Lives That Mattered
By acknowledging that those honored here lived and mattered, we challenge the racist mythology that contributed to their deaths. Feel free to peruse this space, speak these names and discover your own rituals of remembrance.
You may contribute a name to the memorial by clicking here.
Darrien Hunt was born August 17, 1992 in Utah. He was shot in the back by police while cosplaying on September 10, 2014.
Freddie Gray was born August 16, 1989 in Baltimore, MD. Video footage shows Gray being brutally arrested. He died of his injuries while in police custody on April 19, 2015.
Sharonda Coleman-Singleton was a track coach and mother of three described as a "beautiful spirit." At just 45 years old, she was killed in the Emanuel AME shooting on June 17, 2015.
Reverend Clementa Pinckney received his first appointment as a pastor at 18 years of age. At 27, he became the youngest member of the South Carolina state senate. A member of Emanuel AME, he was killed by a white supremacist on June 17, 2015.
Cynthia Hurd worked as a librarian for 31 years and is described as "a tireless servant of the community." A member of Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC, she was killed by a white supremacist on June 17, 2015.
Tywanza Sanders was a barber described as "warm" and "helpful." He bravely stood between his killer and his aunt, Susie Jackson, in an attempt to save her life. A member of Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC, he was killed by a white supremacist on June 17, 2015. He was 26 years old.
Myra Thompson had two bachelor's degrees, a master's degree and was working toward becoming an ordained minister. A member of Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC, she was killed by a white supremacist on June 17, 2015. She was 59 years old.
Ethel Lee Lance was described by her grandson as "the heart of the family." A member of Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC, she was killed by a white supremacist on June 17, 2015. She was 70 years old.
Rev. Daniel Simmons was a devout christian, father and grandfather. A member of Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC, he was killed by a white supremacist on June 17, 2015. He was 74 years old.
Susie Jackson is described as a "loving person" who opened her home to those in need. A member of Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC, she was killed by a white supremacist on June 17, 2015. She was 87 years old.
Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor was a mother of four and member of her church's choir. A member of Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC, she was killed by a white supremacist on June 17, 2015. She was 49 years old.
Denise McNair was born November 17, 1951. She was a member of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. She was killed by white supremacists who planted a bomb in the church on September 15, 1963.