Media Releases

WASHINGTON, DC-- This morning, news broke that early Tuesday morning, Jussie Smollett, a cast member of ‘Empire,’ was brutally attacked in an apparent hate crime. In response to the news David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), released the following statement:
"We are deeply saddened, disheartened and devastated that an attack steeped in racist and homophobic hatred could happen to anyone. But we are not surprised. This attack is a sad reminder that none of us — not even our famous entertainers — are safe from the ugly vestiges of white supremacy, anti-Blackness and homophobia.

Today, 51 LGBTQ and allied organizations (listed below) released the following statement to demand a thorough investigation by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office of the second death of a Black man at the West Hollywood home of Ed Buck, a prominent political donor, within two years.

WASHINGTON -- In honor of Transgender Awareness Week ending Nov. 17, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and and the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls (CCBWG) released statements calling for the end of gender-based violence and the rising epidemic of discrimination, abuse and violence against Black Transgender and LGBTQ/Same Gender Loving people, especially Black Trans Women.
Congressional partners, including Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Robin Kelly (D-IL), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) joined NBCJ Executive Director David J. Johns, and Londyn de Richelieu, a member of the NBJC Black Transgender Advisory Council to raise awareness and called on other high-profile, Civil Rights and progressive leaders and organizations to join the fight to protect Black transgender people, women, and girls and to:  

• Recognize anti-transgender violence and gender-based violence;
• Support justice for crimes committed against Black transgender and gender-nonconforming people; and
• Act to stop the epidemic of gender-based violence against Black transgender women and gender non-binary Black people.

As our nation grapples with celebrating community diversity as a strength, and where people from diverse backgrounds work better together to tackle the seemingly intractable problems that prevent us from thriving,  it's important to address the unique needs of marginalized individuals who are oppressed because of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.