When people say Black Lives Matter, they mean all Black Lives. Male Black Lives Matter. Female Black Lives Matter. Straight Black Lives Matter. Gay Black Lives Matter. Trans Black Lives also Matter.
The attack of Iyanna Dior, a black trans woman, is appalling to watch and it speaks to the exact reason why we are protesting. She was brutally attacked inside of a convenience store by a mob of 20-to-30 cisgender men calling her transphobic slurs and throwing punches. Dior was able to escape behind the shop counter before eventually finding safety through the back door.
As noted by Vox, details about the attack are still unclear but it appears to have happened after a fender bender car accident.
In a video posted to her Facebook page, Dior shows her injuries, which are minor, and gives her Cash App to people who would like to donate money. She says that she has slight damage to her forehead and teeth.
The incident caught the attention of many, including Megan Thee Stallion, who offered to help.
"The video of lyanna Dior really broke my heart," she wrote on Instagram. "Please help her out any way you can if you know her real cash app put it in the comments #blacklivesmatter #blacktranslivesmatter."
Thankfully, Iyanna Dior is still alive to tell her story.
Brooklyn Medical Worker Beaten By Police: "Picked The Wrong Time [To Go Home]"
Rayne Valentine, a 32-year-old Brooklyn man, was leaving his job at the hospital when he was beaten bloody by police officers.
For Black Out Tuesday, we're focusing our editorial efforts on stories that we believe deserve more of a spotlight, including videos and photos from protestors on the front-lines. This one is truly disturbing.
As we continue to navigate through a global pandemic, it's important to keep the medical workers treating COVID-19 patients in our minds as they have been putting their own lives at risk to help us and our families. 32-year-old Rayne Valentine was leaving his job at a Brooklyn hospital on Saturday night when police officers left him laying on the ground in the fetal position, beaten and kicked with his hospital identification smeared in his own blood.
Valentine left work at approximately 11:45 PM on Saturday, noticing police officers clashing with protestors nearby. During his walk home, he noticed a "swarm" of officers chasing a kid in a yellow and black hoodie, taking out his phone and filming.
"I stayed out of the way," he says. "I was up against one of the closed shops just recording. I didn’t say anything to antagonize them. I was walking backwards as they shouted ‘back up.’ And then this cop pushed me, and there were other cops hitting me on my legs and stuff too, but my head is the only thing that got seriously injured."
When they shouted at him to "move back", he said he was moving back and that he was just trying to get home. The officers responded: "Well, you picked the wrong time to do that."
After ninety seconds, they stopped.
"I don’t know if it’s because they noticed my hospital ID or if it’s because they saw the blood, but they stopped, threw my phone at me, and I walked back to the hospital," says Valentine. "I was there for about seven hours after I got seven staples in my head and two CT scans."
Valentine has a military background and worked as a chef prior to the coronavirus outbreak. He took a job at the hospital because he felt helpless about all that was happening. He says that he is fortunate to be able to speak about it.
Cops Tell Philly Man Who Can’t Breathe During Arrest: "That Shit Don’t Work Here"
A video shows Philadelphia police officers arresting a man who claims he cannot breathe. They responded to his pleas: "Are you fucking stupid? That shit don't work here."
A very disturbing video is being shared across social media, showing Philadelphia police officers arresting a man as he repeatedly claims that he is unable to breathe.
"I'm trying, I can't breathe!" yells the man being detained. It is unclear why he was being arrested as few details have been revealed.
The police officers responding to the situation fought back and said the following: "Shut up, asshole. Are you fucking stupid? That shit don't work here."
The cops are reportedly stationed to the Philadelphia Police 14th District in Germantown. This is just another instance of what is so deeply wrong with the police communities in this country.
The video has been shared by several platforms on Twitter and Instagram, including by Meek Mill. The rapper shared the following message, empathizing with the man in the video: "I cant breathe don’t work in philly!"
For Black Out Tuesday, HotNewHipHop is shining a light and providing a platform for the stories, videos, photos, and more showing what is happening in the United States during the protests. If you are looking for ways to become more involved, you can view our list of resources here. For a first-hand account of the Los Angeles protests, read here.
Peaceful Seattle Protestor Violently Detained By Police Officer
A Seattle protestor was violently detained by a police officer after letting him pass by on his bike.
We are spending Black Out Tuesday by shining a light on the stories, videos, photos, and more from the protests taking place across the nation. There are shocking things happening by the minute that remind us why we are fighting so hard for justice.
As the protests move forward, several videos from Seattle show police officers behaving violently and detaining a peaceful protestor, who was initially blocking the cop's path. The protestor was walking on foot and when the officer tried to pass him on his bike, he tapped him on the shoulder before the man gave him room to pedal by. It is unclear if the protestor said anything to the officer as he was passing him but, for some reason, the cop violently grabs the man in a chokehold and detains him. His friend tries to pull him free as a group of people take videos on their phones and yell at the officers to let him go.
Another video shows a different incident, where flash bangs and tear gas were set off during a violent arrest in downtown Seattle. The man getting beat down, who was reportedly protesting with a group, is said to have been doing nothing aside from walking with other protestors.
If you are looking for ways to let your voice be heard, please visit our list of resources to seek justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless other people of color killed by police or racism.
Tokyo Jetz Shares Teary-Eyed Apology For George Floyd Death Joke
Tokyo Jetz apologizes for the joke she made about George Floyd's death.
Tokyo Jetz knows she messed up and she's holding herself accountable for it.
Earlier today, the rapper was trending on social media because of an insensitive joke she made about George Floyd's death. Hanging out with her hairstylist, she put her arms around his neck in a chokehold and said: "I'ma George Floyd your muthafuckin’ ass."
Since the video started circulating, Tokyo Jetz deleted all of the content on her Instagram page and replaced it with a single apology, addressing her fans and anybody that was offended by her tasteless joke.
"I’m sorry, I messed up big time," she wrote on the post, realizing that she made a big mistake. "Nothing excuses what I’ve said and done, but I do really want everyone to know I’m not proud of it and sincerely apologize."
In the video, the Grand Hustle artist says that herself, her son, or anybody in her family could have been the victim of such a hate crime, speaking through tears and explaining that she does not expect anybody to justify her message. She also says that she is not releasing the video to make excuses for her behavior.
Watch Tokyo Jetz apologize below and let us know if you accept her words or if she's effectively canceled to you.
View this post on Instagram6ix9ine Speaks Out On George Floyd Death: "I Can’t Speak On Certain Topics"
Tekashi 6ix9ine says that he cannot speak on certain topics since he’s still on house arrest, but he sends his condolences to George Floyd’s family.
Tekashi 6ix9ine has seen all that is happening in the world right now and he’s taking a moment to address the racial injustices that people of color face on a daily basis in the United States.
Recording a video on his social media channels, the controversial rapper claimed that there are still topics he cannot approach, likely police brutality and any sort of critique against the cops, but he is sending his deepest condolences to the Floyd family.
“I’m still not a free man,” said the rapper while showing off his ankle monitor. “I’m home under supervised release. I can’t speak on certain topics but what I want to do and what I am gonna do is send out my deepest condolences to the Floyd family.”
Shareif Ziyadat/WireImage/Getty ImagesHe goes on to explain that, although he’s not legally allowed to approach certain topics, that we all should stick together as we’ve been doing to fight back against racial injustice.
Some of Tekashi’s fans and critics are calling on the rapper to refrain from using the n-word in his music from now on, noting that there are obvious ways for him to stop potentially contributing to racism.
What do you think of 6ix9ine’s statement?
