National Black Justice Coalition Stands in Solidarity with Baltimore’s Kenni Shaw
WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 4, 2013 – Tomorrow, Saturday, January 5, at noon, Baltimore's Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and their supporters will gather at the corner of Gay and Chester Streets in East Baltimore to march for justice for Kenni Shaw. Shaw, a 30-year-old openly gay black man, was severely beaten on Christmas night by a group of men outside of a liquor store he frequents near his home. Police are still investigating the assault and have not determined a motive. Shaw, who has been called anti-gay slurs by men in his neighborhood, maintains that he was attacked because of his orientation.
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s leading Black LGBT civil rights organization, stands in solidarity with Kenni Shaw. The DC-based advocacy group joins the Baltimore community to ensure that this violent crime is properly investigated and that justice for Kenni Shaw is served.
“This brutal beating took place in our backyard,” says Sharon Lettman-Hicks, NBJC Executive Director and CEO. “Across the country, we see that this is not an isolated situation. From CeCe McDonald to Robert Champion, Jr. to Sakia Gunn, Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are disproportionally targeted for who they are. We celebrate the local community in Baltimore for coming together, and we will do our part to make sure that what is going on locally is being talked about and systematically addressed at the national level.”
The NBJC team will be on the ground at the community march. The organization has reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice to alert the federal agency about this incident and the larger crisis of violence plaguing the Black LGBT community.
# # #
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. NBJC's mission is to end racism and homophobia.