Washington was
found dead Saturday morning in back of an apartment building in Clearwater,
according to local media, many of which misgendered her and used a different
spelling of her first name. The reports did not offer other details about her
death.
Police have
identified a suspect, Arthur Benjamin Jr., also known as Hadeeka Shabazz, and
issued a warrant for his arrest on a charge of first-degree murder. He “has an
extensive criminal history and was known to the victim,” says a Facebook post from
the Clearwater Police Department. The department asks for anyone who knows his
whereabouts to call (727) 562-4242.
Little
information has surfaced about Washington’s life, but friends have paid tribute
to her on social media. Several have said she went by the nickname “Bobo.”
“Rest easy Keri Washington aka Bobo we love U,” read one Facebook post. “Bobo
was the real deal slay queen,” said another. On Washington’s own Facebook page,
she listed her relationship status as “engaged.”
She is at
least the 20th trans, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming person known to have
died by violence in the U.S. this year. Most of them have been Black or Latinx
women. The number is on track to exceed last year’s record of 44. The total for any year is
likely an undercount, as many victims are misgendered or deadnamed, or their
deaths not reported at all.
“Our community
is yet again in mourning as a result of senseless acts of violence against
transgender and gender nonconforming people,” said a statement from Tori Cooper, the Human Rights
Campaign’s director of community engagement for its Transgender Justice
Initiative. “Keri was at least the fourth transgender woman killed in less than
10 days, each of them Black or Brown. We urge everyone to end the stigma against
transgender people, and to destroy the roots of transphobia and racism that
fuel this violence.”
“Such tragic
news, again,” the Blue Ridge Pride Center posted on Facebook. “When will the
killings end? Now more than ever we must stand together in the face of
discrimination and hate and work to educate, advocate and yes, love.”
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
Well, this all continues to be rather depressing. We have quite the body count. And while grouping them all together removes the individual horror, it would also serve as a wake up call... there's something going on...
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