SayHerName facts for kids
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#SayHerName is a social movement that wants to bring attention to Black women who have been hurt or killed by police violence in the United States. The name of the movement was created by the African American Policy Forum (AAPF).
Studies show that Black women are more likely to be stopped by police and much more likely to be killed than white women. #SayHerName wants to show how Black women are especially affected by unfair acts of racial injustice. To get the word out on social media, the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) started the hashtag #SayHerName in December 2014. This was done alongside other campaigns like #BlackLivesMatter.
In May 2015, the AAPF released a report called "Say Her Name: Resisting Police Brutality against Black Women." This report explained what the #SayHerName movement wanted to achieve. In July 2015, Sandra Bland was found dead in her jail cell three days after being stopped by police for a traffic violation. After her death, the AAPF updated their report. The new report included details about Sandra Bland's death and other stories of police violence against Black women, like Tanisha Anderson and Rekia Boyd. The report also explained why Black women might be more likely to experience police violence and suggested ways to help communities fight for racial justice.
The #SayHerName movement works to make sure Black women are not forgotten by the media or even by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. One of its main goals is to remember the women who have died because of police violence.
Contents
Why the Movement Started
The Name #SayHerName
The idea behind #SayHerName is that when people and the media say the names of Black women who have been victims of police violence, it makes others ask important questions. It makes them wonder why these things happened. Saying a name is also a way to learn and share the stories of these women.
Kimberlé Crenshaw, one of the founders of the AAPF, said that if you say a name, you will want to learn the story. And if you know the story, you will better understand all the ways Black people can be harmed by police violence.
How the Campaign Began
The #SayHerName movement started because the Black Lives Matter movement and the news often didn't focus enough on Black women's experiences with police violence. The campaign began in December 2014 by the African American Policy Forum (AAPF).
The goal was to bring attention to the often-forgotten names and stories of Black women and girls who have been hurt by racist police. Statistics show that Black women and girls, from ages 7 to 93, have been victims of police violence. In recent years, the deaths of unarmed Black youth like Trayvon Martin and men like Michael Brown got a lot of national attention. However, the deaths of Black women such as Rekia Boyd and Shelly Frey received less attention.
According to Kimberlé Crenshaw, Black women being left out of stories about police violence makes it seem like Black men are the only victims. #SayHerName does not want to replace Black Lives Matter. Instead, it wants to add more viewpoints and real-life experiences to the discussion about racial injustice. The movement also looks at how different parts of a person's identity, like gender and social class, affect their experiences with police violence. This idea is called intersectionality.
What is Intersectionality?
- SayHerName is based on the idea of intersectionality. This idea helps bring attention to all victims of unfair violence. Intersectionality is a term that Kimberlé Crenshaw, a respected scholar and activist, created in 1989. It has become a key part of many modern movements for fairness.
Brittany Cooper explains that intersectionality helps us understand the unique situations of women of color within rights movements. It is very important to #SayHerName because Crenshaw helped create both the idea of intersectionality and the movement itself. The focus on Black women's experiences in #SayHerName depends on intersectionality. Crenshaw describes it as a way to look at how race, gender identity, or social class can all connect and affect a person's experiences.
Other things that are part of intersectionality in #SayHerName include whether someone is cisgender or transgender, their education, where they live, and if they have a disability. These factors can make victims more likely to be seen as a threat by police. This is made worse by stereotypes that say Black women and men in the United States are aggressive or have poor emotional control.
Experts say that even though Black women are only 7% of the population, and there are five times more white women, Black women and girls have made up 20% of the unarmed people killed by police since 1999.
Activities and Events
Since the movement started in late 2014, there have been two big national events. These events helped raise public awareness. The second #SayHerName Silent Protest: National Day of Action to End State Violence Against Women and Girls happened in major cities. It got a lot of attention on social media. In places like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, people walked with tape over their mouths. This showed how Black women's stories are often silenced. They also carried signs to remember those who died from police violence.
Another important event is the yearly Mothers Weekend in New York City. This weekend focuses on mothers who have lost their daughters to police violence. These weekends are for learning about the specific needs of families who have lost Black women and girls to racist state violence. They also provide a safe and comforting place. This has helped create a community that supports the #SayHerName movement and builds a network for activism. The main goal of these events is to encourage everyone to speak up about this issue, especially those who have been victims of police and gender violence.
At Ohio University, the Women's Center started a #SayHerName program in 2020 and 2021. The 2021 program had speakers and discussions. They started every meeting with a moment of silence for the women who had lost their lives.
The AAPF remembers these women on their "Angel Day," which is the day they were killed.
