Sex & Gender

murder of black trans woman sparks national mourning

April 2, 2019
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On the eve of Trans Day of Visibility, a Black transgender woman, Ashanti Carmon, was murdered outside of Washington D.C. According to police, gunshots were fired around 6 a.m. Saturday near city limits. Shortly after, Carmon’s body was found on the Maryland side of Eastern Avenue with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene and police are still investigating a possible motive and suspect.

Carmon’s fiancé Phillip Williams told NBC Washington that the two had gone on a dinner and movie date Friday night before Williams went to work and Carmon met up with friends. “Until I leave this Earth, I’m going to continue on loving her in my heart, body and soul,” Williams told the outlet. “She did not deserve to leave this Earth so early, especially in the way that she went out. She did not deserve that.”

Every Black life matters. And the pattern of violence perpetrated against trans women is entirely a Black issue that we cannot ignore. “These deaths are a very clear example of the toxic combination of multiple prejudices and the risk for those living in this country who live at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities,” said Sarah McBride, national press secretary for the HRC.

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