Quoted from the Bi-Writer's Association Website...

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Friends Seek Justice for the Murder of a 20-Year Old Transwoman

Erika Keels, a 20-year-old black transwoman, was murdered on March
22, 2007, at the corner of Broad and Thompson in North Philadelphia,
in a hit-and-run assault. Witnesses saw a man eject Ms. Keels from
his car and intentionally run her over four times, killing her and
leaving the scene. The medical examiner's report states that Erika
was run over not just once but multiple times, supporting these
eyewitness accounts. The driver, Roland Button, was later
apprehended, but has yet to face any charges; indeed, he is still
driving, his license has not been suspended, and his car has not even
been taken for evidence. The Philadelphia police have refused to
conduct an investigation of Erika's death and have closed the case.

Erika Keels was a vibrant, expressive, resilient young woman, and her
friends were devastated and enraged by her murder. The failure of
police to follow procedure when responding to Erika's death, even to
carry out steps required for a hit-and-run accident, amplified the
pain of her murder for those who loved Erika. Some of Erika's friends
refused to accept this second affront, and questioned police
officials about the classification of her death as an accident.
Officials attempted to intimidate them by demanding their "birth"
names, and told them they were "trying to make something out of
nothing." Erika's friends began organizing to demand that her case be
reopened and her death be investigated as a murder. The police seemed
determined to keep Erika's murder as quiet as possible, and Erika's
friends, as well as allies who soon joined them, were just as
determined to bring to light the violence and injustice which brought
an end to this remarkable person's life, and which the Philadelphia
police were continuing to perpetrate.

The story of Erika's death is a shocking, upsetting one, and has
touched many people who never knew Erika when she was alive. However,
Erika's murder is by no means an anomaly. It is part of a devastating
pattern of violence against trans people of color in Philadelphia and
elsewhere. The murder rate of trans people in the United States is
estimated at 7-10 times the national average. Trans people of color
living and working in Philadelphia know they are at near-constant
risk of physical attack, and many experience daily harassment and
discrimination. Erika experienced a tremendous amount of violence,
harassment and discrimination during her short lifetime. On and off
the street from the age of 13, Erika was failed by the very systems
that claim to offer support, opportunities and protection to youth
like her, including the Philadelphia school system, the Department of
Human Services, and, of course, the Philadelphia Police Department.

Violence against trans youth of color in Philadelphia takes many
forms. The Trans-health Information Project (TIP) drop-in night, a
spot Erika frequented, is held weekly at a building in the Gayborhood
of Center City Philadelphia. The TIP drop-in is aimed at building
community, fighting isolation, and providing education and services;
for many months it was home to a thriving Vogue group, popular with
trans and gender-variant youth of color in and out of the ball scene.
Not two weeks after Erika's death, TIP was forced to shut down the
Vogue group, due to police harassment and complaints from white
neighbors about youth hanging out in front of the building. There has
been a long-time presence of trans, gender non-conforming and queer
youth of color on the streets of the Gayborhood, but a combination of
gentrification and Philadelphia's push to corner the gay tourism
market have led to youth of color being increasingly unwelcome in
this predominantly white-owned, ritzy neighborhood. Displacement,
police harassment, cultural eradication, and the elimination of what
little community space is available to trans youth of color - these
forms of violence are not as gruesome as the violent murder of a
young woman. But individuals touched by Erika's death would be well
advised to acquaint themselves as well with the structural, day-to-
day violence faced by her and her community.

Join the Justice 4 Erika campaign in demanding that the Philadelphia
Police Commissioner and the Accident Investigation Division to reopen
Erika's case and conduct a thorough investigation of the
circumstances surrounding her death. We stand together to demand
police accountability, justice for trans and gender non-conforming
people, and respect for the inherent dignity and worth of every
person.

Steps to Take Action:
1. Sign our community support letter
(www.petitiononline.com/ErikaK...on.html ).
2. Add Justice 4 Erika as a friend on Myspace
(www.myspace.com/justice4erika).
3. Get organizations or groups you're in to sign on to the support
letter. (Organizations should email Justice4Erika@gmail.com to
confirm their support.)


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