Brooklyn NAACP Statement on the Hate Crime and Murder of O'Shae Sibley

(Brooklyn, NY) –  We are deeply saddened and outraged by the horrific hate crime which resulted in the murder of O'Shae Sibley who was merely expressing himself through dance. This crime is a stark reminder of the homophobia that persists in our society.

This act of violence is not just an attack on O'Shae, but an attack on the values we hold dear as a community. We stand in solidarity with O'Shae's family and friends, and with all members of the LGBTQ+ community who continue to face discrimination and violence on a daily basis.

We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough and swift investigation into this hate crime. We also call on all members of our community to stand against hate and intolerance in all its forms. We must work together to create a society where everyone can live without fear of violence or discrimination, regardless of who they are or whom they love.

Yesterday, while news of this horrific crime began to circulate, delegates from the Brooklyn Branch joined NAACP delegates from across the country during our national convention in Boston in reaffirming our resolution to openly and forcefully defend and support the rights and lives of our Black LGBTQ+ family. Brooklyn NAACP is committed to freedom for all Black people and we will not be silent on issues of hate. 

Let us remember O'Shae for his courage and spirit, and let his memory inspire us to fight for a world free from hate.

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About Brooklyn NAACP 

Chartered in 1920, Brooklyn NAACP is a chartered branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization and its mission is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. For more information, visit www.BrooklynNAACP.org