Justice for Syriah Henderson.

We are beyond horrified and heartbroken by the alleged lynching of Syriah Henderson, a young Black woman in St. Petersburg, Florida. Syriah was a mother, a beloved daughter, and someone whose life was filled with love and possibility. Our hearts are with her family, friends, and loved ones as they navigate this unimaginable loss. We mourn her life and stand in solidarity with all those demanding justice.

Across the nation, Black and Brown children, teenagers, and adults are murdered or go missing at disproportionate and alarming rates. The pain of alleged lynchings and other suspicious deaths echoes a long history of racial violence and the denial of justice to Black and Brown communities. Families, loved ones, and communities have long fought for answers in cases where deaths have been prematurely ruled suicides or inadequately investigated. We cannot separate these injustices from the United States’ long history of systemic racism, racial terror, and the devaluation of Black and Brown lives.

Coverage on the death of Syriah Henderson https://royalauthorityofficial…

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Feminism Now! Convention in Washington, D.C. through a scholarship from Feminist Generation and Youth Action Fund. It was an incredible weekend spent learning from organizers across the country, making new connections, and having conversations about the kind of feminist movement we are building in this moment.

After flying in Friday afternoon, I checked into the church hostel where everyone was staying before heading out to explore D.C. I spent the evening exploring, visiting the Library of Congress, and grabbing dinner before the convention officially kicked off.

Saturday started with a relaxed breakfast social. They had plenty of vegan options and clearly labeled food, which I really appreciated. From there, we jumped into a full day of workshops, discussions, and organizing.

Our first activity was breaking into small groups to imagine what a feminist future looks like. We talked about the world we want to build, one rooted in justice, care, accessibility, collective liberation, and community rather than punishment and exclusion.

Later, we painted banners and posters together using stencils with messages like “Feminists Against Genocide,” “Feminists for Survivor Justice,” and “Protect Trans Youth.” It ended up being one of my favorite parts of the weekend. Sitting around painting gave everyone a chance to talk, laugh, and get to know one another outside of the formal workshops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afterward, we attended a youth voter engagement workshop led by the League of Women Voters. We talked about the barriers young people face when participating in elections, our political underrepresentation, and what issues matter most to our generation. Participants raised concerns about U.S. militarism and Palestine, the rapid expansion of hyperscale AI data centers and their environmental impacts, affordable housing, public transportation, and healthcare alongside more traditional feminist issues.

We wrapped up the evening with dinner together before watching the WNBA All-Star Game!

On Sunday, we had brunch with coalition partners and sponsoring organizations before taking the Metro together to Busboys and Poets for the convention’s final series of panels.

The first panel focused on de-militarization, immigrant justice, and abolition. Speakers drew connections between struggles happening across the globe, from Palestine and Somalia to the U.S.-Mexico border and communities facing police violence here at home. Rather than treating these as separate issues, panelists emphasized how militarism, borders, policing, and state violence are interconnected systems that feminist movements must challenge together. They also highlighted mutual aid, community defense, and organizing that redirects public investment away from prisons, policing, and war toward housing, healthcare, education, food access, and other community needs.

The second panel explored abolition feminism and survivor justice, asking what justice can look like when our legal systems so often fail survivors. Instead of relying solely on punishment, panelists discussed approaches rooted in healing, accountability, and community care while affirming that survivors deserve safety, support, and dignity.

The final panel centered on building political power and a feminist democracy. Organizers spoke about resisting voter suppression, gerrymandering, and attacks on democratic participation while organizing around the Equal Rights Amendment, youth civic engagement, and multiracial coalition-building. It was a powerful reminder that defending democracy is inseparable from advancing gender justice.

One thing that stood out to me throughout the weekend was how different it felt to be in a space intentionally led by and for young people. Too often, youth are invited into movements as an afterthought or expected to simply carry on the work of previous generations without being trusted to shape its direction. This convention felt different. Young organizers weren’t just present, we were leading, setting the agenda, identifying the issues most affecting our lives, and imagining solutions together.

Our conversations reflected the realities we are inheriting. Alongside reproductive justice and gender equity, we talked about colonialism and militarism, white supremacy, climate change, AI and data centers, housing affordability, healthcare, disability justice, and public transit. It reminded me that younger generations are organizing with an understanding that these issues are deeply connected, and that feminism has to be intersectional, internationalist, and rooted in collective liberation if it is going to meet this moment.

Having spaces like this matters. They give young people the opportunity to build relationships, develop our political analysis, and organize with one another, not just for the future, but for the work we’re doing right now.

I’m incredibly grateful to Feminist Generation for making it possible for me to attend. I left D.C. feeling energized, challenged, and inspired by the organizers, advocates, and fellow attendees I had the chance to meet. I’m excited to bring what I learned back to my own organizing here in Florida!