The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) Mourns the Death of Kimberly Patricia Cope

WASHINGTON, DC—The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is devastated to learn that Kimberly Patricia Cope has been found dead. 

Ms. Cope’s body was discovered by a passerby in an Athens, Georgia restaurant parking lot around 6:00 AM on December 27, 2020. Friends had seen her just a few hours prior, talking to a person in a white SUV there. Kimberly Patricia Cope was only 40 years old. She has become the 30th Black transgender woman killed in 2020, as far as we know.  

Kimberly’s family stated in her obituary that she had a love for music and animals—she took in rescue dogs and had dreams of working in a veterinary office or animal shelter. She was also a talented make-up artist and self-trained beautician who had an extraordinary sense of style. 

“As we enter the New Year we should commit to concerted, communal efforts to ensure that Black trans and gender non-confirming lives are valued, supported, and protected,” said David J. Johns, Executive Director of NBJC. “Kimberly Patricia Cope should be celebrating new opportunities presented by this New Year with all of us. Instead, her family and friends are planning her homegoing services while holding out hope for some sense of justice. Kimberly and her family deserve better. Our community deserves better.”

Kimberly Patricia Cope is now the 50th known transgender or gender nonconforming person killed in 2020. She is also the third Black trans person to have been killed in the state of Georgia last year. 

Nationwide, fatal violence against the community has far surpassed previously recorded years. Most victims (60%) have been Black trans women, all 40 years of age or younger. The average age at death across all those taken from us in 2020 is a mere 29 years. 

The continuous epidemic of violence against trans and GNC communities must be addressed at all levels of government, in all of our communities. It is crucial that protective legislation be passed, that we ramp up educational efforts to eliminate stigma, and that we don’t wait until people are a news headline to care. Each of us must fight transphobia where we are and protect our trans and gender nonconforming siblings now.

To learn more about changing your local laws, look here. To learn how to increase safety and inclusion, look here. The NBJC Stolen Lives list of trans and gender nonconforming siblings lost to violence and hate can be found here.

Kimberly Cope’s cause of death is undetermined, though the circumstances appear suspicious. Anyone with information regarding her death is asked to contact Sgt. Gregory Dickson at 762-400-7070 or at gregory.dickson@accgov.com.