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Black Trans Woman Assaulted in Vicious Viral Group Attack

"Folks stood witness to this brutality on another Black life."

Activists are calling for justice and donations for a Black trans woman who was brutally beaten by a group of assailants earlier this week.

Iyanna Dior of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was jumped by a large group of attackers this Monday, June 1, according to social media reports. A crowd gathered and watched the assault take place. Videos of her attack made the rounds on Twitter; however, NewNowNext's editorial team is joining other LGBTQ news outlets in choosing not to recirculate the footage, which is graphic and can be triggering.

In a public Facebook post, Dior said she is okay and needs "some time to process everything that's going on."

"Thanks to everyone reaching out making sure I'm [okay]," she wrote. "Imma talk real soon."

The vicious attack comes a week after the death of fellow Minnesotan George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed by Minneapolis police. His death—and the fatal shooting of Tony McDade, a Black trans man, by police in Tallahassee, Florida—has prompted protests against racism and police brutality nationwide.

On Twitter, Pose executive producer and transgender advocate Janet Mock spoke out against the assault, stressing that the Black Lives Matter movement includes Black trans lives:

#IyannaDior is a Black trans woman who was brutally attacked as a crowd of cis Black folks looked on (shoutout to the ONE good sis who tried to intervene). Folks stood witness to this brutality on another black life. You can see it in the video.

#IyannaDior is still standing," Mock added. "We must uplift her, sending her the strength of our sisters still standing too. Our fight for Black lives will not be in sacrifice of Iyanna’s. If Black lives matter then Black trans lives should matter as well. We been here."

Mock and other LGBTQ public figures, including RuPaul's Drag Race alum Phi Phi O'Hara, have urged supporters to donate directly to Dior via her Cashapp, $NajaBabiie.

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