NCAVP mourns the death of Ja’leyah-Jamar, a Black gay cisgender man in Kansas City, MO whose life was tragically taken on September 13, 2019.
At a vigil in his honor, Ja’leyah-Jamar’s mother, Jennifer Gibson, called for an end to violence, saying, “Once that trigger is pulled, it’s too late. You can’t go back. Put the guns down.” Ja’leyah leaves behind a five-year-old child.
The Kansas City Anti-Violence Project posted in a statement on Facebook: “As we hold space to remember and uplift Ja’Leyah, we must also recognize the factors at play that contribute to the dramatically increased risk of violence that trans women of color — especially Black trans women — face everyday. Restrictions on basic needs and services like housing, employment, safe streets, healthcare, and protection under the law are just some barriers that put our sisters in harm’s way daily. The discriminatory and violent systems that perpetuate violence against transgender women of color are a direct result of bias from within and outside our own communities.”
We know it can be hard to read these reports of violence against our communities. If you need support in these difficult times, you can always reach out to your local NCAVP member. If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, you can reach our free bilngual national hotline at 212-714-1141 or report online for support.
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.