Joshua Allen attacked--statement on 7/30.
Yesterday night I attended a party called Maricon at 128 Tropical at 128 Elizabeth Street in New York, NY. I spent the majority of the roughly two hours at the club being accosted by white gay men who grabbed and pulled my hair, touched my body without consent, and treated me as if my black femme body deserved no dignity or respect. I received reprimands and was called belligerent from the hosts of the party as well as the security team for "causing trouble" which, in all reality was me demanding the my body not be violated, my hair not be pulled and that I not be pushed or disrespected by white gay men in a club.
I exited the club and spent around 20 minutes talking on the phone with a friend because the energy and space showed itself to be completely unenjoyable, and something I didn't want to subject myself to any longer. I hear an argument going on and walk up to find my sister and best friend being yelled at and berated by one security guard, and another quickly followed up behind them. The argument escalated and within 2 minutes the security guard pushed my friend with so much force they were off of the sidewalk and into the street. My friend pushed back, rightfully so and a fight ensued from there, with 2 men from security attacking my friend. I quickly involved myself in the fight as I can not, and will not watch another black femme be physically attacked without fighting back. At that point another man (wearing a different color shirt than the security team) that was well over 300 pounds charges me, picks me up and body slams me into the street, causing bruises and bleeding wounds all over my arms and legs. Even while trying to de-escalate and backing away from this huge man he kicked me while I was on the ground and continued to chase me after I tried to get away from him.
In total 3 security guards attacked me and my friend and a 4th person attacked two of my other friends who were present when they tried to step in. And by attack I mean chased, threw full forced punches and kicks at and body slammed. Meanwhile a crowd of gay club attendee's were all outside and did NOTHING to intervene in the violent attack against us. One other black person who stepped in was hit SO hard by one of the security officers that they are now in the HOSPITAL with a concussion.
Fearing for my life I ran to the corner were I saw a few empty bottles, picked up a corona glass and ran to the side of my best friend and pulled them and my other friends to the other side of the street. The security guards stopped what felt like an endless attack on my life once I was armed with the bottle. Someone called the NYPD and as expected they continued to perpetuate a victim blaming campaign, telling us to just go home even though my friends wallet and phone were still missing in the aftermath of them being jumped.
The NYPD proved to be of NO help to us, only a hinderance. Outside onlookers did nothing to stop the violent attacks. Some people tried to talk to the security team to get the phone and wallet but were unsuccessful. The anti-black event organizers named us as belligerent did NOTHING against the vicious attack on us AND told us to stop arguing and go home, that they can "find the phone later." After more harassment by the cops and a verbal argument the security team we left the club and got into a cab to heal and recollect at 4:09AM.
I am DEMANDING full accountability for this attack and will not stop until I have it. Please join me in SHARING these demands and actions steps, as well as performing them:
1. Call the venue Tropical 128 and DEMAND that they issue a public apology for the vicious attack that occurred and the IMMEDIATE firing of the ENTIRE security team that was present and that assaulted us last night. Venue number: 212-925-8219 (they open at 5PM).
2. Post in the Facebook group page for the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1437744826553620/1444392259222210/ DEMANDING that the hosts issue a public apology for their complicity in the attack against us, statements about our "belligerent behavior" which was actually demanding that our black bodies be treated with respect, demand that they fulfill their RESPONSIBILITY to recover my friends wallet and phone (or be prepared to monetarily offer a replacement) and to lay out a detailed plan as to how to protect black trans-femme and GNC folks in their party spaces. If this is not done, then they must discontinue their parties IMMEDIATELY.
3. Stay posted and be prepared to mobilize for a direct action VERY soon outside of the 128 Tropical Lounge venue. What do we do when black femme bodies are under attack? STAND UP FIGHT BACK!
