Local Gays Protest Alleged Police Beating of Trans Suspect

Friday, December 15, 2006

NEW YORK CITY — New York Police Department representatives were silent last week in response to allegations that they beat two black men, one transsexual, in November, The Villager reported. Members of the Audre Lorde Project, a Brooklyn advocacy group for black gay youth, protested the alleged incident.

Late last month, Project members staged a demonstration in front of the sixth police precinct chanting slogans and carrying signs denouncing what they claimed was racism and brutality. They demanded that charges against Shakur Trammel, whom Project members said was transsexual and was arrested on Nov. 1 after a Halloween party, be dropped.

They also called for one officer to be dismissed in connection with the incident. Detective Mike Singer, community affairs officer for the precinct, said the department had no comment because the incident in question is being investigated by both the NYPD and Civilian Complaint Review Board. Singer did confirm that three were arrested in connection with the Nov. 1 incident.