Kenyatta
“Kesha” Webster, a 24-year-old Black trans woman, was found dead in Jackson,
Miss., on Saturday, March 26.
Last Friday,
more than 100 people attended the balloon release and vigil honoring Webster in
Jackson, local TV station WLBT reports. Family members have said Webster’s death
was robbery-homicide, but police have yet to confirm.
During the
event, Webster’s mother, Sharon Taylor, begged the community to help find
justice for her daughter.
“Everybody
share it all on Facebook,” said Taylor. “All over Facebook. Let it go out
because I want justice for my baby. Because she was loved. She had plenty of
love. She didn’t deserve that. She ain’t no dog, no rag, or dirt. She’s gonna
get justice.”
According
to Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents, Webster worked in retail
after graduating from Callaway High School. The website also notes that she
traveled a lot throughout the South. She turned 24 last month.
In a news release, Tori Cooper, Human Rights Campaign’s director
of community engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, said that
Webster's life was cut too short.
“At 24,
Kenyatta ‘Kesha’ Webster should have had more time,” Cooper said. “Her mother’s
grief that has led to calls for justice must be heard and her miraculous life
must be remembered. During her life, she spread messages of hope online and it
is my hope that in her memory we can transform hope into action to protect
young Black transgender women from senseless violence so they may live long and
beautiful lives."
Webster’s
death marks at least the 9th violent death of a trans or gender non-conforming
person this year. That number is probably higher. Many trans and gender
non-conforming deaths go unreported or are miss reported by many media outlets.
In the case of Webster, several outlets have misgendered her.
The Jackson
Police can be reached at (601) 960-1217 for leads in connection to Webster’s
death.
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
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