Jackson Heights March Protests Violence Against Trans Individuals

JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS — More than 500 people filled the streets of Jackson Heights for Make the Road New York's eighth annual Trans-Latinx march Monday, according to the nonprofit.

Transgender people of color and their allies marched to demand an end to anti-trans violence and discrimination, just days after two transgender women suffered a pepper-spray attack in the neighborhood in what the NYPD deemed a hate crime.

"We march because too many of our sisters, including me, have suffered transphobic attacks and today we sent a clear message —we demand everyone to respect our existence," Bianey Garcia, an organizer with Make the Road New York, said.

Garcia was one of the two women who were attacked on June 29 while working on a documentary on police harassment and violence against trans women.

"We will continue to show our resilience, educate our community and fight to end the criminalization of our people," Garcia added.

State Senator Jessica Ramos, New York Assembly Member Catalina Cruz and City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer were among the officials who joined the march, which included performances by trans community members and a memorial to trans individuals who have been killed.

At least eleven transgender individuals have been killed so far in 2019, and at least 26 transgender individuals were killed last year, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Powerful memorial to trans women that the community has lost sets the stage for @MaketheRoadNY’s #TransLatinxMarch.

Transphobia kills and we must all stand together to end it. pic.twitter.com/U3nEn2McCv
— Daniel Altschuler (@altochulo) July 8, 2019

Incredible moment: 500 trans immigrants and allies sit down on Roosevelt Ave., Queens, to commemorate loved ones & neighbors who have died in immigrant detention, jail, and in communities because of the discrimination and lack of resources for the community. #TransLatinxMarch pic.twitter.com/9ij4GeB5bc
— Daniel Altschuler (@altochulo) July 8, 2019

Beautiful performances by trans community members at our #TransLatinxMarch block party! pic.twitter.com/owuGDOzBlq
— Make the Road NY (@MaketheRoadNY) July 8, 2019

#TransLatinxMarch in #JacksonHeights was powerful, entertaining and great show of trans power, pride and solidarity. pic.twitter.com/0IqC9ESZ9Y
— OutRockaway (@OutRockaway) July 9, 2019