In today’s episode I want to remember Jaylen, Devonta & Donald. The three men who were killed in the hit and run at the iconic Jeffery Pub early Sunday morning. A night full of bad decisions has led to this moment. And we know how important bars are to our community. They are places where we find our people. Where we dance without care. Hold hands without second glances. Hug without contempt. Kiss without judgment. Some people call it church because it’s where they find love and support and community. Let’s honor them. 

00:00 – Welcome & Intro

01:00 – Top news stories

01:25 – Intro Music by Aina Bre’Yon

02:06 – Jeffery Pub Incident

05:50 – Carlee Statement

06:18 – The Investigation

07:37 – Anna has a reflection

09:30 – Outro

Things for you to check out 

Join the QCrew

Sign the Petition – Secure Brittney Griner’s Swift and Safe Return to the U​.​S.

https://www.change.org/p/secure-brittney-griner-s-swift-and-safe-return-to-the-u-s

---

Listen to More Queer News

---

Transcript

Family, it’s your favorite queer radio personality Anna DeShawn with our queer news for today. Now, I want to make you a promise. We will continue to bring you the latest in queer news, culture, and politics: 7 minutes a day, 5 days a week. So, if you are digging our intersectional take on the daily, consider joining the QCrew.

The QCrew is our monthly membership program we started to help us grow the podcast. With your help, we can bring you more stories celebrating our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & comrade communities. 

This month for the QCrew we have an exclusive interview with our new producer Dae. Catch the video to learn all about them and to hear his fire vocals. If you want to watch the exclusive interview, you have to join the QCrew. Now you’ve shown us your support by tuning into this episode. You can show your curiosity by clicking the link in the show notes to learn more about the QCrew.

Now, for the news; Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained for 182 days. In today’s episode I want to remember Jaylen, Devonta & Donald. The three men who were killed in the hit and run at the iconic Jeffery Pub early Sunday morning. Let’s honor them today. Let’s go. 

I wanted to take time to talk about this story. I reported what we knew in Monday’s episode and so much has come to light since then that I wanted to take today and honor them. Honor their individual stories and honor those who survived as well. 

The story begins early Sunday morning around 4:30am in the most iconic Black gay bar in Chicago, the Jeffery Pub. An argument or fight broke out and my understanding is that someone threatened to go to their car and get a gun. At that point someone called the police but they never showed up.  It’s also come out that a couple of calls were made to the police and the cops were really slow in responding. Like really slow. Now approximately, 30 minutes later that argument or fight made its way outside in the middle of the street. Six men were there and two were definitely arguing and throwing hands. Then out of nowhere a silver sedan at incredibly high speeds quite literally ran them over. The impact was so severe the victims came out of their shoes. They were lifted off the ground. This was an intentional act of violence. Now, I didn’t watch the video in its entirety. It’s not good for my spirit. But I’ve listened to those who did watch it and I’ve read the reports and seen the pictures and it’s awful to say the very least. 

Jaylen Ausley, 23, just graduated from the University of Michigan in 2021 and returned home to Chicago to work and uplift young people in his community. From what I’ve read, he was a remarkable young man coming into his own leadership and helping young people along the way. He was a mentor and someone the young people looked up too. A balloon release is being held for Jaylen Friday, August 19th at 3:15pm at Gary Comer College Prep where Jaylen worked. 

Devonta, 27, is known for being the life of the party. He was remembered as someone who loved those closest to him and protected them fiercely. His family & friends held a memorial for him on Monday and hundreds of people showed up to celebrate his life. They released balloons, played music & danced. They did what Devanta enjoyed. 

Donald Huey, 25, moved to LA just 8 or 9 months ago to escape Chicago. His brother was killed here and it was too much. He wanted to find his own way and he had started on that path. He had a job and his own apartment and his family really felt like he was coming into his own. His family begged him to come home to celebrate his late grandmother’s birthday so he came. His sister said, “All Donald wanted to do was dress himself, care for his family, provide for his family and make sure his momma had everything she needed.”

Carlee, is the lone survivor of this attack and was just released from the hospital. He’s bruised and needs crutches to walk because his ankle is sprained. He is quite literally a walking miracle. He wrote on his Facebook page that he’s not okay with a broken heart emoji. He recently did an interview with ABC 7 Chicago where he shares that he doesn’t remember the impact and he doesn’t recognize the vehicle that hit him but he does remember what happened prior. I want to play y’all an excerpt of the interview so you can hear what he had to say. Take a listen. 

So allow me to help connect the dots here for you. Davonte is “Rack”. If you’ve seen any piece of the footage then you can see that there are two people throwing hands and 4 others around them and according to Carlee trying to get them to stop fighting. And then in a blink of an eye someone or someone’s decided to evoke pure evil. 

In regards to the investigation, the police have recovered the car. It was a few blocks away from the scene but they need the community’s help. They need someone to speak up and share what they know. Someone knows who did it. There were too many people out there for someone not to know. Hopefully some connections can be made with the vehicle but in the meantime, the police are asking if you know any information to call detectives at (312) 747-8380 or submit an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Now family, I have spent many nights at the Pub. Kicking it. Celebrating someone’s birthday. Tipping the performers. Enjoying the Chicago Black lesbian scene on the southside. The Pub has been serving this community for over 50 years. To say that it’s a staple doesn’t do it any justice whatsoever. It’s a refuge. So to see it go through this moment is heartbreaking. I saw this evening that the pub will now be for people over 30 and they will be scanning IDs as well. My initial thought went to the 22 year olds who have one less space to be but this is what happens. A night full of bad decisions has led to this moment. And we know how important bars are to our community. They are places where we find our people. Where we dance without care. Hold hands without second glances. Hug without contempt. Kiss without judgment. Some people call it church because it’s where they find love and support and community. Oftentimes when tragedy happens we blame the establishment. From what I’ve read, it doesn’t seem like the Pub was at fault here and my heart goes out to the owner & staff. They take care of us in their own way and this, this right here is hard. 

I pray for the families. I pray for the survivors because their lives will never be the same. I pray for the communities who’ve been impacted. Y’all better love on those you care about because today is not promised. Till tomorrow family, peace. 

Sources

Jeffery Pub Hit-And-Run Victim Donald Huey Moved To L.A. To Get Out Of Chicago. Visiting For His Grandma’s Birthday, He Was Killed, Sister Says

https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/08/17/jeffery-pub-hit-and-run-victim-donald-huey-was-visiting-from-l-a-when-he-was-killed-his-sister-says-he-was-done-with-chicago

Devonta Vivetter Loved To Party — So Hundreds Showed Up To Honor Victim Of South Shore Hit-And-Run With A Music-Filled Memorial

https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/08/16/devonta-vivetter-loved-to-party-so-hundreds-showed-up-to-honor-victim-of-south-shore-hit-and-run-with-a-music-filled-memorial/

South Shore hit-and-run: One victim was starting a new life back home, another was helping disadvantaged youth on South Side

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/8/14/23305287/jeffery-pub-crash

Only survivor of South Shore hit-and-run that killed 3 outside Jeffrey Pub speaks out

https://abc7chicago.com/south-shore-hit-and-run-jeffrey-pub-survivor-chicago-gay-bars/12131976/

Tragedy hits Chicago’s Black LGBTQ community: We honor Jaylen, Devonta & Donald who lost their lives to a hit-and-run outside of the iconic Jeffery Pub