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Chyna Gibson, Ciara McElveen, and JacquarriusHarris, three black trans women out of New Orleans, Louisiana, were killed within a two-week period last month. And not so much as a pin smattering has been heard from black cis men, particularly those black cis men who tout black lives matter. No outrage. No hashtag. No marches. Nothing.

What happened?

Cis black men monopolizing and narrowing the prism of black victimhood, authentic blackness and the banner of Black Lives Matter, thats what. And you know what, its getting kind of old and tiresome. FrFr.

Especially after one takes into account all the receipts pointing to the high level of violence haters have perpetrated specifically against trans women of color in the past 3 years, pretty much the extent of the existence of Black Lives Matter.

In 2014, the year former officer Darren Wilson shot 18-year-old Michael Brown and Cleveland officers murdered 12-year-old Tamir Rice, 12 trans women who identified as either Black or Latina were murdered.

In 2015, the year South Carolina ex-officer Michael Slagerkilled Walter Scott, 9 black transgender women lost their lives to a toxic cocktail of transphobia, cis privilege, abuse, and violence.

In 2016, the year an officer murderedPhilandoCastille in cold blood in front of his family, 15 trans black women became the tragic victims of a hate crime.

And since January 2017, at least 5 blacks trans women have been killed.

Yet, let cis black men tell it, cis black men and cis black men ALONE are THE priority, the only targets of violence, the only racially-victimized members of the black community that warrant attention. Let cis black men call it, theres not enough room in the black freedom struggle to be concerned about and address the dreadful circumstances and regular deaths of trans sisters. Entertaining these folks, wed be tempted to walk away with the preposterous notion that cis black men, by default, constitute the totality of black culture and single-handedly ignited the black lives matter movement.

Of course, all of this is alie.

Related: Dear Black Men: Black Womens Lives Matter, Too.

Three black women Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi founded the Black Lives Matter hashtag that would eventually evolve into a movement. Even before the popularity of this recent resurgence of the black power movement, Garza, Cullors and Tometiwere committed to advancing black issues within their own field and invested in the long-term work of organizing on behalf of ALL black people. Equally important is the fact that at least two of these women, Garza and Cullors, are visible, proud members of the LGBTQ community, a note which, said out loud, makes it all the more peculiar to endure cis black men revising contemporary history to depict the movement for black lives as a struggle started by black cis persons, but, through some form of covert manipulation and scheming, co-opted and led by faggots.

In a movement whose expressed mission is to encapsulate the specific experiences and unique struggles of a diversity of black bodies and black sexual identities, incubating this kind of perspective simply wont do. Permitting the continued spread of this mode of thinking wont do. Black transphobia, period, wont do.For nothing short of the integrity and enduring legacy of moral leadership of a group of people is on the line.

For nothing short of the integrity and enduring legacy of moral leadership of a group of people is on the line.

On this question, this issue, cis black men gotta get their shit together and do better than this. And, truthfully, the this that we shouldve been doing shouldve been done yesterday, but today and tomorrow will have to suffice.

Related: Homophobia in the Black Community and The Rise of The Hotep

One of first things I would suggest we must do is deal seriously with our own inner gender insecurities. From there, we have an obligation to conquer our homophobia and transphobia. From there, we are obligated to recognize that black transgender women are still black and just as authentically black as any other slice of the black community.

Cis black men must start organizing and showing up for protests that center black trans women and deploy their cis privilege on their behalf of trans sisters. Cis black men must start viewing their trans sisters as allies not antagonists and abnormalities, as well as empathize with and memorialize their fallen black bodies with the same depth of pain and emotion that they, we, would a Trayvon Martin, an Eric Garner or a Freddie Gray.

And if black lives matter is to mean anything anything at all it must be that the whole range of black performativity and identities cis, trans, queer, bi, etc. are welcomed with opened arms and protected with closed fists.

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Cis Black Men: If Black Lives Matter, We Need to Support Our Trans Sisters - Wear Your Voice

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An honors program at a public university gives students a scholarship and early course signup and lets them use laptops if they take classes on subjects like white privilege and Black Lives Matter, which both have community engagement components.

