TRANS LIVES MATTER! JUSTICE FOR ISLAN NETTLES is a powerful and moving document of a community vigil for Islan Nettles, a Transgender Womyn of Color who was beaten to death in front of a New York Police Department precinct in Harlem. When Islan was taken off life support on August 22, 2013, she was only 21.

​​Islan was a vibrant 21-year-old Transgender Womyn of Color growing up in Harlem, who loved hanging out with her Transgender sisters of color. Islan used her creative and positive energy along with her anti-violence values in her work as an assistant photographer and fashion instructor at the Harlem Children’s Zone. At the time of her murder, she was working as an intern assistant designer in Harlem.

A few days after her death, Islan's family and friends held a vigil at Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem, steps away from where she was murdered. With video and still images, Seyi Adebanjo documents the vigil and captures the love and support that the Transgender and Gender-Non-Conforming community brought to sustain each other and Islan's family during this emotional time.

Seyi Adebanjo's short film TRANS LIVES MATTER! JUSTICE FOR ISLAN NETTLES is part of the multimedia photography piece of the same name. The exhibit took place at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art and was created in collaboration with the Queer/Art/Mentorship program.