Update: This seems to be a legit way to donate. The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition
If you haven’t heard yet about the murder of Duanna Johnson, it is a tragedy that needs to be exposed and talked about. From Cara at The Curvature:
Less than five months ago, I wrote about Duanna Johnson — a transgender woman who was beaten by Memphis police while handcuffed and in custody. She was sprayed with mace, hit with a closed fist by an officer who wore handcuffs around his knuckles, ignored by medical staff, and called abhorrent transphobic names. Her attack was caught on tape, and Duanna dared to speak out against the violence and injustice that was committed against her. And two officers were rightfully fired, but wrongfully apparently not prosecuted.
Now, Duanna is dead. She was shot, and her body was found lying in the street. Just left there.
Duanna Johnson’s family needs money to help pay for her funeral. If you can, please donate. Reading through this thread, it seems as if there are a lot of complications going on with making donations to this Funeral Home. Some of it seems awfully shady to me. Since I’m posting this late in the evening, I suggest that folks that are interested in donating and helping this family out make a call to the funeral home first thing tomorrow morning and demand that appropriate accommodations are made for this family to pay for their child’s funeral. This is an outrage. We should not let this stand.
The balance for Duanna Johnson’s funeral is $1195 and the funeral home is requiring Mrs. Skinner (Duanna’s mother) to pay it by tomorrow (11/14). The cost is a hardship, so we are asking anyone who can to donate. Please send any donations to:
N.J. Ford and Sons Funeral Home
12 S Parkway W
Memphis, TN 38109If you want any clarification from NJ Ford, here is their contact number: (901) 948-7755.
Please forward this to as many people as you can!! Thanks!
Links of help and solidarity. Together, we can make a difference (if you’re putting the word out there and helping as you can, let me know in comments and I’ll add you):
Duanna Johnson’s Family Needs Donations
Duanna Johnson’s Family Needs Donations For Funeral
Transgender Abuse Victim Shot To Death
Duanna Johnson Needs Money To Pay For Funeral
Pass-Along: Duanna Johnson’s Family Needs Help Paying for Funeral
This is a travesty. Someone is always getting away with murder. *sigh*
What’s with the trifling funeral home? Reading through other posts about it, I just don’t think I’ll be sending money to that place.
sHaE-sHaE ´s last blog post..Old School Friday: Born Into Music
I don’t know what, if anything, can be done about that funeral home, but that’s the same funeral home that let that evil gasbag in to take pictures of Shindri Robinson after the Lester Street murders. Their reputation for sketchiness cannot be overstated.
I have two grave concerns. 1. What assurances does Johnson’s family have that photos of her dead body aren’t going to end up all over the internet? 2. When peope give money, what assurances do they have that the money will go where it’s supposed to and, if enough money can’t be raised (knock on wood that that’s not the case), that it will be returned to people?
Is there someone in Memphis we can urge to keep an eye on this?
Aunt B. ´s last blog post..And Now the Fords are Involved
I seem to be the only one saying it, but I feel it needs to be said repeatedly. Where the hell is the black community? When Duanna was attacked we were silent and now she is dead silence again? Duannas trans status does not erase the fact that she was a black woman that was brutally beaten by the police and now she is dead.
I have done nothing but think about her since I heard about her murder. Why is our so-called leadership silent on this issue. This is just as much a civil rights issue as education and employment. By being silent we are saying that it is okay to be beat black people. If she were a straight, cisexual, black male we would be all over this demanding and independent inquiry into her death, and instead it is a handful of people on the internet speaking out. Duanna deserves better than that. This is wrong, this wrong. We need to come together as a community and support our own.
Renee ´s last blog post..Thank You
@sHaE-sHaE @Aunt B.: Yeah, this funeral home is too shady for words. It frightens me that they are taking folks money on behalf of Duanna, but I’m not sure what else can be done. I’ve been on the look out for an independent fund raising effort that can be trusted, but there seems to be nothing out there and time is running out. This is too fucked up.
@Renee: Yep, you’re right, Renee. We should all be hollerin’ in the streets over this. I’m glad you’re saying it and I’m following your lead and saying it repeatedly myself.
Sorry for all the confusion created by last minute organizing, but here is an important update:
The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition has set up a Paypal account to help defray the cost’s of Duanna’s funeral and burial in order to more safely secure donations. Their website (ttgpac.com) explains how the money will be distributed.
UPDATE: It is no longer crucial to donate money. So far TTPC has collected $5100.51. If you still want to donate, have at it, but keep in mind that any excess collected will be given to Duanna’s mother to cover any incidental expenses (travel, floral arrangements, etc.).
Thanks to everyone who donated for their support and kindness!
[...] gives me pause with what is the mainstream gay rights movement is that my concern is with people living or dying more than it is with things like weddings and legal benefits thereof. A) I think I should be able [...]