to provide healthcare and housing to trans sex workers.
Here’s a poster for the march! It was organized by: @TheOkraProject @MPJInstitute @GlitsInc @4THEGWORLS… https://t.co/1fkpSarIlT— Read Teaching to Transgress by bell hooks (@Read Teaching to Transgress by bell hooks) 1592164314
Other cities including Boston and Hollywood held their own protests.
Proud of West Hollywood today for showing up and making sure Black Trans Lives are included in the conversation! ✊🏼… https://t.co/nPgiV6qVQf— Brian E. Burtt (@Brian E. Burtt) 1592199662
Chicago held a Drag March for Change in support of black LGBTQ+ people.
Black drag performers will lead the March for Change this Sunday. @SheaCoulee, @TheVixensworld, @MissDidaRitz and o… https://t.co/wB6p7wfwOZ— Block Club Chicago (@Block Club Chicago) 1591893008
The Drag March For Change in Boystown today #Chicago #ChicagoProtest https://t.co/qMNPEH0cLx— Ashlee Rezin (@Ashlee Rezin) 1592176286
The Drag March for Change has kicked off in Chicago, in support of Black Lives Matter and demand justice for victim… https://t.co/rm7r2Yr0sd— Vashon Jordan Jr. (@Vashon Jordan Jr.) 1592173320
There have been 14 reported murders of transgender and gender non-conforming people in the US in 2020 alone, and there are likely to be many more that have gone unreported.
A black trans man, Tony McDade, was killed by Tallahassee police in Florida in late May and was misgendered in subsequent reports.
A black trans woman, Iyanna Dior, was attacked in Minneapolis by a crowd of people shouting homophobic slurs in early June, with a video of the incident circulating online.
With black trans people experiencing vastly disproportionate rates of violence and murder, the demonstrations in their support spreading across the US are an important reminder that all black lives matter.