Note: This article has been updated to remove any footage of the horrific attack.
Iyanna Dior, a Black trans woman, was severely beaten by a mob of over 30 people this week.
Harrowing footage of the attack made the rounds on Twitter, showing Iyanna being attacked as she walked into a store in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The assault was allegedly the result of a “fender bender”.
In a video posted to her Facebook, Iyanna assured her followers that she’s doing okay since the incident and has only suffered swelling across her body, as well as light damage to her forehead and teeth.
Iyanna’s attack caused outrage on social media due to the disproportionate levels of violence that still plague trans women in society and the “marginalisation of some Black lives” within the Black Lives Matter movement.
“If you are not accepting of your LGBTQ brothers and sisters, you can’t claim Black Lives Matter,” one Twitter user wrote, while another tweeted: “I’m so sick and tired of black people picking and choosing who is included in police brutality.”
Many users felt that the anger displayed in the video should be channelled through the protests and demonstrations that have erupted across the United States against police brutality, racism and white supremacy.
The uprising started last week following the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American who was killed after a white police officer, called Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for over eight minutes.
As of 2 June 2020, over 5,600 protestors have been arrested in the United States while many others have been hospitalised due to excessive force from authorities, such as the use of tear gas and rubber bullets.
Social media has also been flooded with anti-racism movements from the Black community and allies.
To help support Iyanna in her recovery, you can donate money to her CashApp which is $iyannadio
To help in the fight for anti-racism, visit here or the links below.
Here’s how you can donate to the Black Lives Matter movement in the US.
Here are some incredible anti-racism charities you can donate to in the UK.
10 books about racism and Black lives white people should be reading right now.
Latest