In 2020, the #SayHerName campaign became popular again. This was because the Black Lives Matter movement was growing, and Breonna Taylor was killed. Breonna Taylor was a Black woman killed in March 2020 by police officers during a quick police raid. A year after her death, the governor of Kentucky signed a law to limit no-knock warrants. The city of Louisville then officially banned no-knock warrants in Spring 2021 and called it "Breonna's Law."
The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) dedicated their 2020 season to the "long history of inequality, unfairness, and racism that affects communities of color." They partnered with the #SayHerName campaign. On the first weekend of their season, the players wore jerseys honoring Breonna Taylor and the #SayHerName movement. Angel McCoughtry, a player from Louisville, came up with the idea to put Breonna Taylor's name on the back of the jerseys. McCoughtry said, "It's a lot deeper than just the jersey, but I think that's a great start."
In 2021, Janelle Monae released a song called "Hell You Talmbout" with Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw and the African American Policy Forum.
Supporters say the #SayHerName hashtag has created a safe online space for groups to come together and share their sadness. However, as the hashtag spreads, the same sad stories keep appearing. This shows that just saying the names and raising awareness might not be enough.
How it Relates to #BlackLivesMatter
The #SayHerName movement actively tries to talk and work with the Black Lives Matter movement. However, #SayHerName is different in its structure, goals, and methods. Experts like Kimberlé Crenshaw have pointed out that #SayHerName focuses on how gender, social class, and disability affect Black women and girls. These are things that the Black Lives Matter movement, which mainly focuses on racial inequality within the criminal justice system, doesn't always address as much.
Many supporters of Black Lives Matter were very upset by the deaths of young African-American men at the hands of police. But when stories of African-American women facing similar fates came up, fewer people seemed to support them. The names and stories of female victims are generally less known than those of male victims. #SayHerName wants to raise awareness of how sexism and racism affect women of color at the same time. It also aims to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone to come together and talk about these issues.
The Role of the African American Policy Forum (AAPF)
The #SayHerName movement is one of three recent efforts by the AAPF to fight for racial justice. Since creating the #SayHerName hashtag in February 2015, the AAPF has played a central role in organizing the campaign. This led to two important events: the AAPF's release of the report "Say Her Name: Resisting Police Brutality against Black Women" and its support of "#SayHerName: A Vigil in Remembrance of Black Women and Girls Killed by the Police." Both events happened in May 2015. They helped change the usual stories about racial justice that only focused on straight, cisgender Black men's experiences with police violence.
Since 2015, #SayHerName has organized Mother's Weekends in New York. These weekends highlight what families need when they have lost Black women to unfair state actions. They also provide a place for these individuals to feel included and part of a community. The #SayHerName Mothers Network has met many times. The Mothers Network marched in the Women's March in Washington, organized meetings to find the best ways to help families who have lost women to police violence, and also pushed for police reform.
The May 2015 Report
In May 2015, the AAPF, along with the Center for Intersectionality and Social Policy Studies at Columbia Law School and Andrea Ritchie, released a report called "Say Her Name: Resisting Police Brutality against Black Women." The report explained the goals of the #SayHerName movement. It also gave several reasons why including gender is very important when fighting for racial justice.
The report also included stories from the last thirty years about Black women's deadly encounters with police violence. To help understand these stories, the report used an intersectional framework. This framework explains how race, gender, social class, and ability all combine to affect how law enforcement officials treat Black women.
After sharing recent incidents of police violence against Black women, the report ended with suggestions. It explained how people in communities, lawmakers, researchers, and activists can include a gender-focused approach in their racial justice campaigns. By offering these suggestions, the AAPF hoped the report would be a useful guide for the media, community organizers, lawmakers, and anyone else interested in racial justice.
After Sandra Bland's encounter with police in July 2015, the AAPF released an updated version of the original report. The updated version was similar but added more stories of Black women's deadly encounters with police. It also included a description of what happened around Bland's death. By releasing the updated version, the AAPF wanted to show the urgent need for lawmakers, the media, and community organizers to fix the unfair systems that make Black women in the United States very likely to experience police violence.
