Black Lives Matter
George Floyd! George Floyd! Breonna Taylor!
REPORTER 1
Americans are in the streets tonight, demanding justice after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
REPORTER 2
For nearly two weeks, thousands of protesters across the country and around the world, have captured a shift in public attitudes on race and policing.
REPORTER 3
They were motivated by George Floyd's death, and they came to remember someone else too. Breonna!
inaudible
WOMAN
This is a true grassroots movement, united by that common belief that Black Lives Matter. Black Lives
must
WOMAN
Matter.
RAQUEL WILLIS
Repeat after me. I believe in my power. I believe in my power. I believe in our power. I believe in our power. I believe in black trans power. I believe in black trans power. After the murder of George Floyd and so many black trans people, I felt a duty to raise my voice. Because as a black trans woman, there's still so much risk in even just leaving our doors each morning.
REPORTER 4
The rally comes days after two black transgender women were killed in Ohio and Pennsylvania. It also follows the Trump administration's rollback of protections against gender identity discrimination in healthcare.
RAQUEL WILLIS
I don't think any of us anticipated the sheer numbers of folks. Many of us hadn't really experienced anything like that at rallies, specifically for black trans lives, that have so many people. You know, oftentimes, black trans folks-- we're on our own in our mourning and our resilience. And this was just so different. It felt like lightning struck and just a tide was turning. We have been told that we are not enough. I want you to know that you are more than enough. Even within the feminist movement, there has been a history of exclusion of black women, trans women, lesbian and queer women, disabled women.
Follow Us