Victim Number 21: Trans Woman Murdered in Maryland

[Ayla]

Police in suburban Washington, D.C. are investigating the murder of 21-year-old Zella Ziona, a transgender woman who was found fatally wounded in an alley near a parking lot between two Montgomery County, Md., shopping centers. She is the 21st trans person murdered in the U.S. in 2015.

A witness who wished to remain anonymous told Washington, D.C. TV station WJLA he saw the gunfire around 5:50 p.m. Thursday.

"I only saw one gun. It just happened so fast, and kind of scary," said the witness, who claimed to have seen Ziona surrounded by four or five teenagers.

In the midst of an argument, he says one of the teens pulled out a gun and shot Ziona in the head. He said he heard the gunman fire four or five rounds.

”They argued and things happened so fast. I don't know what they argued for," the witness told WJLA.

Ziona died at an area hospital around 8:12 p.m. Thursday, said police, who at first identified her as a male and by her birth name, but corrected that report after speaking to her friends and family.

www.advocate.com/transgender/2015/10/16/victim-number-21-trans-woman-murdered-maryland  

[Deleted]

Yet another one. At this point I simply don't know what to say any more.

[Mingma]

The carnage will continue until it is deemed unacceptable by the body politic. Until the cry goes up from every city and town that this must end, it will not end. Trans women of color are the primary target for now, I expect that non-binary folk who are out and obvious are likely equally at risk. In the USA at least we can speak out when we are able to, and can vote for those who support diversity. Change can happen, these martyrs need not be forgotten but I think that the urgency for change mandates our participation. One day the Day of Remembrance will be a celebration of authenticity however it is expressed, rather than a requiem for the slain. Till then I'll keep posting, speaking, and always voting.

Ming