Culture

George Floyd Protests: 75 LGBTQ+ Organizations Voice Their Support for Protestors


 

As protesters continue to make their voices heard in Minneapolis and beyond, a coalition of 75 LGBTQ+ organizations and nonprofits have issued a statement condemning racist violence that targets people of color in the wake of national protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd.

“Many of our organizations have made progress in adopting intersectionality as a core value,” reads the letter. “But this moment requires that we go further — that we make explicit commitments to embrace anti-racism and end white supremacy … as integral to the objective of full equality for LGBTQ people.”

The letter is signed by a broad range of groups, from local organizations like the Seattle LGBTQ+ center Gay City to state groups like One Iowa and national nonprofits like the ACLU.

The letter acknowledges the victims of racist violence around the country, such as Breonna Taylor, who was shot eight times by police who had invaded the wrong home; Ahmaud Arbery, who was stalked and killed by two neighbors in Georgia; and Christian Cooper, targeted by a woman who feigned fear on a call to 911 in Central Park.

The letter also acknowledges that a least a dozen trans people have been killed in 2020 so far: Dustin Parker, Neulisa Luciano Ruiz, Yampi Méndez Arocho, Monika Diamond, Lexi, Johanna Metzger, Serena Angelique Velázquez Ramos, Layla Pelaez Sánchez, Penélope Díaz Ramírez, Nina Pop, Helle Jae O’Regan, and, just this week, Tony McDade.

Many LGBTQ+ organizations have also been vocal on social media. GLAAD’s Twitter account has primarily been amplifying the voices of BIPOC community members speaking out during the along with links to help people targeted by police violence.

The ACLU tweeted the names of recent victims of racist violence, and HRC President Alphonso David tweeted, “when we see injustice, we must speak out as strongly as we can. Otherwise, we are complicit in oppression.”

The letter follows several turbulent days of violence and outrage stemming from the killing of Minnesota resident George Floyd. Police detailed Floyd on May 25, with Officer Derek Chauvin pinning him to the ground with a knee for several minutes until he was unresponsive. Chauvin, who had worked with the police department since 2001, had 18 complaints on his official record and two disciplinary actions. All four involved officers have since been fired, and Chavin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter for Floyd’s killing on May 29.





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