Amia Tyrae Berryman Is at Least the Seventh Trans Person Killed Nationwide This Year;Fourth Killed by Gun Violence
2017 Was the Deadliest Year on Record for Transgender People in the U.S. With at Least 28 Killed Nationwide, 20 of Whom Were Shot and Killed; 24 Were Trans Women of Color
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement in response to the shooting death of a trans woman in Baton Rouge. According to reports, Amia Tyrae Berryman was shot and killed Monday night in a local motel. Police have not identified suspects at this time.
Amia is at least the seventh transgender woman killed nationwide so far this year and is the fourth to be killed by gun violence. 2017 was the deadliest year on record for the transgender community in the United States, with at least 28 trans homicides. Twenty four of the victims were women of color and 20 were killed with a gun.
STATEMENT FROM ANGELLE BRADFORD, VOLUNTEER WITH THE LOUISIANA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Amia and the entire LGBTQI community in Louisiana. Once again, we are reminded how everyday gun violence disproportionately affects the most marginalized communities in our country. As we continue to experience this monumental groundswell in the gun violence prevention movement after Parkland, let us continue to fight for common-sense gun measures that will keep all Americans safe, regardless of who they are. We owe it to ourselves, our children and our neighbors to leave our state and country better than we found it.”