Stop Devaluing Black Lives – Pass the Stormiyah Bill

Stormiyah Denson-Jackson was a strong and happy young community leader with a positive future and her whole life ahead of her.

This year, Stormiyah would have turned 17 years old. She would have gone to homecoming, prom and graduated from high school this year. Sadly, Stomiyah ended her life in January 2018. In her 12 short years of life, she fought to make her community safer and for more opportunities for her peers. Stormiyah’s life was of great value to her family, friends, church, community, and school. Unfortunately, under the current DC Law, Stormiyah was valued less than other children in the District because of her race and gender. The race, gender or ethnicity of a child SHOULD NOT matter when calculating the value of life. As of now, California is the only state in the Country that prohibits this discrimination as a matter of law.

In 2020 Councilmember Trayon White introduced legislation that would end this discrimination and give the same value to black, brown and female children in death. The Stormiyah Denson-Jackson Race and Gender Economic Damages Temporary Amendment Act removes the use of gender, race, and ethnicity in the calculation of the value of life for children. This important legislation will prohibit judges or juries in a wrongful death cases by disallowing any reduction based on race or gender.

This legislation has been on Councilmember Charles Allen’s desk for 500 days and he has yet to sign it. He has not even SCHEDULED a markup of the legislation. It was referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on February 2, 2021.

Tell him that it’s beyond time to set an example that the rest of the country can and should follow. It’s time to prioritize and give equal value to the lives of Black, brown and female children.

Honor Stormiyah’s legacy with me by using your voice, social media, and pen to demand the mark up and passage of this critical bill so that no other Black, Brown or female life is unjustly devalued! Please, sign the petition or call 202-724-8072.