Growing up, I was taught Rosa Parks was a helpless victim. She, of course, was a victim but she was not helpless. She knew exactly what she was doing when she refused to move. It's because of her courageous act of protest many of us remember the horrible discrimination laws that existed then.
People who want to erase the power of protestors will twist the narrative to portray the victim as meek and fragile. Like those protesting just wanted peace in the moment.
But, like op stated, this trans woman wanted the world to see. She wanted to direct all eyes towards the discriminatory laws in place the same way Rosa Parks did.
People who stand up to bigotry in this manner do not want peace in the moment. They want the violence highlighted so peace will come for those after them. It's a sacrifice. They look their oppressors in the eye and bait them so the world can see how ugly the system is. They know very well they will likely be arrested or even killed. But, that too is part of the message.
Activists like this make an extremely hard decision to sacrifice their well-being for the sake of human rights.
I hope this courageous woman can safely resume her life and I hope her form of protest is heard across the country.