Names mentioned in the updated version of the #SayHerName report, and on the AAPF "In Memoriam"
- Priscilla Slater – Died in police custody on June 10, 2020
- Breonna Taylor – Killed by police on March 13, 2020
- Atatiana Jefferson – Killed by police on October 12, 2019
- Crystal Ragland – Killed by police on May 30, 2019
- Pamela Turner – Killed by police on May 13, 2019
- Nina Adams – Killed by police on March 13, 2019
- Latasha Walton – Killed by police on March 12, 2019
- Brittany McLean – Died in police custody on March 9, 2019
- Angel Decarlo – Killed by police on December 18, 2018
- April Webster – Killed by police in her home on December 16, 2018
- Tameka Simpson – Killed by police on December 11, 2018
- LaJuana Philips – Killed by police on October 2, 2018
- Dereshia Blackwell – Killed by police on September 9, 2018
- Cynthia Fields – Killed by by police on July 27, 2018
- LaShanda Anderson – Killed by police on June 9, 2018
- Shukri Ali Said – Killed by police on April 28, 2018
- DeCynthia Clements – Killed by police on March 12, 2018
- Crystalline Barnes – Killed by police during a traffic stop on January 27, 2018
- Geraldine Townsend – Killed by police on January 17, 2018
- Sandy Guardiola – Killed in her bed by police on October 4, 2017
- India N. Nelson – Killed by police on July 17, 2017
- Charleena Chavon Lyles – Killed by police on June 18, 2017
- Jonie Block – Killed by police on May 15, 2017
- Alteria Woods – Killed by police on March 19, 2017
- Morgan London Rankins – Killed by police on February 22, 2017
- Deborah Danner – Killed in her home by police on October 18, 2016
- Korryn Gaines – Killed by police on August 1, 2016
- Jessica Williams – Killed by police on May 19, 2016
- Deresha Armstrong – Killed by police on May 5, 2016
- Laronda Sweatt – Killed by police on April 6, 2016
- India M. Beaty – Killed by police on March 19, 2016
- Kisha Michael – Killed by police on February 21, 2016
- Sahlah Ridgeway – Killed by police on February 12, 2016
- Gynna McMillen – Died in police custody on January 10, 2016
- Bettie Jones – Killed by police on December 26, 2015
- Barbara Dawson – Died December 21, 2015
- Marquesha McMillan – Killed by police on October 26, 2015
- India Kager – Killed by police in her car on September 5, 2015
- Redel Jones – Killed by police August 12, 2015
- Raynette Turner – Died in police custody on July 27, 2015
- Ralkina Jones – Died in police custody on July 26, 2015
- Joyce Curnell – Died in police custody on July 22, 2015
- Kindra Chapman – Died in police custody on July 14, 2015
- Sandra Bland – Died in police custody on July 13, 2015
- Nuwnah Laroche – Killed by police on May 7, 2015
- Alexia Christian – Killed by police on April 30, 2015
- Mya Hall – Killed by police on March 30, 2015
- Meagan Hockaday – Killed by police on March 28, 2015
- Janisha Fonville – Killed by police on February 18, 2015
- Natasha McKenna – Died of police-induced trauma on February 8, 2015
- Tanisha Anderson – Killed by police on November 13, 2014
- Aura Rosser – Killed by police on November 9, 2014
- Sheneque Proctor – Died in police custody after being refused medical treatment on November 1, 2014
- Iretha Lilly – Died in police custody on October 6, 2014
- Latandra Ellington – Killed in her jail cell on October 1, 2014, 10 days after writing to her family that she was threatened by an officer
- Michelle Cusseaux – Killed by police on August 13, 2014
- Pearlie Golden – Killed by police on May 7, 2014
- Gabriella Nevarez – Killed by police on March 2, 2014
- Yvette Smith – Killed by police on February 16, 2014
- Tracy A. Wade – Killed by police in 2014
- Ariel Levy – Killed by police in 2014
- Angela Beatrice Randolph – Killed by police in 2014
- Dawn Cameron – Killed by police in 2014
- Shonda Mikelson – Killed by police in 2014
- Renisha McBride – Killed on November 3, 2013
- Miriam Carey – Killed by federal agents on October 3, 2013
- Kyam Livingston – Died in police custody on July 24, 2013
- Kayla Moore – Killed by police on February 12, 2013
- Angelique Styles – Killed by police in 2013
- Shelly Frey – Killed by police on December 6, 2012
- Malissa Williams – Killed by police on November 29, 2012
- Erica Collins – Killed by police on October 13, 2012
- Shulena Weldon – Killed by police on August 9, 2012
- Alesia Thomas – Killed by police on July 22, 2012
- Shantel Davis – Killed by police on June 14, 2012
- Sharmel Edwards – Killed by police on April 21, 2012
- Rekia Boyd – Killed by police on March 21, 2012
- Shereese Francis – Killed by police on March 15, 2012
- Jameela Barnette – Killed by police on December 25, 2011
- Unnamed – Killed October 3, 2011
- Catawaba Howard – Killed by police on August 12, 2011
- Brenda Williams – Killed by police on April 27, 2011
- Derrinesha Clay – Killed by police on March 14, 2011
- Shelley Amos and Cheryl Blount-Burton – Killed on February 19, 2011, by an on-duty police officer who was driving twice the speed limit and was not responding to an emergency call
- Carolyn Moran-Hernandez – Killed by police on February 14, 2011
- Latricka Sloan – Killed by police on January 22, 2011
- Aiyana Stanley-Jones – Killed by police on May 16, 2010
