On Sunday October 4th, Daniela Hernandez, a 42 year-old transgender woman, was stabbed 16 times in McArthur Park in Los Angeles.
The attack, which is being labelled a hate crime, was carried out by a group who claimed to not want “gays” in the public park. According to the TransLatin@ Coalition’s press release, Daniela was walking on the street when she was attacked by a group of people who stabbed her and slit her throat.
Hernandez survived the attack and is recovering after her surgery.
Protestors demanded justice for #DanielaHernandez in #LosAngeles Monday night after she was stabbed in a hate crime attack the night before.
She survived, but Felycya Harris did not, after being shot in Augusta Georgia on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/TMSZcwCYyM
— Pinksixty (@Pinksixty_News) October 8, 2020
Despite the efforts of Hernandez and other transgender activists and community leaders, the instances of violence against transwomen of color have continued to rise this year at an alarming rate. In 2020 alone, at least 31 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed, including Felycya Harris, a Black, transgender woman, who was fatally shot in Augusta, Georgia earlier this week.
Sending strength and love to, Daniela Hernandez, a survivor to a brutal anti-trans hate-crime on Sunday night. The attackers stabbed her multiple times while she walked through a park.
How much more violence must we endure before the government takes action to defend us? https://t.co/pDaYqttvDn
— Jordana Lusk for NY City Council (@JordanaLusk) October 6, 2020
As the presidential election draws near and demands for police reform grow louder, one thing is clear: the conversation around marginalized communities must include transwomen of color like Deniela Hernandez, who can be attacked with impunity simply for daring to exist.
