We will never know their courage or what positive change they would have brought about in this world, just by being who they were. Their heartbeats, their dreams, and their futures. We are in an epidemic that has lasted far too long, and it is taking away our Black sisters and brothers. And with each of these deaths, I say it’s just too many. Say their names! I want you to be angry at the injustice, and to know that Riah and Dominique are just two transgender or gender non-conforming people murdered this year – on par for the 26 mainly Black transgender women who died last year in the U.S. Except we will not forget them, neither today nor tomorrow. I want you to see their ages, so you can see they left us too soon, and maybe left forgotten. I want you to see their names, understand they are people, and hear them described as joyous and smiling. Both Riah and Dominique are transgender Black women, the latest to be senselessly murdered in the trans community. Dominique Fells was 27 and is described as always smiling. Riah Milton was 25 and is described by her sister as a joyous person. Because of my role as Co-Executive sponsor of Harambee, and as an ally to our PRISM network, I feel compelled to speak up and speak out about the violence being inflicted upon the LGBTQI community - and in particular, our Black transgender sisters and brothers. As such, I approach the world in a simple way – I can’t and won’t stand for inequality against others that I would not myself accept if imposed against me as a member of the Black community. I know the civil rights movement, and the various obstacles and justifications put forward to prevent Blacks from voting, for putting Blacks at the back of the bus, and for preventing Blacks from having the right to marry those who we loved, regardless of color. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” – Rosa ParksĪs a student of history, I know the struggle within the Black community regarding its historical and present-day fight for equal rights, justice and human dignity. “People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. Co-Executive Sponsor of Harambee and SVP, Deputy General Counsel and Internal Audit Taggart Hansen shares how our Harambee and PRISM networks are standing together.
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