National Black Justice Coalition Demands Long Overdue Justice for Victims of Ed Buck
WASHINGTON, DC— This week, another young Black man died in the home of Ed Buck, a wealthy Democratic donor who was previously investigated after another Black man, Gemmel Moore, died from a drug overdose at Buck’s home in 2017. Both deaths led to protests over the handling of the investigation and Buck, who was never charged. In response to the news of a second victim, David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), released the following statement:
"The deaths of Gemmel Moore and Timothy Dean who died Monday are beyond tragic, however, because they’re both Black gay men justice is not prevailing.
“All violence against Black people — police violence, sexual violence, domestic violence, prison abuse, and other violence — must be confronted with the full might of justice at our disposal. This is especially true at a time where the nation’s commander in chief is using identity politics to divide and score political points.
“Black victims, especially those of us with intersectional and marginalized identities, are too often ignored, undervalued, and blamed for the abuse we endure. R. Kelly’s abuse of Black girls was an open secret long before the recent docuseries. The horrific stories of these victims are being discussed with renewed interest at the same time that Black transgender women are experiencing an epidemic of violence and murder with little competency or public acknowledgment by law enforcement or the media. My hope is that recent conversations about persistent violence and abuse of power encourages conversations and action to protect and support all Black women and girls.
“It was public knowledge that Ed Buck was allegedly giving young Black gay men harmful drugs long before Mr. Dean died in his home on Monday, so I also hope that these tragic events encourage conversation about the fact that the lives of Black gay men are not disposable.
“The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) demands justice for all victims of violence. Young Black people, especially young Black LGBTQ people, must be protected. We have called on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Democratic establishment that Buck supported to do just that in 2017, and they failed. Another life has been lost. Now they must act.”