Dr. Treva Lindsey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at The Ohio State University. According to her university bio, Dr. Lindsay specializes in areas such as African American Women’s History, black feminism, critical race, and gender theory, among other sexual politics. Dr. Lindsay frequently writes and is invited to lecture about sexual assault prevention on college campuses. In a video of a lecture at Portland State University, Dr. Lindsay can be heard suggesting rehabilitating those who’ve committed sexual assault by teaching them to unlearn their “toxic masculinity” and innate homophobia. [video width="960" height="540" mp4="https://backend.professorwatchlist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Treva-Lindsay-Unlearing-toxic-massculinity-.mp4"][/video] Dr. Treva Lindsay frequently writes for a number of prominent publications—such as Al Jazeera, Cosmopolitan, and CNN— accusing the United States of being systematically racist and calling for the abolishment of policing. She additionally praises the BLM movement for its alleged efforts to combat systemic racism. Black Lives Matter (BLM,) as an organization, was founded following the death of Treyvon Martin and the trial of George Zimmerman for his murder. After a jury acquitted Zimmerman in 2013, Patrice Cullors joined with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi to found the organization. BLM’s mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities by the state and vigilantes.” In an article for Complex, Dr. Lindsay praises BLM and its umbrella organization, the Movement for Black Lives, for their role in awakening Americans to the reality of “anti-black racism.” In the same article, she alleges that “millions” of black Americans have been victims of systemic racism for hundreds of years, and still are today. In a separate article for NBC News, Dr. Lindsay decries the passage of Juneteenth, describing it as trivial and merely a “symbolic gesture.” A bill to make Juneteenth—a holiday celebrating the announcement that slavery had ended in Texas— a national holiday was passed with the bipartisan support of both houses before it was signed into law in June of 2020. Nonetheless, Dr. Lindsay writes that she can’t help but feel “contempt” towards white people for their support, critiquing the holiday as inadequate to combat “sanctioned white supremacy.”

She mirrors her characterization in an article for Bustle, describing the history of the United States as encompassing the murder of black people from slavery to the present day.

Dr. Lindsay builds on her allegation in another article for Complex, specifically citing “racist policing” and “police brutality'' as the 2 “most visible” forms of state violence against black people. As such, Dr. Lindsay has openly called for the defunding of police on her personal Twitter account.

Since Chauvin’s guilty verdict, there have been at least SIX more people killed by police.
A guilty verdict from a criminal punishment system hellbent on preserving itself- it will continue striking back and out until we dismantle. #AbolishThePolice pic.twitter.com/a2noWozUCz — Treva B (@divafeminist) April 24, 2021

We out here just trying to survive policing and calling for defunding and abolishing the police.
Just erasing the history of Pride as originating in rebelling against policing. 🙄 https://t.co/m8v371ftrm pic.twitter.com/zYHmwhGH1I — Treva B (@divafeminist) May 20, 2021

In one tweet, she calls for the abolishment of police officers following the death of Ma’Khia Bryant.

It’s not a police-involved shooting. GTFOH with that passive, non-specific description.
Columbus police KILLED a 15 y/o Black girl named Ma’Khia. #MakhiaBryant should be here and these cruel and violent systems should not. #SayHerName #AbolishThePolice pic.twitter.com/52PraZ2WaL — Treva B (@divafeminist) April 21, 2021

Referencing an August 2020 incident, a Columbus, Ohio police officer was called over a domestic dispute involving Bryant. When the officer arrived, Bryant was at the center of a fight with several other girls. Bryant then drew a knife and the responding officer ordered her to drop the weapon. Bryant then lunged at another girl with the knife, causing the officer to shoot and fatally wound her. Despite evidence from the body-cam exonerating his actions, Dr. Lindsay still alleges the incident is further proof of systemic racism and brutality directed specifically at black Americans. In an article for the site Truthout, she describes the officer’s actions—along with anyone who would defend them—as the normalization of police violence and “erasing the long and inglorious history” of police violence against black people. Dr. Lindsay further states that Bryant should still be alive while calling for the defunding and eventual abolishment of police. “Police do not make us safer. Police do not make Black children safer. Not at school. Not on university campuses. Not at home. As the body camera footage shows, police escalate. The killing of Ma’Khia is yet another painful reminder of why a growing number of people are focusing their energies on building alternatives to policing and demanding that we defund the police. It’s a reminder why so many people are agitating to remove the police from our homes, communities, and schools — and eventually abolish policing altogether.” Despite her defense of Byrant, Dr. Lindsay holds a paradoxical stance on the police shooting of Ashli Babbitt. In a separate article for Bitch Media, Dr. Lindsay defends the actions of the Capitol Officer who shot Babbitt. Describing her as a white supremacist—and providing no evidence—who took part in an insurrection alongside a “lynch mob.” Dr. Lindsay is referring to the January 6th Capitol Hill Riots, in which a number of protestors breached the Capitol’s Doors during certification of the 2020 Presidential Election. Despite claims to the contrary, even the FBI has determined that no evidence exists that any rioters coordinated to commit an “insurrection.” Ashli Babbitt was shot by Officer Michael Byrd as she attempted to climb through the broken window of a closed door. A review by the DC Metropolitan Police confirmed that Babbitt was unarmed when shot.

Students and Parents may contact the College of Arts and Sciences of The Ohio State University at (614) 292-1667.

Updated - November 29th, 2021

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