But Can You REALLY Say Her Name?

The transcript of a speech by New York public defender Janie is reprinted here to draw attention to Black women who have experienced police brutality. Janie shares a case where a Black client was told to attend anger management classes for 12 months while the white client was dismissed, though the charges against them were virtually the same. The Black client accepts the plea despite Janie's advocating to keep fighting for a dismissal, highlighting how racist language towards Black women can be internalized and have systemic consequences of injustice. The zine memorializes the names of Black women murdered by police officers. — Nayla Delgado