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Say Her Name: Tete Gulley

PORTLAND, ORE  July 26, 2020 – Last year on May 27th, 2019, TeTe Gulley (known to friends also as Tierrah), a 31 year old Black transgender woman, was found lynched in Rocky Butte Park. Portland Police Bureau and the Oregon Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide, refusing to thoroughly investigate the case.

The family will be gathering monthly on the 27th from July onward to carry TeTe’s name until justice is served. Friends and family are welcomed to join the first vigil at Rocky Butte Park (3341 NE Rocky Butte Rd, Portland, OR 97220) this coming Monday, July 27th, 2020 at 8pm. Supporters are asked to bring flowers, candles and to wear a mask while social distancing. There is a GoFundMe and a petition set up for support:

bit.ly/TeTeGulleyFund

Petition

The family has this to say:

“Portland police came to the crime scene at Rocky Butte Park. They deemed it a suicide on the same day she was found. Neither Family or Friends ever thought Tete was suicidal. Community outcry caused the Portland Police Bureau to make a show of reopening the case. They never followed-up on the numerous leads that the Family gave them. After 5 days, they decided again that it was a suicide and closed the case. The loss of a Loved One to murder is almost unbearable. Combined with a justice struggle against police, it’s literally heartbreaking. Kenya wakes up every morning thinking of Tete. Disabled with grief, she drags herself through the day, trying to get justice for her child. Tete is her last thought at night before she sleeps, which comes poorly and sometimes not at all. The entire Family’s health predictably suffers from this injustice. The police have completely failed Tete and the Family. And they’ve failed us. When killers are not brought to justice, the community cannot be safe.

But we will not fail Tete or this Family, because Tete’s life mattered. Kenya and the Family need the support of this community to continue this justice struggle in Tete’s name. They cannot do this alone. Tete was a special person who was Loved and cared for by Family and Friends. She brought a wonderful joy to this world and the people who knew her. She is missed and will not be forgotten. This is why we will gather here — every 27th of the month — until we get justice for Tete Gulley and her Family.”

https://www.change.org/p/portland-police-bureau-justice-for-tete.

The negligence and dismissal to investigate the murder of TeTe Gulley has plagued her family since the day her body was discovered. It’s time to say her name.

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Justice for Shai’India Harris + The Wall of Moms + Mutual Aid

Portland, thank you for showing up. The brutality that’s taken place in this city night after night for the past three months has been difficult to experience and witness, but this is exactly why we continue to do what we can, all day every day. This fight isn’t new to Portland.

Whether that’s pursuing legal action to keep each other safe or calling on our community to support one another through mutual aid, we will keep showing up because WE ARE THE ROSES! 

Please join our class action lawsuits if you have been injured during these protests from tear gas, less than lethal munitions, pepper balls and more. These are sent directly to our general counsel where our lawyers will contact you. In addition to taking action to the front lines, please read and share our public health report on the irreparable harm caused by tear gas – in this fight against injustice during the global COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever that we lead with science –#ReadTheReport.

This week you may have seen Wall of Moms going viral and we are excited to have their leadership reach out to us in order to coordinate and mobilize moving forward. The organizers of this group have released a public statement about their mission here. Please support them as more and more cities begin organizing WOM.

As we see these images end up around the world, please remember that this isn’t your time to show up wearing yellow. This is your time to show up on the front line and amplify the voices of Black women who have suffered the loss of their children to police brutality and systemic racism for far too long. This is not an opportunity to co-opt a movement. Black Lives Matter. That is why we’re here. Keep this in mind when you begin to organize #WallofMoms in your city. Learn from your local leaders and grassroots organizing efforts – see where you can support and carry their names. There is never a wrong time to join the movement and we are thankful to have your solidarity.

Demetria Hester, Black activist and mom

Thank you to all of those who answered this last week’s calls to community for support to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs! With your donations we were able to provide long term support to those who have needed it the most. THANK YOU!

Please continue making a difference for Warm Springs, Yakama Nation and other reservations that we will be assisting in future supply runs with!

You can also support The Chúush Fund: Water for Warm Springs through MRG Foundation, which will go towards restoring infrastructure and their access to clean water.

This morning, Shai’India Harris’ memorial was held for friends and family to honor her life cut short. SAY HER NAME. Big thank you to our community for coming together to drop off bouquets of flowers for our last minute call to action! The turnout was so beautiful and overwhelming. We appreciate you all for showing up in so many ways.

Portland Police Bureau must investigate Shai’India’s case and arrest the murderer who ended her life in broad daylight on July 10th, 2020 and he is still on the streets, terrorizing family and friends. This is unacceptable – her family deserves justice and we won’t stop until it happens.

Continue supporting the movement for Black Lives. Help us sustain our communities and continue the work we are doing. Donate here and sign up for our newsletter.

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Anti-Independence Day March + Thank you to our new donors!

Photo by Nancy Nguyen in downtown LA.

Thank you to all of the artists who supported us with their work in the online art auction! If you purchased a new piece, please be patient as we give students time to turn in their work to get ready for pick up this next week. We will arrange pick up times by appointments only in order to ensure social distancing guidelines take place!

Photo by Mika Martinez.
Photo by Mika Martinez.

The Anti-Independence Day March is a protest to show Indigenous solidarity with Black liberation and police abolition. America’s celebration of independence is only possible because of the genocide, enslavement and theft of Indigenous and Black peoples. On July 4th, we refused to celebrate this history and instead chose to uplift Black and Indigenous voices in support of the Movement for Black Lives.

Thank you to everyone who made this a beautiful, safe and unifying march. It felt incredible to be a part in this gathering and we are grateful.

If you are still looking for ways to provide support for the movement, please look at our mutual aid spreadsheet. We’ve gone on to add resources to help our Indigenous communities as well. Please share this link far and wide and donate where you’re able, sign petitions and make phone calls part of your daily routines. To our new donors, we are so thankful for your contributions and look forward to having you in the movement for Black Lives. If you’ve yet to sign up for our newsletter, please do so to receive updates!

To our new donors, we are so thankful for your contributions and look forward to having you in the movement for Black Lives. If you’ve yet to sign up for our newsletter, please do so to receive updates!