And now Duanna Johnson Is Dead

this is heinous

There needs to be a demonstration in Memphis so that the police will investigate and solve this crime. Otherwise you know this case is going to go into a file cabinet.

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by: Pam Spaulding @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 13:22:41 PM CST

Sadly, I don't think the Memphis PD will do much...

...after all, she was the one that was in the process of taking them to court.

I know this is slightly OT, but the 2008 Transgender Day Of Remembrance is coming up. This a list of the dates and sites where the observances will be held.

http://www.transgenderdor.org/

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by: Robyn @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 15:36:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Houston TG DOR site

And here is our Houston site.  It's in the process of being brought up to date now.

http://tgdor.org/

And once again, another name to add..  When will it stop?

:-(

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by: Dee-1961 @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 16:09:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This needs to be turned over to the Feds to investigate

The police clearly have a conflict of interest. Given she was beaten by some officers - they could very well be considered on the list of suspects. It would be standard operating proceedcure to look into anyone who had an altercation with a victim in a muder investigation. And you would look at anyone who had a financial interest - the suit would have to receive some consideration under that standard.

The FBI needs to have this investigation.

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by: Kathleen @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 16:14:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I just wish the Trans-inclusive Matthew Shepard Act were law now

Because this is obviously a hate crime, and the feds could come in very quickly under that justification.

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by: Valatan @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 18:11:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

FBI

Is there any way of forcing the case into their hands? A protest, perhaps? We're pretty good at those right now, and it would be a good thing for LGB people to support the T community like this.

____________________________________
Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.

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by: tavdy79 @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 18:42:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

File a civil rights complaint with the FBI "Under Color of Law"

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/civi...

File a civil rights complaint with the FBI "Under Color of Law" for the beating:

The FBI is the lead federal agency for investigating color of law abuses, which include acts carried out by government officials operating both within and beyond the limits of their lawful authority. Off-duty conduct may be covered if the perpetrator asserted his or her official status in some way.

Excessive force: In making arrests, maintaining order, and defending life, law enforcement officers are allowed to use whatever force is "reasonably" necessary. The breadth and scope of the use of force is vast-from just the physical presence of the officer...to the use of deadly force. Violations of federal law occur when it can be shown that the force used was willfully "unreasonable" or "excessive."

Failure to keep from harm: The public counts on its law enforcement officials to protect local communities. If it's shown that an official willfully failed to keep an individual from harm, that official could be in violation of the color of law statute.
================================

If you can make a convincing argument that race played a factor - the murder can be investigated as a civil rights violation.
======================
FBI Jurisdiction
A hate crime is not a distinct federal offense. However, the federal government can and does investigate and prosecute crimes of bias as civil rights violations, which do fall under its jurisdiction. These efforts serve as a backstop for state and local authorities, which handle the vast majority of hate crime cases. A 1994 federal law also increased penalties for offenses proven to be hate crimes.

Limitations in federal statutes prevent the FBI from investigating crimes of bias motivated solely by gender, disability, or sexual orientation. Disability issues may be investigated in housing cases that fall under Title 42, U.S.C., Section 3631.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/civi...

I believe they can also get involved if public corruption is consdiered involved.

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by: Kathleen @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 20:11:30 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The Time is Now

The tragedy of it all, besides losing this precious human life?  Hardly ANYONE will know about it in the MSM.    

Until our families and every human/heart/soul within our homes are valued as much as heterosexually-identified Americans, we will remain worthless.  

Until we COME OUT to every human around us, we will remain invisible.

And it is VERY, VERY EASY to ignore the human rights of invisible, worthless beings.  

I spare everyone here my tax-protest rant; sadly, money is the only "worth" most Americans care deeply about.   Consider that April 15th, 2009.  

Decades more of abuse? - OR - Stonewall.  Nationwide.  NOW!

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by: John Bisceglia @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 13:46:00 PM CST

Okay so let me see if I got this straight:

Duanna was a high profile victim of bigotry who was suing the PD. Mysteriously, she's been found dead. And her LAWYER is telling the media?

We've been talking all week about how to be effective as a community. What our organizations for LGBT people don't do is fight a ballot initiative, as shown by Prop 8...they outsourced some polling and bought some signs. And a phone room. And that was in the high profile state where our money went!

What they also don't do, based on this tragedy, is assist victims and rally the community so that someone who has been beaten by cops, on tape, can get out of town alive.

What has happened to us? How did we become so hapless in the face of hatred? You cannot pay someone to be the community, and apparently more reminders of that fact are coming at us.

Yes, Memphis needs to represent...but don't wait for 'someone' to do it. This is tragic and a reminder that we ARE the community.

But wait, there's more!

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by: PhoenixRising @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 13:52:08 PM CST

Trying to leave Memphis???

Not very hard...you buy a bus ticket....but then her lawyer wouldn't have had her around to try and get his 1.3 million.  Horrible, awful...we need a hate crime bill and people who are victims need a victim protection program. ACLU/PFLAG of Tenn where are/were you???

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

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by: Orion45 @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 15:31:55 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Perhaps Harder for some, than others

This is someone the story said is living in conditions without utilities.

I have personal communication from someone working with her lawyer to try and get her into a trans friendly homeless shelter that would take her - there were none in Memphis. I have to assume she was squating in the building.

This doesn't haapen as much in my City as it used to - but it used to be routine for transgender women to be refused from both the male & female shelters.

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by: Kathleen @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 16:21:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

No electricity, no water

Duanna had a very hard life.  A July news article gives an idea of how rough it was.

If you want allies, you have to be an ally.

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by: dale @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 22:42:29 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Tragic news

It almost sounds like a planned "hit".  

