Statement on the Anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub Tragedy
NEW YORK — On June 12, 2016, 49 people tragically had their lives taken at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In observance of the anniversary of this tragedy, National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director David Johns released the following statement:
“This horrific act of violence against the LGBTQ+ community needs to be remembered, not only as we continue the fight for equality but also as we honor the lives and legacies of victims that we lost on that tragic night.
“It is important to honor the 49 victims whose lives were taken at Pulse Nightclub by remembering their names and through advocacy and continuing to fight for safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people to be, to celebrate, and to experience joy. As the Black Lives Matter movement seeks justice for Black people who have been killed by cops and fights to protect the Black community, we must ensure that we make space for the members of our beautifully diverse community who also have to fight against homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and other forms of stigma and bias. Not one among us can truly be free unless and until all of us are free. Let us celebrate the lives of our siblings at Pulse as we continue to fight to be free.”
You can learn more about the legacy of the White House Summit on African-American LGBTQ Youth by visiting NBJC’s Thriving Summit landing page.
