There Are No Words!
Three days ago, I received a text from my friend and former colleague who informed that Vaughn Nettles, one of the participants of the Harlem Children Zone CSO [College Success Office] department was brutally beaten on Saturday night [Aug 16th] by a group of men and fell into a coma as a result. Her last words read ” They don’t think he is going to make it” I was puzzled after learning the details surrounding the incident and I just couldn’t imagine something like this happening to one of our students. This morning I learned [via NBC and LGBTQ] that Vaughn Nettles had succumb to his injuries and passed away.
Here’s the the story:
Police say the victim, 21-year-old Islan Nettles, died Thursday night, five days after she was brutally attacked in Harlem. They say she and a friend, another transgendered woman, were out Saturday night when they ran into a group of men.
According to NY1, police say when the men learned they were transgender, one of them shouted anti-gay slurs before repeatedly punched Nettles. The victim’s friend ran away to seek help.
The attack is the latest in a spate of anti-LGBT violence in New York City.
Nettles was taken to a hospital where she fell into a coma and was declared brain dead. A 20-year-old man, whose identity was not immediately released, was arrested in connection with the attack and was initially charged with misdemeanor assault. Police said Friday, they expect to upgrade the charges to second-degree murder.
So why is sharing this story important?
I was blessed to have worked at the Harlem Children Zone for close to five years and within the CSO department for two years and I knew Vaughn Nettles. Regardless of his ‘sexuality” Vaughn Nettles was a brilliant, intelligent, and enthusiastic student who had dreams of pursuing a career in Fashion. Like many young people who are “secretly gay” or “transgender” and looking to make a full transition” Vaughn faced opposition from his peers, and a few family members, but despite all the odds that were against him, he stayed true to whom he felt he truly was and carried on with his life.
A person’s sexual orientation or preference does NOT constitute the right to be beaten, bullied, or even killed [as in this case] because others simply don’t agree with their lifestyle. Whatever happen to “If It Doesn’t Apply – Let It Fly” motto. What’s sad in this case is that there is a continued perpetuation of “Hate“, “Prejudice“, And “Discrimination” in our society and its coming from all hands [brown, tan, caucasian] these days. What is this really solving? The hope of PEACE, and LOVE still seems so far away and “turning the other cheek” is not even an option.
I truly hope in sharing this story others and [adults of all professions, etc] will become more incline to ‘freely’ educate the youth on the “severity of violence” [particularly hate crimes, and black-on-black violence that is rapidly occurring in New York City, and heavily in Chicago] and make a call to action to STOP THE VIOLENCE!
The VIOLENCE MUST STOP PEOPLE! Please share this story! Our sincere condolences to the Nettles family. RIP Vaughn Nettles, We love you, and your memory will forever live on in our hearts!
A Vigil for Nettles will be held on Monday. For more information click here!