Comments on: The death of Duanna Johnson

By: Duanna Johnson Found Dead « Like a Whisper

Duanna Johnson Found Dead « Like a Whisper — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:09:59 +0000

[...] Duanna Johnson Found Dead November 12, 2008 — prof susurro htp Womanist Musing [...]

By: Liminality » Blog Archive » Article:

Liminality » Blog Archive » Article: — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:57:42 +0000

[...] Read about the outcry HERE [...]

By: Duanna Johnson sues police department, is murdered | MetaFilter

Duanna Johnson sues police department, is murdered | MetaFilter — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:07:02 +0000

[...] Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition raised $5,300 in four hours. There are nagging questions about the circumstances of the case and the level of coverage this case has received in comparison to Prop. 8 protests. (More coverage: [...]

By: How Loud? « Questioning Transphobia

How Loud? « Questioning Transphobia — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:44:42 +0000

[...] » I don’t have any commentary about Duanna Johnson’s death that Lisa or Jack or Renee or Crip Chick haven’t already [...]

By: Mary Neal

Mary Neal — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:14:32 +0000

Does anyone’s lawsuit against Shelby County Jail get through? When Larry Neal, my mentally ill brother, a heart patient, was SECRETLY arrested there 18 days until death in 2003, we hired The Johnnie Cochran Firm to sue, without being informed, of course, about Julian Bolton, managing partner of that firm & top County Commissioner –http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com. –We’re suing The Cochran Firm for its FRAUD against us as our wrongful death attorneys. Too bad Ms. Johnson did not know it was important to just stay home. See Cochran Firm Fraud Videos on YouTube. Like Duanna Johnson, I was to be a plaintiff against Shelby County Jail, but The Cochran Firm tricked us and did not persue the case as lawyers should, so we are suing them now in USDC Northern Dist. of GA. That jail has a history of violence against people who are “different,” not limited to transgender or homosexual persons. The mentally ill are abused and killed with regularity. For more information see this link – at least 3 federal lawsuits involving mental patients since 2005 – probably more “different” people dead or abused who had no one to sue for them. –http://www.care2.com/c2c/people/profile.html?pid=513396753 –I believe Johnson was beaten for being “deviant.” No departure from “normal” is allowed in Shelby Co. Jail. Some folks don’t like anyone to tell on them. I was followed by four cars last month and DeKalb Co. Georgia 911 Services ignored my call for help. That is why the videos were made. I read comments saying there should be a federal investigation into Ms. Johnson’s murder. That is laughable. See our petition#2 below (petition#1 closed): PETITION for USDOJ Investigation into the Wrongful Death of Mentally Ill Heart Patient in Shelby County/Memphis Jail under Secret Arrest: –http://www.petitiononline.com/Neal/petition.html–
Mary Neal –http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com –
My group: –http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI –

By: Duanna Johnson shot dead « bird of paradox

Duanna Johnson shot dead « bird of paradox — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:18:37 +0000

[...] Renee Martin has also blogged about this over at Global Comment, and has received this response in the comments: THADDEUS MATTHEWS Says: November 13th, 2008 at 9:30 [...]

By: THADDEUS MATTHEWS

THADDEUS MATTHEWS — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:30:36 +0000

I am a local radio talk show host in memphis who has been following this case. I received a call early Monday morning on my cell about 5;45 I didn’t answer the phone but a message was left where a person was whispering stating that Duanna Johnson was dead and that Memphis police were going to state that 3 black men shot her.

What I find strange is that the person knew the ID before Duanna’s name was released. It is my belief that Duanna was the victim of a hit by police. The are that Duanna was killed was on the street where she lived where she would not have been working since all in the area knew what her real gender happen to be.

something is wrong with this case which homicide is not working hard to solve.

By: Renee

Renee — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:14:58 +0000

According to the arrest affidavit, an undercover cop says Johnson flagged him down, got into his car and offered to perform “oral and natural sex” for $30 and a beer. The officer says Johnson was wearing a long wig, a short blue jean skirt and a green shirt. The affidavit goes on to say Johnson had a condom and a crack pipe in her purse.

That is from an article I linked to. She was recently arrested for prostitution. I know that Memphis P.D could most certainly have trumped up the charges but for now I just went with what was printed.
Prostitute or not, what happened to her both times was a crime. There needs to be justice and I don’t want her name forgotten about.
Right not I am so angry because I have yet to hear a word from our so-called black leadership on this issue. Where the hell are they? Duanna’s trans status does not make this any less of a civil rights issue.

By: Natalia Antonova

Natalia Antonova — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:25:54 +0000

As I mentioned elsewhere, it is *awfully convenient* that this woman was shot to death while trying to pursue a case against the police department.

We don’t know all the facts yet, but we must demand an independent investigation.

By: GallingGalla

GallingGalla — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:04:47 +0000

R.I.P, Duanna.

I don’t know that it was ever shown that Duanna Johnson was a prostitute. It’s very easy for the police to reach for that term as just one of the many ways they dehumanize trans women of color, and naturally the press eats that dehumanization up for the sake of selling more copies.