NBJC Mourns the Stolen Lives of Sam Nordquist and Tahiry Broom
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
NEW YORK – The National Black Justice Collective (NBJC) mourns the death of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old Black transgender man, and Tahiry Broom, a 29-year-old Black transgender woman. Sam Nordquist was found dead in Yates Country, New York on February 13, 2025, as a result of repeated acts of violence and torture that took place from December 2024 to February 2025. No one had heard from Sam since January 1, 2025. Five people have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder, however, no hate crime charges have been filed at this time.
Tahiry Broom was found shot to death in an apartment parking lot on February 9, 2025, in Southfield, Michigan. A suspect, who Tahiry had met through a commercial sex ad, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Police have not ruled out Tahiry being targeted for her identity.
Sam’s mother said that he had a heart of gold and would not hurt anybody. He was an animal lover, worked at a home for vulnerable adults, and lived with his mother in Minnesota. Tahiry loved making people laugh and was full of energy and confidence. Described as funny and smart, she was a fan of Nicki Minaj.
“I am devastated to learn about the horrific deaths of two of our trans siblings,” said Victoria Kirby York, Director of Public Policy and Programs. “The horrific pain and torture Sam endured is something no one should experience and is sickening. Tahiry being killed while simply trying to make a living makes me sick. The fact this epidemic of violence against the trans community has continued for so many years makes me sick. And the truth is this epidemic is likely to continue as we now have a president who has directly targeted trans people and is trying to erase them and all they have done for this country. In the face of this, we have to stand with and for the trans community. We must protect them in any way we can, bring attention to the issues they face, and push back against anti-trans legislation.”
“In both of these cases, we have seen swift arrests and charges, which is too often not the case when trans people are murdered,” Kirby York added. “When these cases are solved, it shows that law enforcement cares about the trans people in the community and allows family, friends, and loved ones to get closure.”
Remember the lives of the Black trans siblings we have lost this year with action by viewing NBJC’s resources for the transgender and gender-expansive/non-conforming community HERE.
Learn more about reducing gender-based violence here and here. Look here to learn more about changing local laws and increasing protections for trans and non-binary community members.