LGBTQ+ activist Marsha P. Johnson will once again posthumously make history with a new monument in her home state of New Jersey honoring an LGBTQ+ person and transgender woman of color, the city of Union County announced in a press release on August 27. The day before, on August 26, Colorlines reported the official dedication of New York’s Marsha P. Johnson State Park, the state’s first park to honor an LGBTQ+ person of color.

“Marsha is needed now,” Johnson’s nephew, Al Michaels, told Revolt TV. “Here we have the Black Lives Matter movement and the Trans Lives Matter movement. We have the same thing happening to people today, as far as police brutality.”

Activists absolutely agree though they unsuccessfully pushed to have a Christopher Columbus statue replaced with Johnson’s. Johnson’s family, however, said that they are fine with both statues standing. “Let them have the statue,” Johnson’s cousin, James Carey, told NJ.com about Columbus’ monument. “It has nothing to do with my cousin.”

Indeed, the press release states that Johnson’s statue will stand on the Freedom Trail in the City of Elizabeth. In partnership with Johnson’s family, during October’s LGBTQ History Month, Union County Freeholders, City of Elizabeth officials, Garden State Equality and the Office of LGBTQ Affairs will host a series of events to engage the community in the creation of the historic project. 

To learn more about the project, click here.