You Killed Michelle Henry Too: The Cost of Silence and Inaction
Resilience is a shield, not a weapon. We're done shielding you from the truth: Your inaction is a weapon against us
By: Serena Sonoma
A hug, a fleeting moment of warmth shared between two souls navigating a world not built for them. At Trans: Thrive here in San Francisco, a drop-in center where transgender individuals can find community, support, and peer-led empowerment — a sanctuary from the storm, I first met Michelle Henry. Her quiet eyes held galaxies of unspoken stories, a shared understanding of the relentless struggle for existence. But it was her embrace, a silent testament to resilience, that I remember most.
The last time I saw her, at a financial literacy class meant to empower, the irony was not lost on us. Here we were, Black trans women seeking stability in a system rigged against us. Michelle, with her gentle spirit and unwavering hope, inquired about my well-being. Days later, her light was snuffed out, another casualty in the ceaseless violence waged against our community.
The gut-wrenching grief is a familiar ache, an echo of countless lives lost to the intersectionality of hate. A Black trans woman's existence in this country is a defiance, a protest against the very fabric of a society built on white supremacy and cisheteronormativity.
We are expected to be resilient, to withstand the constant barrage of discrimination, violence, and erasure. But resilience is not a virtue; it is a survival mechanism, a testament to our strength in the face of relentless oppression. Michelle's passing, like others I've witnessed, cracked open the illusion of time's expanse. Suddenly, I'm acutely aware of the preciousness of every hug, every shared laugh, every moment of connection. These aren't things to take for granted, but blessings to cherish amidst the storm.
Michelle was more than her resilience. She was a woman with dreams, aspirations, and a quiet strength that belied the storms raging within. Her life, cut short, is a chilling reminder of the precarity that haunts us, the ever-present threat of violence that lurks in the shadows.
Her murder was not an anomaly. It was the inevitable outcome of a system that devalues and dehumanizes Black trans bodies. The police, sworn to protect and serve, too often become instruments of our oppression. Their investigations, perfunctory and hollow, offer no solace, no justice.
We don't need resilience. We need a revolution. A revolution that dismantles the systems that perpetuate violence against us. A revolution that defunds the police, invests in our communities, and uplifts the voices of Black trans women. We demand a world where our existence is not a constant fight for survival, but a celebration of our inherent worth and dignity.
Michelle's legacy is not one of resilience, but of resistance. Her life, her spirit, her stolen dreams lay bare the ugliness of a world that claims to value Black lives while standing silent as we are murdered. We will not be silenced. We will not be erased. We will not be placated by empty gestures and performative allyship. This is a call to action for those who claim to be on the right side of history: Dismantle the systems that killed Michelle. Uplift Black trans voices. Fight alongside us, not with empty words, but with the relentless, uncomfortable fire of true revolution. Our lives depend on it.
The question isn't whether you stand with us — it's whether you're actively fighting against the forces that killed her. Your silence, your inaction, is a weapon. Which side are you on?
Michelle's funeral will be held today, Saturday, June 15th from 1-3pm at St. John the Evangelist Church in San Francisco, repast and Celebration of Life will follow. The community is invited to honor her memory and join in the fight for justice.