It’s time to change the dialogue surrounding police brutality to include BOTH women and men of color.
Eric Garner. Mike Brown. Tamir Rice. Freddie Gray.
Michelle Cusseaux. Tanisha Anderson. Aura Rosser. Meagan Hockaday.
All of the previous names are the names of African Americans who have been killed due to police brutality or negligence. The only thing that separates the first four names from the last four names from the first four is gender. Why, then, are the last four names not as recognizable?
After the unjust shooting of Mike Brown here in St. Louis, a nationwide movement against anti-black racism set fire. However, in the same year, Alexia Christian, Meagan Hockaday, Mya Hall, Janisha Fonville, and Natasha McKenna—all black woman—were killed by police officers. There is an incredibly loud silence after women of color are killed in America. None of these women were the example set forth for the #BlackLivesMatter movement and they all continue to be left out of the conversation on police brutality.
The #SayHerName movement seeks to bring recognition to the experiences and lives of black women like Michelle Cusseaux, Tanisha Anderson, Aura Rosser, and Meagan Hockaday. The movement was founded to complement—not separate itself from—the #BlackLivesMatter movement, reminding people that all black lives do matter. #SayHerName is integral to understanding the humanity of both black men and black women and the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality-based oppression.
For more information and more specific statistics/stories about the women listed (& more!) please check out this document.