Police have discovered the body of a transgender woman named Coko Williams in a particularly crime-, drug-, and prostitution-ridden section of East Detroit. Reports FOX 2:
Neighbors tell FOX 2’s Al Allen the body’s throat was slashed and there were apparent gunshot wounds as well.
Neighbors also say drug trafficking and prostitution runs rampant in the area. One man, who wished to remain nameless, showed a photo of garbage (right) he collects every few days along the streets. The photo shows empty liquor bottles, used condoms, drug residue and empty shell casings.
That sounds to me like a pretty dangerous place to be a transgender woman.
It’s unclear whether Coko was a sex worker, as FOX 2 seems to be heavily insinuating. Equality Michigan’s Nusrat Ventimiglia released a statement on the matter earlier today:
“We unequivocally offer our support to law enforcement and the community so that Coko Williams’ killers are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.”
“It has been widely reported that the area in which this crime occurred is known for sex work. To be clear, it is unknown at this time whether Ms. Williams was engaged in sex work at the time of her killing, however, it is clear that sex workers are often targets of severe violence. Further, transgender women are far too often victims of the most severe violence… Equality Michigan and the NCAVP denounce violence against sex workers and seek to raise awareness of the violence faced by gay and transgender sex workers as well as transgender women.”
Witnesses say the suspects may have sped away in a gold car. Anyone with information about Coko’s killing should contact the Detroit Police at 313-596-2260.
How about we take this to the next level?
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DouggSeven
@GinaBarnesA: Troll?
Kev C
That report was whack. Something about bottles, homeless people, prostitution, whatever.
Clockwork
@GinaBarnesA:
40 and considering yourself a senior? Damn!
Why do you live baby? Big city or stix?
Muleskinner
You lie down with dogs…
Socratic Method Man
when reporting the murder of fellow human, it is highly recommended that a journalist include a picture of random objects that can be found on the ground in the same neighborhood as the homicide occurred. if you do not have time to point your camera at the ground and pound on the button, solicit one from a local resident! after all, they’re much more likely to know what trash to memorialise in this fashion.
under no circumstances should you include a picture of the deceased or a long shot of the crime scene. it would not be observant of the basic dignity of the deceased to cheapen an article of such gravity with such recognition.
well, thanks for your time.
Savannah
The original report on the local Detroit affiliate news station is extremely offensive and transphobic. I would encourage everyone to have a look at it and follow-up by sending a complaint to the news room or by leaving a comment directly on the Fox news article itself. Below I have provided some quick media analysis (this includes all the relevant links on the story, how to contact the news room, etc.):
http://leftytgirl.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/transmisogynistic-media-report-on-murdered-trans-woman-from-detroit-local-fox-affiliate/
Finally, Queerty, I would like to think you guys could do a little better than just copying the bad reporting from the original site. Including a picture of trash here on an article talking about someone’s death is quite inappropriate.