- Ahjah Dixon – Died in police custody on March 4, 2010
- Sarah Riggins – Killed by police on October 23, 2009
- Katherine Hysaw – Killed by police on September 9, 2009
- Barbara Stewart – Killed by police on March 24, 2009
- Duanna Johnson – Died in 2008
- Tarika Wilson – Killed by police on January 4, 2008
- Kathryn Johnston – Killed by police on November 21, 2006
- Alberta Spruill – Died of police-induced trauma on May 16, 2003
- Kendra James – Killed by police on May 5, 2003
- Nizah Morris – Died in 2002
- LaTanya Haggerty – Killed by police on June 4, 1999
- Margaret LaVerne Mitchell – Killed by police on May 21, 1999
- Tyisha Miller – Killed by police on December 28, 1998
- Danette Daniels – Killed by police on June 8, 1997
- Frankie Ann Perkins – Killed by police on March 22, 1997
- Sonji Taylor – Killed by police on December 16, 1993
- Eleanor Bumpurs – Killed by police on October 29, 1984
Mothers Network
In November 2016, the #SayHerName Mothers Network officially started. This was about a year and a half after the first #SayHerName event in Union Square in New York City. The Mothers Network has met many times since then. They have participated in the Women's March in Washington, talked to lawmakers about police reform, and held meetings to plan strategies. These mothers also meet to support new members who have been directly affected by police violence against their daughters. They also organize events to remember victims of police violence, including Charleena Lyles and Vicky Coles-McAdory, who was an original member and passed away in 2017.
Recommendations for Action
The AAPF published a "Take Action Guide" with five steps. These steps are meant to be done right away. They include:
- Find ways to support all families who have lost loved ones to police violence.
- Create places to talk about how different forms of unfairness, like sexism and homophobia, affect Black communities.
- Keep learning how to talk about the many ways police violence affects all Black women and girls, especially those who are transgender or gender-nonconforming.
Movement Events
The AAPF often hosts events to promote the #SayHerName movement. One example was an event in March 2017 called "Say Her Name: An Evening of Arts and Action Los Angeles."
There was also a protest held to remember Sandra Bland and all other Black lives that have been lost. Sandra Bland's mother and Janelle Monae led a BlackLivesMatter protest in Chicago shortly after Bland's death. About 200 protestors were there, all demanding fairness for the unfair actions against Black people. Janelle Monae, a well-known artist, also wanted justice, which led her to join the activism in Chicago. She said, "I come here as a black woman. We come as a black man, black human beings. We are particularly drawn to all of the stories in this movement, and we have recorded a tool for you to use, those who are out here on the front lines. This is the least we can do." Monae was talking about her song "Hell You Talmbout." In social movements and protests, songs are often used as a way to express feelings and make voices heard. "Hell You Talmbout" has been used as a rallying cry for protestors around the world. The song's message is about dealing with the neglect, disrespect, and misuse of power by some police officers. Being silent doesn't lead to change, but with sound, change can happen. Whether it's through songs, protests, or chants, your voice will be heard.
How the Movement Spread
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On the evening of May 20, 2015, the AAPF and twenty local groups organized an event called "#SayHerName: A Vigil in Remembrance of Black Women and Girls Killed by the Police." The event took place at Union Square in New York City. Its purpose was to remember women like Rekia Boyd, Tanisha Anderson, Miriam Carey, and Kayla Moore, among many others, who died because of police violence. Family members of Tanisha Anderson, Rekia Boyd, Shantel Davis, Shelly Fray, Alberta Spruill, Kyam Livingston, Kayla Moore, Miriam Carey, and Michelle Cusseaux attended. This was the first time these family members gathered in one place to honor the women.
Besides remembering these women, the event included speeches, singing, poetry, and art by scholars, artists, and activists. These included Kimberlé Crenshaw, Piper Anderson, Eve Ensler, LaChanze, and Aja Monet. Aja Monet wrote a poem supporting the #SayHerName movement.
The vigil happened one day before the National Day of Action on Black Women and Girls. One of its main goals was to encourage the New York City community to act against gender and race-based violence and police brutality. By demanding that the public no longer ignore Black women's struggles, those at the vigil worked to achieve a main goal of #SayHerName: to bring Black women leaders and victims of violence back into the main stories about racism and police brutality.
On the other side of the country, in May 2015, Black women and girls also stood in San Francisco. They held signs and displayed painted messages on their bare chests. Some messages included "I fight for those who have been murdered by the state" and "to end infant mortality."
See also
- Say Their Names