Sam Houston State University in Texas (SHSU) offers a scholarship of up to $2,800 to students who take these courses or others as part of its Elliott T. Bowers Honors College. Students who gain admission into the Honors College can sign up for courses earlier than their non-Honors peers, obtain access to a special computer center, and automatically receive the Bowers Scholarship upon acceptance into the college. The Honors students also graduate with distinction and gain usage of cameras, video cameras, and laptops for their class projects.

Understanding Whiteness: Historic and Contemporary Viewpoints on Privilege, asks SHSU Honors students how might white people better understand white privilege and their potential role in dismantling systemic racism? and requires students to engage in personal self-reflection and educate others about white privilege through action research projects and community engagement initiatives.

The seminar examines white privilege from modern and historical perspectives, e.g., the social construction of whiteness, as well as key historic events and movements advancing white privilege (eugenics, global colonization, holocaust).

The Black Lives Matter Honors College seminar is taught by associate professor Ervin Malakaj, who co-chairs SHSUsDiversity Committee for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Black Lives Mattermovement has called on Americans to address the racial violence, mass incarceration, and dehumanizing social policies directed at African Americans, reads the seminar description.

The BLM course is part of SHSUs Academic Community Engagement (ACE) program, which blends teaching with community engagement.

Other seminars offered by the Honors College include a course examining the physiology of sexual function, and a course called, Culture and Society: Harry Potter.

SHSU, a taxpayer-funded public school, also offers three other scholarships to its Honors College participants, with amounts set at $500 per semester and $500 per year.

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College Honors Program Pays Students To Take 'White Privilege' And BLM Courses - Daily Caller

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation placed a new Black Lives Matter sign outside their church after taking down an old one that was defaced several times.

The members of the predominately white congregation said it was important to replace the sign because the term Black Lives Matter is a way to help build bridges and end the racial divide across the country.

We live in a community of diverse people and we need to recognize that we stand for everyone being included at the table, said the Rev. John Marsh, interim minister at the church. Faith communities live by symbols. This sign is meant to be a religious symbol of inclusion and welcome.

The church installed a Black Lives Matter sign in 2015 but took it down after it was vandalized several times.

Now, the church has put up the new sign and has prepared several more just in case this one has to come down. It also installed security cameras to try and catch anyone who attempts to vandalize the new sign.

Local civil-rights activists who spoke at the church commended its members for standing with the black community.

The Rev. William Williams, pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Atlantic City, told the congregation during a prayer service the goal is to build bridges and have a conversation.

He also spoke of educating children about black history and the meaning behind the Black Lives Matter movement in school more than just during the month of February.

Atlantic City Councilman Kaleem Shabazz told the congregation the sign is a bigger deal than most people realize.

This is a tremendous, symbolic gesture of unity, he said. Its more than a sign. Its a symbol of the commitment that this church has to justice and equality. And that is something that is important.

Shabazz said he applauds their courage for putting up the sign.

You can believe that other people will take a cue from you, he said. They may not have the courage to put up a sign, but its going to move them closer to being united.

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Local church replaces vandalized "Black Lives Matter" sign in show of unity - Press of Atlantic City

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) - Black Lives Matter Memphis is calling for the resignation of several city officials. They claim the local government is creating a hostile environment for people of color. They are also upset about the recent security list at city hall.

Organizers of BLM Memphis have created their own black list, and it includes the names of several officials they want removed from office.

"Here at Black Lives Matter Memphis we have a black list. We asking Amy Weirich resign, Richard Dosier resign, Jennifer Nichols resign, Tom Henderson, Deborah Ferguson resign, Chris Craft resign and James Lamey, says Steven Bradley, Spokesman for Black Lives Matter Memphis.

More than a dozen members stood in front of 201 Poplar Friday demanding to see change in their local government.

We can go on and on and on to deal with these injustices and Ms. Amy Weirichs lack of judgement, lack of facts, and takes into accountability that black lives matter, says Bradley.

Members are also upset about the Memphis City Hall A list and they are demanding for it to be removed.

"It shouldn't have never happened. Mayor Strickland denies the fact that it happened on his campaign. Once he saw the list he should have knocked it out of the way. "

The list initially included Darrius Stewart's mother Mary Stewart, but she was taken off during the revision.

A friend of her family spoke candidly at Friday's presser about her sons death at the hands of a then Memphis police officer, and how the family has still not received any justice.

"Amy Weirich refused to bring charges through a so-called sicken grand jury, says Jennifer Cain. It took you over 120 days to review the TBI port and all of a sudden you come back with a no indictment? I'm not understanding it.

