Say Their Names

Shereese Francis

(1982-2012). Killed by NY police officers on March 5, 2012. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she was off her meds and having a mental episode. Her family called the police to help get her to the hospital. She was shot in her home.

Trayvon Martin

(Feb 15, 1995-Feb 26, 2012)

Shot by a white man on "neighborhood watch" while he was walking back to where he was staying from convenience store. He was 17.

Rekia Boyd

(1989-2012)

Rekia Boyd was in a park with friends when an off-duty Chicago detective approached the group and started a heated exchange. The detective fired his weapon into the group hitting Rekia in the head and another person in the hand. She was 22.

Say their names; Know their faces

I'm in a book group right now studying Mindful of Race by Ruth King. It's a good read and helpful for navigating this time in the US. We were encouraged in this group to start a practice of remembering those who have been killed by police. I've been wanting to practice drawing faces, so I decided to combine these two exercises. I'm trying to draw a face a day, so here's a collection of last week's drawings. Unfortunately, the drawings don't really look like the people they're supposed to honor, but I'm already seeing my drawing improve.

Breonna Taylor

Shot in bed by Louisville, KY police with a no-knock warrant, March 13, 2020.

George Floyd

Killed by Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck for almost 9 minutes, May 25, 2020.

Atatiana Jefferson

Shot by Fort Worth, TX police in her own home as she was babysitting her nephew, October 12, 2019.

Ahmaud Arbery

Shot and killed while jogging, February 23, 2020.