Now I'm saddened to discover that we've had two on the same day this month within hours of each other.
We travel now to Shreveport, LA to discuss our 18th victim of anti-trans violence.
She is 18 year old Vontashia Bell. Police responding to a shots fired call early Thursday morning found her lying in the street at the corner of Harrison Street and Linwood Avenue in the Cedar Park neighborhood suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest and wrist.
She was rushed to University Health Hospital where she later died from her wounds.
The reason we're just now finding out about it? It's because once again, the police and the local Shreveport media didn't value her Black trans life and misgendered the victim
We in Black Trans World are really getting sick and tired of being sick and tired of our sisters being disrespected in death. We are tired of being misgendered either by law enforcement or the media, or both entities, and it needs to stop.
There are no suspects at this time, and police are asking anyone with information to contact Shreveport Police Investigators at 318-673-6955. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call 318-673-7373, lockemup.org, or via their app P3Tips. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000.00 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for this crime.
Bell is sadly the youngest person we have lost to anti-trans violence in 2018. She is the 18th trans person murdered in the United States in 2018, and the 14th African American trans person we have lost to anti-trans violence. What pisses me off in addition to the media misgendering of her is that she is now the ninth trans person under age 30 we have lost to anti-trans violence
A statement about the murder was released by Louisiana Trans Advocates.
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Statement from Louisiana Trans Advocates on the Murder of Vontashia Bell
Shreveport, LA – August 30, 2018 Earlier today in Shreveport, a young transgender woman was murdered. She is sadly not the first transgender woman of color to be killed in Louisiana this year. Violence against trans people, particularly against trans women, is a plague that continues to affect our cities and communities across the state. City and state leadership must work together with the trans community to curb this violence. Vontashia Bell must not die in vain. Her murder is a reminder of the current climate and national discourse on trans issues. Dehumanizing language and actions lower the barriers to this kind of senseless violence. Shreveport and Louisiana leaders must speak out against these killings, against the ongoing, systemic devaluation of trans people that pervades our media and politics, and against the institutional racism that places almost all of this burden on trans women of color.
Her murder is a reminder of the current climate and national discourse on trans issues. Dehumanizing language and actions lower the barriers to this kind of senseless violence. Shreveport and Louisiana leaders must speak out against these killings, against the ongoing, systemic devaluation of trans people that pervades our media and politics, and against the institutional racism that places almost all of this burden on trans women of color. As we mourn the loss of Vontashia, we must double down our efforts to ensure that all trans people across the state have access to jobs, education, housing, and safe neighborhoods. Rest in power, sister.
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As of right now, no word about a memorial service or arrangements.
Rest in power and peace, Vontashia. Your trans family won't rest until the person who took your all too brief life is brought to justice.
