Privacy Policy Be aware that in looking into these sources you will come across some which misgender or deadname trans people. It largely focusses on where Marsha's death sits within the wider context of transphobic violence across the USA. In the 1980s Johnson became an AIDS activist and joined ACT UP, an organization formed to bring attention to the AIDS epidemic. [81], In December 2002, a police investigation resulted in reclassification of Johnson's cause of death from "suicide" to "undetermined". After graduating from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1963, Johnson moved to New Yorks Greenwich Village. Johnson switched names repeatedly as she established her persona, alternating between her given name Malcolm and Black Marsha before settling on Marsha P. Johnson. She is wearing pearls and has her hair in an up-do decorated with flowers and feathers, Michael Dillon in his merchant navy uniform. American drag queen and activist Marsha P. Johnson was dedicated to social justice for the gay and transgender communities. That year we had 1,300 reports of bias crime. It was incredibly useful in putting together our podcast on Marsha, and well worth a look. If looking for signs as to whether or not Marsha would have approved of the Village AIDS Memorial, we might look twice at the fact that she sat down for this rare sit-down videotaped interview (an absolute treasure for LGBTQ historians) the same day that the Village AIDS Memorial was dedicated, June 26, 1992. As the nascent Gay Rights movement swirled around her, Johnson fought social mores, the police, and her own demons. To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma. She sought out new interviews with witnesses, friends, other activists, and police who had worked the case or had been on the force at the time of Johnson's death. Marsha P. Johnson. My three main sources for this podcast were: For contemporary eye-witness accounts of Stonewall, you can read: Concerning Storm DeLarveries potential identity as theStonewall Lesbian, I referred to: Concerning Sylvia Riveras role in inciting the riots, I referred to: Concerning Marsha P. Johnsons role in inciting the riots, I referred to: James Gallagher, in Pay It No Mind - The Life and Times of Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha P. Johnson | Legacy Project Chicago [82] Some of her work to find justice for Johnson was filmed by David France for the 2017 documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Sadly, at the age of 46, on July 6, 1992, Johnsons body was found in the Hudson River off the West Village Piers. [41] Johnson had been speaking out against the "dirty cops" and elements of organized crime that many believed responsible for some of these assaults and murders, and had even voiced the concern that some of what Randy Wicker was stirring up, and pulling Johnson into, "could get you murdered. Sources:Goodin, Cal. These stats were sourced hereand here. Many eyewitnesses have identified Marsha as one of the main instigators of the uprising and thus, some have recognized her as the vanguard of the gay liberation movement in the United States. The witness said that when he tried to tell police what he had seen his story was ignored. On the second night, however, several eyewitness accounts had her climbing up a light post with a brick in her purse which she promptly let drop on a police squad car below, shattering the window. That night, she had invited a bunch of her friends, including Rivera, to a party. "[62] In response, marches were organized, and Johnson was one of the activists who marched in the streets, demanding justice. "[73], Near the time of Johnson's death in 1992, Randy Wicker said Johnson was increasingly sick and in a fragile state.