Dear Supporter,

Tell New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. and New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, "Transgender Lives Matter!" Their lack of action promotes Transphobia and ultimately sends the message that Anti-Transgender bias is acceptable!

Here are the details:

In Harlem, N.Y., on August 17, 2013, 21-year old Miss Islan Nettles was walking with friends, all Transgender women, near a police precint when 20-year old Parish Wilson began flirting with Nettles. The confrontation ensued once Wilson, surrounded by a group of his own friends, realized Nettles was not born a woman. He began to harass her with homophobic slurs.

Motivated by anger and hate, Wilson began viciously pounding on Miss Nettles until she slammed to the pavement with extreme impact (hitting her head). Even then, Wilson did not let up. He stood over her and continued to violently punch her in the face and head. When police arrived (they were notified by one of Nettles friends), Nettles, barely recgonizable - was unconscious. As Nettles was transported to a nearby hospital with severe head trauma, Wilson was given a "slap on the wrist" consisting of third degree assault, a misdemeanor and released from jail on a mere $2,000.00 bail.

Sadly, on August 23, lslan Nettles was declared brain dead and removed from life support. Despite the fact that Paris Wilson's brutal attack resulted in Islan Nettles death, he remains free on the streets.



As of August 28th, the New York County District Attorney Office is still "investigating" the now homicide case as a potential Hate Crime. The police have yet to rearrest Paris Wilson. Additionally, there is no documentation indicating that the original charge of Misdemeanor was upgraded to Homocide.

District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, remand Paris Wilson/all involved and rightly charge him/them with a Hate Crime for the death of Islan Nettles!

UPDATE as of September 16,2013: DA Vance waited almost a month (September 16, 2013) to acknowledge the public with an "appeal" for help. Perhaps if authorities not been slow to move or quick to move on, ALL involved in Islan Nettles death would be apprehended. Instead they are in the streets while the public is asked to solve this latest "Twist" in the case.

They now have 1 suspect & 2 confessions. It is hard to believe rough, tough & dangerous NYC cops/investigators/DA don't have a firm grip on this case yet. With cameras on every Harlem street, residential building, stores and even Traffic lights - they still can't determine which of the "3" young men were standing over Islan when she hit the ground and continued beating her unconscious?