Please take 3 minutes to read about the horrific murder of Erika Keels, a transgendered woman, and sign the petition demanding a police investigation.

Dear friends, I am writing to ask you to support work that's being done
with the Justice 4 Erika campaign in Philly.
Erika Keels was murdered on March 22, 2007 on North
Broad Street in Philadelphia.

Witnesses saw an assailant eject Erika, a 20-year-old
black transwoman, from his car, and intentionally run
her over four times, killing her and leaving the
scene. A medical examiner's report supports these
eyewitness accounts. But police ruled Erika's death an
accident and have refused to conduct an investigation.
The driver, Roland Button, was later apprehended, but
he has yet to face criminal charges 97including "hit and run" charges.

When Ms. Keels' friends, who are themselves trans,
questioned police officials about the classification
of her death as an accident, they were asked to
disclose their "birth" names and told they were
"trying to make something out of nothing."

Our immediate goal is for the Philadelphia Police
Commissioner and the Accident Investigation Division
to reopen Erika's case and conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances
surrounding her death. We want to send a powerful
message to the Philadelphia Police Department that we
stand together to demand justice for trans and gender
non-conforming people, police accountability, and
respect for the inherent dignity and worth of every
person.

Things you can do to help:

1. Sign our community support letter :read below and
sign at www.petitiononline.com/ErikaK...on.html

2. Get organizational sign-ons from groups you're in or connected
to. (Organizations should email Justice4Erika@gmail.com to confirm their support.)

3. Go to the Justice 4 Erika demonstration on
Thursday, June 14 at noon @ 6th and Arch in Center City Philadelphia.
4. Sign up for weekly email updates on the campaign
(email Justice4Erika@gmail.com)

5. SPREAD THE WORD. Write letters to local
newspapers. Ask everyone you know to sign on to the letter.

Thanks so much !

COMMUNITY SUPPORT LETTER
www.petitiononline.com/ErikaK...on.html

To: Captain Michael Murphy
Accident Investigation Division
Philadelphia Police Department

Cc: Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson
District Attorney Lynne Abraham
Michael Hinson, mayor B9s liaison to LGBT communities
Mayor John Street

June 2007

Dear Captain Murphy,

Young transwomen of color living and working in
Philadelphia know they are at risk of physical attack
at any moment, and many experience layers of hate and
harassment on a daily basis. Erika Keels was one of
our own.

On March 22, witnesses saw an assailant intentionally
run over Ms. Keels four times after ejecting her from
his car at Broad and Thompson Streets in North
Philadelphia, killing her and leaving the scene. A
medical examiner B9s report supports these eyewitness
accounts. But police have ruled the death
of this 20-year-old African American transwoman an
accident and have refused to conduct an investigation.

The driver, Roland Button, was later apprehended, but
he has yet to face criminal charges --even "hit and run."
When Ms. Keel's friends, who are themselves transgendered,
questioned police officials about the classification
of her death as an accident, they were asked to
disclose their "birth" names and told they were
"trying to make something out of nothing."

We, the undersigned, refuse to be told that the murder
of Ms.Keels and the subsequent police denial of the brutal,
hateful assault on her are "nothing." The Philadelphia
police have failed to protect her basic human rights
and dignity. The schools and businesses of
Philadelphia never gave her a chance to choose a
career -they failed her, and she was forced to earn
her survival on the streets. The social services of
this city failed to shelter her in a safe place to
explore her own potential as a young person with
imaginative goals and opportunities to thrive.

We, as a community, will not fail her. We are
individuals and organizations representing Black, Latina/o and Asian
people; trans and gender non-conforming people;
lesbians, gays and bisexuals; youth; immigrants;
educators; students; social service providers;
activists; religious communities; professionals;
neighborhoods; and supporters around the world.

We demand a thorough investigation of the
circumstances surrounding Ms. Keels' death. Her case
must be re-opened. Now and in the future, the police
must follow their mandate to protect and serve all
Philadelphians, including those targeted for hate
because of their gender expression and identity. All
levels of city government and administration must
ensure that policy meant to protect human rights of
people in this city is followed in letter and spirit.