Kiwi Herring was killed in St. Louis, Missouri on August 22nd, 2017. According to media reports, Herring was experiencing escalating discrimination and harassment from neighbors. Police responding to the scene of the most recent disturbance shot and killed Herring, who may have cut or stabbed her neighbor. Some of Herring’s other neighbors held a candlelight vigil at the scene to protest this other recent fatal shootings by St. Louis police. Vigil attendees openly questioned whether police had targeted the correct aggressor in the dispute. At a second vigil and protest held in Kiwi’s honor, a driver named Mark Colao intentionally drove his car into the gathering.
The majority of survivors reporting hate violence to NCAVP member programs in 2016 experienced violence by someone they know, including landlords, neighbors, employers, and family members. We must work to create safe spaces in our communities, residences, workplaces and schools so that LGBTQ people can survive and thrive.
We send love and light to Kiwi’s wife, family and friends, and acknowledge and appreciate the courage and commitment of her neighbors in holding vigils on her behalf.
In memory of Kiwi Herring.
If you are in the Missouri area, NCAVP has three member organizations that are here to support you.
NCAVP works to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and HIV-affected communities. NCAVP is a national coalition of local member programs and affiliate organizations who create systemic and social change. NCAVP is a program of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.