20 years ago in the early morning hours of May 11th, 15-yearold Sakia Gunn and her friends were waiting for a bus on the corner of Broad and Market Streets when two men pulled up in a vehicle attempting to hit on them. When the girls rebuffed the advances, Sakia stepped in asserting,“We’re not interested, we’re lesbians.” A scuffle broke out and Sakia was stabbed in the heart and bled to death in the arms of her best friend Valencia Bailey.This weekend, the city of Newark formally honored Sakia’s memory with a street named in her honor.
WNET host and former WBGO news reporter Jenna Flanagan was on hand for the ceremony.
“Now on the count of 3 we pulling, 1, 2, 3, WOOOOOO!”
It was an unusually hot and sunny day in late October but according to Sakia’s mother ,Latona Gunn, it’s because her daughter was beaming down on everyone.
“My baby’s smiling. Everybody on a sunny day. Trust me, this sunny day is cause of her. Cause she knows what the world is doing, well not the world but everyone you see here is doing for her right now.”
A portion of Halsey Street that intersects with Academy is now Sakia Gunn Way. A decision that Newark’s City Council President LaMonica McIver says was chosen intentionally.
“Having it here on the same street where the center is, for folks who are visiting our center for the community here to walk past and see Sakia Gunn’s Way, right here where the Pride Center sits was very important and we strategically did it that way.”
While Sakia’s murder took place on the corner of Broad and Market, that intersection was already named for the late Kenneth Gibson, Newark’s first Black
mayor.
Even though it took 20 years for Sakia to be formally memorialized by the city, Reginald Bledsoe, Essex County Director of LGBTQ Affairs says it was important for Newark to do this.
“Because at the end of the day, this could happen to anyone’s child. And what we’re saying today with this street dedication is no more.”
Speaking at the podium, best friend Valencia Bailey, who held Sakia in her arms as she died, began to break down as she recognized the true significance of the day.
“With this sign, you’re name will forever be on this earth. Whether it’s by accident or on purpose, by force, you’re gonna see her name. Now we got the sign, you’re gonna see her name in lights when the sun comes up. You get to see her name in the light’s when the mo on rises. Everyone who walks by, rides bay, it’s gonna be on google maps, looking for something over here, ya’ll gonna see her name. Y’all gonna see Sakia Gunn’s name! I’m never gonna let you die cuz! I’m never gonna let you go.”
Mayor Ras Baraka, who lost his own sister Shani Baraka along side her partner just a few months after Sakia says the street sign,is important, but education about LGBTQ people in Newark, like Sakia and Shani are key.
“At the end of the day, we just have to do a better job explaining to our young people the history of the things that goes on in our city. “
Mayor Baraka says he wants the rest of the country to know that Newark, NJ is an open and inclusive city for all. As the ceremony drew to a close, Reverend Kevin Taylor, North Jersey Community Research Initiative Director of LGBTQ Services, including nearby Project WOW a safe space for the city’s queer youth, gave the benediction encouraging everyone to lift up Sakia’s name.
“Maybe one day we’ll honor Sakia Gunn Day, maybe today we’ll walk down Sakia Gunn Way, and maybe one day we’ll all be bold enough to be Sakia Gunn gay.
Stand up for yourself!
Stand up in your light!
Say her name!
Sakia Gunn!
Say her name!
Sakia Gunn!
Say her name!
In Newark, I’m Jenna Flanagan for WBGO News.
NOTE: Jenna Flanagan has released her new podcast series about the crime titled "After Broad and Market".
