[Antiracism] Support transwomen of color in Phila: Justice for Erika Keels

[gango20s at mtholyoke.edu]

----- Forwarded message from bran at fiercenyc.org -----
    Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:10:41 -0400
    From: Bran Fenner <bran at fiercenyc.org>
Reply-To: Bran Fenner <bran at fiercenyc.org>
Subject: [FIERCE allies] Don't ignore this e-mail/ at least sign the 
petition      To: fierce board <fierceboard at lists.fiercenyc.org>, 
"fierceallies at lists.fiercenyc.org" <fierceallies at lists.fiercenyc.org>, 
"fierceyouth at lists.fiercenyc.org" <fierceyouth at lists.fiercenyc.org>, 
"Joo-Hyun Kang pjgroups at lists.riseup.net" 
<jkang at astraeafoundation.org>, Lorraine Ramirez 
<lramirez at astraeafoundation.org>, victor tobar <vstobar at yahoo.com>

Don¹t desensitize at least sign the petition it took me less then a minute

*reminder 100 centre st. 15th floor also June 14 9:30am if you plan to
support the young lesbians who will be sentenced

Subject: Justice for Erika Keels: addressing violence agnst trans youth

Our efforts to demand justice for Erika are part of building a larger
strategy to address state violence against trans people (especially youth)
of color in Philadelphia.

Those who can't be in Philly for the demo, please scroll down for other ways
you can help (petition/ organizational sponsorship)

Justice for Erika Keels Demonstration:
Thursday, June 14th, 2007 @ Noon
6th and Arch Streets

go to http://www.myspace.com/justice4erika to add Justice 4 Erika as your
myspace friend.

also, come to our next general meeting on Friday, June 8, at 4pm, at 1233
Locust St (Philadelphia).

background info and other ways to get involved:

[please forward widely!]

You may have heard about the recent death of Erika Keels, a young transwoman
of color in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Police Department has refused to
conduct an investigation into her death. Friends, community members, and
allies are rallying in Philadelphia to demand that the Philadelphia Police
Department reopen Erika's case, giving a thorough investigation of the
events leading to Erika's death.

We are seeking endorsements and support from allied community organizations
and community members. Where the PPD is telling us that Erika's life was
expendable, that we are "making something out of nothing," we want to show
the massive support for Erika and for young trans and gender-variant people
of color that exists in our
communities.

Justice for Erika Keels Demonstration:
Thursday, June 14th, 2007 @ Noon
6th and Arch Streets

Background information:
On March 22, unnamed witnesses saw an assailant intentionally run over Erika
Keels four times after ejecting her from his car at Broad and Thompson
streets in North Philadelphia, killing her and leaving the scene. A medical
examiner's report supports these eyewitness accounts. But police have ruled
the death of this 20-year-old African American transwoman an accident and
have refused to conduct an investigation. The driver, Roland Button, was
later apprehended, but he has yet to face criminal charges‹even "hit and
run." When Ms. Keels' friends, who are themselves trans, questioned police
officials about the classification of her death as an accident, they were
asked to disclose their "birth" names and told they were "trying to make
something out of nothing."

We are asking for your support as Erika's friends, community member and
allies, to demand a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding
Ms. Keels' death. Her case must be re-opened. Now and in the future, the
police must follow their mandate to protect and serve all Philadelphians,
including those targeted for hate because of their gender expression and
identity. All levels of city government and administration must ensure that
policy meant to protect human rights of people in this city is followed in
letter and spirit.

Things you can do:

1. Sign our community support letter at
http://www.petitiononline.com/ErikaK/petition.html .

2. Get organizations you're in or connected to sign on to the letter.
(Organizations should email Justice4Erika at gmail.com to confirm their
support.)

3. Come to the demonstration on Thursday, June 14 at noon @ 6th and Arch in
Center City Philadelphia.

4. Sign up for email updates on the campaign (email Justice4Erika at gmail.com)

5. Spread the word. Write letters to local newspapers. Ask everyone you know
to sign on to the letter.

6. Join our myspace page and post a bulletin to your friends.
http://www.myspace.com/justice4erika




----- End forwarded message -----


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