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Where Do We Mourn? Establishing Memorial Sites for African Americans Killed by Police Violence

The names are well known: Patrick Lyoya, Daunte Wright, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Botham Jean, and Tamir Rice. These are only a handful of the African Americans murdered in recent memory by the same institution that is sworn to “protect and serve.” In 2021, Black people comprised 27% of those killed by police officers despite being only 13% of the population. Put another way, Black people are nearly 3 times as likely to be killed by police than white people.

While this issue has garnered significant attention among activists and the media, memorial sites where African Americans have been killed by police violence are rare in America. This lack of collective space to remember and reflect not only robs society of concrete places to honor those lost, but also makes it all too easy for communities to forget how common these crimes are. At their best, memorials remember the dead and galvanize more peaceful and just futures.

To spark dialogue and action on this topic, join us on March 16th at 10:00am as our friend Jamira Burley - an award-winning activist and speaker - moderates a conversation with Sites of Conscience that memorialize sites of violence against African Americans, including the Emmett Till Interpretive Center. Panelists will share their strategies programming around the subject of racial violence, and offer their experiences and suggestions for other sites interested in memorializing police violence against African Americans in their communities. The webinar is free and open to the public.

Mar 16, 2023 10:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)