The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) Mourns the Death of Chae'Meshia Simms

WASHINGTON, DC - November 30, 2020 - Chae'Meshia Simms, a Black trans woman in her 30s, was found dead in her car on November 23 in Richmond, Virginia. Police were called following reports of a car crashing into a garage, where Chae'Meshia was found having suffered from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Friends and family held a candlelight vigil for Chae'Meshia on November 27, and she has been remembered as a good, kind, and funny person.

"Chae'Meshia should be here. She did not deserve to die. Period. Full stop," said David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC). "I no longer want to talk about the resilience of a community -- of Black trans women who exist in a world that continues to remind them that they are not safe and treats them like their physical existence is a threat that may invite unwarranted and unfair violence. What I want is for the violence that Black trans women experience to end, once and for all. There is no explanation for the continued violence that Black trans women and femme identified members of our community face, especially not during a global movement for Black lives. This is on us, this is on all of us."

This year, NBJC has tracked the deaths of 45 trans or gender-nonconforming people, the highest number of annual deaths recorded to date. Two of the deaths have taken place in the week following Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day meant to honor trans lives that have been lost to violence. The long-standing, continued epidemic of violence against the trans community is unacceptable. This is an issue that must be taken seriously, especially by those who hold positions of power. We need to stand with the trans community, and push to make sure that issues they are facing are being addressed at all levels of government, in all of our communities.

The Richmond Police are asking anyone with information on the death of Chae'Meshia Simms to call either Major Crimes Detective M. Godwin at 804-646-5533 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is America's leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV.