Co-sponsored by Berkeley Copwatch, this “Culture & Resistance” night of performance art celebrates the life of Kayla Moore, who died in Berkeley Police custody in 2013. It is also a fundraiser for Justice 4 Kayla Moore, to help with organizing and court support around the Moore family’s Oct. 17 court date. The centerpiece of the evening is Cat Brooks’ one-woman performance piece, “Tasha: A Monologue about Police-Terror Victim Natasha McKenna.” Like Moore, McKenna died in police custody, after being restrained and then Tasered. Po’Poets, Maria Moore (Kayla’s sister), poet-rapper Kaila Love and other poets, activists, and musicians will also perform, and there will be a vigil for Kayla Moore and for all Black, Brown, poor, disabled, and trans women killed by state-sanctioned violence. The night will close with a transformational celebration, in poetry and music, of Black life and resilience. According to the organizers, “Berkeley Police officers may have taken her body, but her spirit lives on!”

Organizers explain, “Kayla was a dear sister, daughter, friend and lifelong member of the Berkeley community. She was also a member of some of the most marginalized groups in our society. She was African-American and transgender; she lived with schizophrenia, weighed 350 pounds and used drugs. She was criminalized, but not a criminal – just a person in need of care and support. Kayla’s death at the hands of Berkeley Police officers was tragic, unjustified and preventable. But, given the violence faced by Black people, trans women and people with disabilities, her death was not a surprise. Join us as we hold Kayla in our memory. Justice for Kayla Moore, and justice for everyone lost to police violence.”

Website: http://Justiceforkaylamoore.wordpress.com