Autumn, I don't live in Memphis, but in Vancouver, BC just last month we had a march to protest the beating of a gay man right in the gay village.  Part of our march was also to remind folks here of a murder of a gay man several years back.  We remember our fallen and frequently remind others of the same.

I certainly hope that a similar march, letter writing, increaded investigation of this case, etc. take place in Memphis, TN.  The Memphis, TN and GLBT community and supporters should demand nothing less.


vanhattan

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by: vanhattan @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 13:54:38 PM CST

I wouldn't put it past em..

What if it was the Memphis Police that killed her?  You know they all carry guns off duty.

And I wouldn't put them past them either.

May Duanna find rest and peace, and I hope that her family presses on with her suit.

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by: Daigan @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 13:54:57 PM CST

Oddly enough...

that was my first thought. In fact I'd be willing to bet it was them.

____________________________________
Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.

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by: tavdy79 @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 15:13:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This sounds like the work of vengeful cops.

The way to mourn, honor and remember Duanna Johnson and the hundreds of GLBT victims of a society steeped in bitotey and racism is to damand passage of an inclusive hate crimes bill with very tough, mandated penalties and one which permits prosecutors to co-indicts cult leaders who incite violence.

The Democrat Party ditched the Matthew Shepard Hate cimes bill last December, ignoring that fact that it had passed both houses of Congress.

We have to tell them that if they don't pass it immediately we'll march on DC and stay there until they pass it and an inclusive ENDA.

Rest in Peace, sister.  

The looter rich much prefer working with Democrats like Obama and the Clintons - they're greedier, they fool more people and they're able to get away with a lot more than Republicans.  

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by: donal1944 @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 14:14:32 PM CST

Dear God...

 This is so beyond sad...I have no words. May God please take our sister with love and care that she did not have here on Earth.

   Where is the bottom of such casual violence? I doubt the police there will put any effort into finding her killer(s), that THERE lies the biggest motive for hate crimes legislation.
Assurance that the law enforcers won't treat Ms. Johnson with any less concern for her murder.

  Poor thing, such a sorry thing to happen.

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by: Regan DuCasse @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 14:27:55 PM CST

Just the usual "dead tranny."

Trans people die at the rate of one evry 6 to 8 days and no one notices, but a gay or Lesbian murdered is a huge media event with tele-movies.

How can they be seen as so disposable?
It makes two tragedies out of one.

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

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by: MauraHennessey @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 14:59:10 PM CST

So sad.

Yet another person to add to the list that will be read on November 20.

So sad.

Dena

Cisgender. Because "Genetic" is so 2006.

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by: Denabeth @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 15:14:52 PM CST

Something tells me...

that the entire Memphis PD has been getting majorly acquainted with the phrase 'plausible deniability' and they've all been creating plausibile deniability for one another - be it to cover up a 'hit' or to cover their asses over 'allowing' this to happen.

But remember, this life reality for trans people is acceptable in St. Barney's eyes.  We don't need jobs - just undertakers.

>^..^<

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by: KatRose @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 15:23:02 PM CST

Duanna Johnson Is Dead

Autumn,

I care. I remember. I will be at a Transgender Day Of Remembrance on Novemeber 20th.

Go to transgenderdor.org and see that they currently list 57 ceremonies in 25 states and 6 other countries. From November 14th to November 24th. How many other ceremonies are not listed? However many will observe, it is still not enough. Nothing in Alaska, Indiana, Louisiana...?

I have almost completed a guide for responding to violence, but people in Duanna's community need to start acting now. Visit the TheAmancioProject.org, the purpleberets.org, the Anti-Violence Project at lambda.org, and the many other sites that have good information and can help.

Unless you trust the police, the District Attorney, and the media 100%, you must get involved or the killers will go unpunished or get off light, and life will become a little more dangerous for all transgenders.

If I can get permission from one more person, my guide should be about ready to go. I am sorry it is not now.

-- Cathy

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by: Cathy Cat @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 15:29:03 PM CST

Let me save you the trouble

I can tell you exactly how this is going to play out.  The "culprits" will be found, they'll be black, and her death will be the "result" of a drug deal gone bad, prostitution or both.  The net outcome; more distrust of black males, another potrayal of an LGBT (emphasis on the T) as a drug addicted deviant, a bigger wedge driven between two oppressed communities and a few million dollars saved for the city of Memphis.

Qui Bono?

Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes

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by: Kiera_Lynn @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 15:30:36 PM CST

This riles me beyond bearing!

This was a hit; I'm sure of it. Some "off-duty" policemen did this.

Nicole Kidman is set to play the World's first trans sexual. She's already getting kudos for it, and bets says she may win another Oscar for it.

Meanwhile, real transgender people, like Duanna Johnson, get beaten and murdered. May the Goddess and The God meet her with open arms, and songs of joy.

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by: Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 15:39:16 PM CST

The Memphis PD should not be investigating this

Clear conflict of interest.

And she gets killed right as she's trying to leave? Something is definitely rotten in the Memphis PD.

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by: Darkrose @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 16:42:34 PM CST

Bless her heart

I remember the whole ENDA debacle and some people wanting to leave transgender people out. I was angry because I thought it was wrong to leave anybody behind. Sad.  

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by: Dave @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 23:05:17 PM CST

heartsick

so more proof that absent trans-inclusive hate crimes laws, this shit will just keep happing (seemingly) unabated.

so WTF do i do with the outrage i feel right now?  any tips?  please advise.

find me over at bluejersey.com

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by: jay lassiter @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 06:17:43 AM CST

Memphis Transgender Day of Remembrance

FYI.

Memphis TDOR
Saturday, November 22
4 pm
Tom Lee Park

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by: caseyboy @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 14:49:08 PM CST