She has 20 days to give her resignation and that is the anniversary of Darrius Stewart, says Bradley.

Darrius Stewart's birthday is in 20 days and the family is still grieving. We reached out to Amy Weirich's office. Her spokesperson, Vince Higgins, says they had no idea about Fridays rally until media started contacting them, and they have no comment.

Black Lives Matter Protest outside 201 Poplar http://www.localmemphis.com/news/local-news/black-lives-matter-organizers-call-for-resignations-of-several-memphis-officials/666310983

Black Live Matters Protest Part 2 http://www.localmemphis.com/news/local-news/black-lives-matter-organizers-call-for-resignations-of-several-memphis-officials/666310983

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Black Lives Matter Organizers Call For Resignations Of Several Memphis Officials - Local Memphis

Protester Trevor Gerard at a Black Lives Matter encampment in front of Los Angeles City Hall last summer

Sam Slovick

A judge on Wednesday granted a restraining order to the president of the Los Angeles Police Commission, protecting him against a prominent member of Black Lives Matter L.A. alleged to have engaged in a pattern of stalkingand violent threats.

The city sought the order protecting commission president Matt Johnsonfrom activist Trevor Gerard,identified in court proceedings by his given name of Trevor Ferguson, who is accused of stalking Johnson at his home in Sherman Oaks and at the entertainment law firm where he works in Century City.

Nana Gyamfi, the attorney representing Gerard, said the decision set a troubling precedent, signaling the start of a gradual impingement on the free-speech rights of activists.

For two hours all seats were occupied in the small courtroom, with an audience thatincluded supporters for Gerard and a pair of LAPD officers in suits, who apparently were there providing security for Johnson.

Arguments from the two sides hinged on whether Gerards conduct during two protest demonstrations targeting Johnson at his private residence, and the law firm where he works, constituted legally protected speech or threats intended to frighten the commissioner or his family.

Were dealing with a very thin line here, and the question is was it overstepped, said Superior Court Judge Carol Boas Goodwin.The line, the judge said, was one delineating a protester's rights versus fear directed at the commissioner.

To be granted the restraining order, the city had to show Gerard made threats against Johnson combined with actions that could have reasonably caused the commission president to fear for his safety what is known as cumulative effect.

The court heard testimony from Johnson and from attorney Paul Shapiro, a partner at the entertainment law firm where Johnson works, who testified he encountered Gerard in the law office after the activist rode the elevator up from a protest in the lobby.

Johnson told the court that Gerard frequently attends commission meetings and speaks during the public comment time, making negative comments about the police department and about Johnsons oversight of the department. He will often use derogatory and foul language relating to me, Johnson said."Many times, when I look out into the audience and catch his eye, he will mouth comments," which Johnson alleges have included physical threats.

At prompting from the judge, Johnson enumerated the alleged physical threats as Ill fucking kill you, Ill whip your ass and bitch-ass houseboy.

The judge at one point had the police commission president mouth the alleged threatening words to her on the bench. She said she wasn't able to read his lips.Maybe you should ask him to mouth them, Johnson replied, indicating to Gerard.

The commission is charged with overseeing the LAPD, setting policy and determining whether police use of force was justified. Its meetings are held at LAPD headquarters and upward of 15 officers in uniform attend. Johnson never ordered police to remove Gerard from the room, he said, because it would have caused an undue disruption and delayed commission business.

A fellow L.A. police commissioner,Cynthia McClain-Hill,was subpoenaed in the case and submitted written testimony that she never saw Gerard mouth threats at Johnson.Gerard likewise denied issuing threats of any kind, and said his comments were political speech critical of the commission, which he referred to in court as arubber-stamp body for extreme violence in the community.

Judge Boas Goodwin reviewed transcripts of Gerard's comments at meetings, introduced as evidence byJohnson's lawyer,deputy city attorneyHugo Rossitter. These includeda reference to Johnsons children deemed gratuitous in the court filing for the restraining order. The judge didn't agree, saying that given proper context the statements were understandable as political commentary.

One statement of Gerard's came from the Nov. 1 board meeting: Matt Johnson has four children, one of whom I understand is a boy, he said. God forbid, Matt Johnson, that you ever have to suffer at the hands of men like [LAPD Police Chief] Charlie Beck. ... God forbid you have to sit in this audience and suffer because your boy was just another nigger in the crosshairs.

