This post remains published for posterity.
The In Memoriam Page is the complete listing.
NCAVP mourns the death of Lea Rayshon Daye, a 28-year-old Black transgender woman who was found dead in Cuyahoga County Jail in Cleveland, OH on August 30.
Cuyahoga County Jail, where Lea had been held for 105 days, has a longstanding history of neglect, reporting ten wrongful deaths since 2018. Lea’s autopsy and cause of death has still not been released to her family or community.
Local activists are demanding justice for Lea – calling attention to the misgendering that happened in the reports surrounding her death. “Those that knew her said she would have hated that.” Others are drawing attention to Cuyahoga’s history, and the oppressiveness of the prisons in general. “Even the cleanest and most well-staffed jail in the world is still a predatory and abusive institution,” says Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez from the Cuyahoga County Jail Coalition.
NCAVP stands in solidarity with Black trans women, and we know that it is always hard to read these reports of violence against our communities. We know this can be even more painful when there continues to be an unchecked epidemic of homicides of Black trans women, as police violence is escalating against Black and brown people, and our nation continues to be grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic that highlights long standing healthcare disparities for Black and brown 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 bilingual 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.