LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Growing up in Florida, Samantha Miller says that since she was a young girl, standing up for issues important to her was a passion. 

What You Need To Know

  • Samantha Miller is a transgender woman who moved to North Carolina from Florida in August

  • During her days off, she walks in Lincoln County protesting the war in Ukraine

  • Miller has attended rallies after the 2018 shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school and environmental protests

“It all started off with local beach cleanup, environmental issues in South Florida, and also as a trans woman in middle school," Miller said. 

She went to rallies after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018, and protesting and standing up for others became a core issue in her life. 

"I went to rallies in Boston, Washington, D.C., South Florida," Miller said. 

She moved to North Carolina in August and decided to protest the war in Ukraine on her days off work. 

“They see that someone here, that has no ties to Ukraine at all, at least stands with them in solidarity," Miller said. 

She says as a trans woman, coming out to her family and living in a culture where the LGBTQ community doesn't always feel welcome, standing up for others is important. 

"The honks and beeps are awesome, but people also cuss at me, throw bottles at me. I just turn and wave, tell them I love them," Miller said. 

She invites anyone to join her when she's protesting in Lincolnton, and hopes others will be kind.