Judge Boas Goodwin said that the statement doesnt appear to be a threat. He was making a point regarding violence and how black men are dealt with.

In a separate statement, Gerard concluded his comments to the board by stating, When 4 million people realize how fucked up yall are, yall will not be able to stop that tide. And thats coming. And its coming for all of you.

The judge dismissed the relevance of the statement to a restraining order: "It doesnt say coming for you, it says coming for all of you," she said.

Los Angeles Police Commissioner Matthew M. Johnson

CBS Los Angeles

Of greater concern to the judge, however, was the testimony of Paul Shapiro, a co-managing partner at the entertainment law firm where Johnson works.

Shapiro told of the morning of Dec. 17 when a group of about 20 protestersentered the lobby of the office tower where the firm is located.Shapiro described an encounter with Gerard alone on a restricted floor of the office. Gerard, he says, was walking around the floor, carrying a protest flier and asking, "Where is Matt Johnson?"

Johnson was not present at the time.

[Gerard] was emphatic about the fact that we would not remain protected in this building on the floor reserved for members of the firm," Shapiro said, "explaining that my affiliation to Mr. Johnson and the law firm did not absolve me from complicity.

Shapiro says he was "terrified" and was able to convince Gerard to leave, accompanying him on an elevator ride down to the lobby, where the large deployment of LAPD officers restored a "tremendous sense of calm." Eventually,the protesters agreed to remove the demonstration to the sidewalk. No arrests were made.

In an interview with L.A. Weekly after the hearing, Gerard said Shapiro"perjured" himself on the witness stand in his account of that morning.

Nevertheless, the judge told Gerard he was trespassing that day and that his actions inside the law firm were not free speech but rather an act of intimidation, in my view. She asked Gerard if it occurred to him at the time he went up in the elevator that he might be crossing a line."I dont know how to answer that," he said. "It was a protest.

Gyandi argued that protesters around the country go to private homes to demonstrate, and that the president of the police commission is a logical target for those struggling for greater police accountability in L.A.

The protesters had gone to the office to confront Johnson in part over claims he restricts public comment at meetings and on occasion ordered speakers physically removed from the room by police.

The court also heard from Hamid Khan, a community activist who was present at the demonstration in the lobby. Khan said thatthe decision to single out Johnson for protest was political, not personal, and thatthere were other activists attempting to go up in the elevators, in addition to Gerard.

It was a collective decision by people who go to police commission meetings, Khan said of the decision to protest inside the law firm.

At a separate demonstration the following day, on Dec. 18, protesters targeted Johnson's private residence. Agroup of about 14 approached the gated house on the sidewalk. Gerard says the main purpose of the action was to hand out fliers against Johnson (the flier, admitted as evidence at the hearing, accuses the police commissioner of complicity with state-sanctioned murder).

As many as 25 plainclothes LAPD officers met the protesters in front of Johnson's home, Gerard said in court. He says he was arrested and taken into custody after joking with an officer that he was going to ring the doorbell to Johnsons home. He did not end up setting foot on the property, and was later released without charge. Johnson was not on the property at the time, but his wife and four children were at home.

Judge Boas Goodwin ruled that Gerards participation in the two protests at Johnsons place of work and his private home, in combination with the public reference made to Johnsons children were grounds for granting the restraining order.

The order calls for Gerard to avoid Johnson's home and the law firm where he works, as well as his children's school. It does not prevent Gerard from attendingpublic meetings of the commission, and he may still make public comments.

Johnson made a statement to reporters after the hearing. "The First Amendment is a pillar of our democracy. The right to protest has led to true gains for people that look like me and Mr. Ferguson, and thats something I deeply respect. But there is a line. And that line for me is when you threaten the safety of my family."

Gyamfi said she plans to appeal the judge's decision.

Matt Johnson showed today he is actually a houseboy, Gyamfi told reporters. It is ridiculous that he used a process that people use to protect themselves from actual violence be it domestic violence or violence at the hands of people who intend to do harm to protect himself from what amounts to embarrassment and humiliation.

Gerard said, Whats being talked about is what is acceptable protest. And I dont believe the judge is in any position to make that call.

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Judge Grants LA Police Commissioner a Restraining Order Against Black Lives Matter Activist - L.A. Weekly