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On Thursday, trans women of color will lead a rally at NYPD headquarters to demand justice for Islan Nettles.

Nettles was brutally beaten to death in August after her attacker found out that she was trans. Trans Women of Color Collective of Greater New York  will lead the rally in hopes of calling attention to Nettles’ case. 

From Trans Women of Color Collective:

According to police, the brazen attack took place at the corner of W. 148th & Frederick Douglass Blvd, directly across from NYPD’s PSA 6 police station, in full view of several surveillance cameras.

[…] trans women of color, the Nettles family, LGBTQ organizations, and other supporters outraged by the impunity with which Islan Nettles was murdered will rally at One Police Plaza to demand that Commissioner Bratton explain why NYPD botched the Nettles investigation – and what steps they are taking to fix it. Protesters are also demanding that the D.A.’s office provide a progress report on their “aggressive” homicide investigation. Activists as far as Hawaii, California and Vermont have announced rallies in solidarity.

Read more at Trans Women of Color Collective

“We will not be silent, we will not stand by while trans youth are murdered without recourse.” says Lourdes Ashley Hunter, Community Organizer & Co-Founder of Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) of Greater New York. “The NYPD and the District Attorney’s office must be held accountable for their biased and botched investigation of Islan Nettles’ murder.”

No one has been charged with the murder. Paris Wilson, whom police said they pulled off Nettles at the scene of the crime, was charged with a misdemeanor. Charges against Wilson were dropped in November citing a lack of evidence.

Thoughts on the incident and rally?

How can we get law enforcement to pay closer attention to and equally protect the trans community?

Sound off below!