Press Release: Councilmember Vincent C. Gray’s Statement in Response to Arrests Made for the Attack on a Transgender Woman in Ward 7
News Release — Ward 7 DC Council member Vincent Gray
October 15, 2019
Contact: Takiyah “T.N.” Tate
Washington, D.C. – The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) recently announced the arrest of a third male juvenile implicated in the case of an assault and robbery of a transgender woman in two locations in Ward 7, including the Citgo gas station at 3820 Minnesota Avenue, N.E. There were a total of seven young men ages 15 to 17 years-old involved in the incident which has been designated as an anti-transgender hate crime. The first suspect, a 17-year-old male, was arrested after MPD released video footage showing four of the seven juveniles who assaulted and robbed District resident Alicia Love Wood. This occurred after the recent attack and murder of Zoe Spears, a 23-year-old transgender woman who was fatally shot on June 13th in Prince George’s County near Eastern Avenue, NE. Spears was the second transgender woman to be killed in that area this year. Ashanti Carmon was shot and killed on Eastern Avenue in March. Although a man has been charged in Zoe’s death, Ashanti’s murder remains unsolved. Both women had roots in the District. Overall, there have been 128 killings of transgender people in 87 cities across 32 states since 2013, 80% of whom were people of color.
In response to the recent attack on Alicia Love Wood in Ward 7, the murders of Zoe Spears and Ashanti Carmon, and the violence and harassment faced by members of the LGBTQ community, Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray released the following statement:
“While I am pleased that MPD was able to make the arrests, the increased number of reported hate crimes, especially attacks on transgender women, is deeply troubling and disheartening. It is obvious there needs to be more education around LGBTQ lives and issues, more jobs and more safe places for transgender people to reside without fear for their safety,” stated Gray.
“That is why I will continue to fight to end the violence, job discrimination, societal and systematic inequities that continue to marginalize the transgender community. I joined Prince George’s County Councilwoman Jolene Ivey at her press conference in June to speak out against the heinous murder of Zoe and her friend Ashanti Camron. However, my support of LGBTQ rights and initiatives didn’t start there, nor will it end there,” said Gray.
“Having received the Washington Blade’s lifetime achievement award as Mayor in 2014 for the numerous LGBTQ related initiatives that were launched during my administration, some of which were the first initiatives of their kind, I am committed to continuing the work. Too often, young people like Zoe are faced with significant challenges like unemployment and housing insecurity.
That is one reason why, as Mayor, I directed the Department of Employment Services, the Office of Human Rights and my Office of LGBTQ Affairs to develop and implement a six-week transitional employment program benefitting members of the transgender community. This initiative was the first of its kind. Absolutely no one should have to experience violence, lack of work and not having a safe place to live. I am grateful for places like Casa Ruby Housing and the Wanda Alston Foundation for being havens, especially for our LGBTQ youth,” Gray continued.
“I am certain the work we did during my administration made a difference in the lives of transgender people and the LGBTQ community. However, we must commit to doing more to ensure that violence and discrimination do not continue to harm or claim the lives of members of the LBGTQ community, especially for transgender women,” Gray further stated.
“This violence must stop now. Each of us must resolve to do more because, if we do, we will feel the improvements almost immediately,” Gray concluded.
###
Comments are closed.