Help a Black Trans Survivor of Police Violence

We are writing on behalf of our cherished family member and friend. For the purpose of anonymity, we will call them "O".

O is a Black trans person who is currently facing legal bills stemming from false charges after their self defense against a transphobic attack from a police officer.

O is a kind and caring person who has been active in the Black Lives Matter movement, mutual aid, and fundraising for queer youth. They are a well respected nanny who puts an emphasis on teaching communication skills and self expression. They enjoy rollerskating with their friends, which they picked up at the beginning of the pandemic as a way to have fun while social distancing.

O has opened their home to friends and devoted their time to family members in need. We would go to the ends of the earth to protect O and we are doing our part to help them in return.

While at the grocery store, O corrected a police officer’s address of them as ma’am- O is not a woman. The officer then verbally harassed them repeatedly in front of multiple witnesses within the store. Ultimately, O was arrested, and choked against a police car in the process. They are being charged with F4 felony assault of an officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest (a charge tacked on after the fact). They spent several nights in jail, enduring filthy conditions and withheld medicine and food.

The detective with the Sheriff's office claim the officers body camera is "broken." O saw the officer turn it off during their interaction.

Anti-Black police behavior is rampant in Columbus, Ohio, where O lives, and this instance is not only anti-Black but anti-trans. This is an issue of racism, harassment, and transphobia in police culture.

O simply stood up for themselves and is now facing up to $15,000 in legal bills.

We ask for $10,000 in pursuit of those legal bills such as paying for a lawyer at the arraignment (and potential trial), as well as for living expenses since this arrest made O lose their job.

Please contribute and share so that O can avoid the horrors of the American prison system, survive the next few months, and work on healing from this traumatizing incident.

Black Trans Lives Matter.