Laverne Cox declared a “state of emergency” over the growing number of murders and attacks on trans women of colour, while appearing on Good Morning America.

Actress and trans activist, Laverne Cox, appeared on Good Morning America to promote her new film, Grandma, which she stars in alongside Lily Tomlin. During the interview, Cox turned the conversation to the growing number of attacks against trans women, just one day after it was reported that a trans woman in Kansas was brutally murdered by being run over repeatedly by an SUV.

“We in the transgender community right now are reeling,” she said.

“Yesterday we found out another transgender woman was murdered and that makes the total 17 known transgender women have been murdered in 2015 alone.”

“It really is a state of emergency. Your life should not be in danger simply for being who you are,” Cox said.

“I think the reasons why trans women experience so much violence has to do with employment, housing, health care, etc, so we need to make sure that trans lives matter.”

Watch the full interview.

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