ngọc loan trần is a Việt/mixed-race immigrant, queer and gender weird disabled writer, storyteller and aspiring educator. Loan got the "glorious" hand tatoo based on a book called "Glorious Daughters of Vietnam" depicting the women role during the vietnam War. Loan got the original 1975 copy at their bookshelf at home in Durham.
Loan paints the "May Day Go On Strike" banner at the art making event for May Day at their workplace Durham Downtown. A couple of people show up painting the banners on the floor.
Loan protests against visitation by video instead of the actual visitation in front of the Durham Jail. The protests have lasted for several months and happen every Friday afternoon from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
During the protest, people gather in front of the jail, some holding the signs, some writing slogans on the ground with chalks and some holding the speaker. They protest by singing and shouting and sometimes dancing. At the end of the protest, they march down both ends of the street and wave to people up in the bulding.
Loan and their sister Nicole Tran who has been staying with Loan during her Spring break for one week in Durham. They greet and high five for fun after the jail protest on their way to get their car.
Loan meets a baby at the "Kids in NC say: We Belong Together! Nos Mantenemos Unidos!" event in Raleigh at the Halifax Mall. Immigrant children read the letters they wrote to Governors and President Trump in front of the big wall saying "You are a child, you are suitable to be owed."
Loan works at the Southern Vision Alliance, a grassroots non-profit conceived in 2014 supporting all kinds of justice and rights. They are the director of Youth Organizing Institute and Communications.
Loan chats with Alissa Ellis, the deputy director of SVA, during worktime on April,19. Loan helps with Ellis looking for an apartment to move in this summer.
A couple of people show up painting the banners on the floor for May Day protest at the Southern Vision Alliance office in Durham on April. 22.
At the Durham Jail protest, Loan holds the yellow sign from the beginning to the end. Durham Perfroming Art Center is right across the street from the jail, which creates a contrast. The elements of police and police cars also add to the context of the protest.
Loan works on their laptop at the office of Sourthern Vision Alliance in Durham. The whole office consisted of four rooms and a nice kitchen. There is also a big meeting room on the other side where they paint the May Day banners on April 22rd.
Loan has been loving alone since this Januaary after they broke up with their partner. Loan used to live with their partners and this is their first time living alone in a single apartment. Loan decorated the whole room, which took a lot of time. Loan collect all their receipts of their company credit card in order to do the tax on the night of April 24th.