National SDS Calls for National Day of Action for Nex Benedict on March 31st

On February 7, 2024, 16 year old trans non-binary student Nex Benedict was brutally assaulted by three of their classmates in Owasso High School, Oklahoma. The next day, they passed away in their living room, with the Oklahoma medical examiner’s office claiming that the death was the result of suicide.

The sudden violence that led to Nex’s death was not a random attack. Nex had disclosed the full year of bullying he had endured prior to this, and that these instances of violence were clearly motivated by a strong culture of anti-trans prejudice. All of the evidence surrounding the case points to neglect and apathy on the part of authorities and the school. Nursing staff failed to call emergency medical services when Nex’s assailants had beaten him into unconsciousness. Body cam footage reveals that a police officer had discouraged Nex’s parents from filing a report. This combination of a lack of transparency and total inaction meant that the blame for this preventable tragedy should not only be laid on the transphobic murderers who had killed Nex, but the indifferent and incompetent authorities who failed to protect him.

The horrific violence against trans people has been further emboldened by homophobic demagogues who use every resource at their disposal to demonize, target and attack the LGBTQ+ community whilst rousing the far right into coordinated acts of violence and terror, from bomb threats to physical assaults.The beating that caused Nex’s death is unmistakably one of many horrific and senseless acts in a nation where such violence is normalized by the highest levels of government and power in our society.

While the LGBTQ+ community is enduring a siege from scores of ruthless anti-trans legislators doing everything they can to rob people of their human rights, the ineffectual Democrat establishment fails to install even the most basic protections against this onslaught of discrimination. As the Republicans lay bare their utter contempt for trans rights, all too often do campus administrations choose apathy over the safety of their students.

Students for a Democratic Society condemns both the murderers of Nex and the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office for its failure to rule Nex’ case as a murder, and we call for immediate transparency and a full public report to be released regarding the cause of Nex Benedict’s death. We stand with the LGBTQ+ community in its unremitting battle against homophobic and transphobic attacks. We will continue to unite and agitate relentlessly until Owasso High School and all campuses across the United States become spaces free of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ violence!

TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!
END ALL ATTACKS ON LGBTQ+ YOUTH!
SILENCE IS DEATH!