“Donovan was unarmed, and he was abiding by police commands to come out of his room when he was shot in cold blood by Officer Anderson.”
-Rex Elliott, Attorney for the Lewis Family
“There was no justification—let me be clear—no justification for officer Anderson to shoot an unarmed man trying to get out of bed as police officers were instructing him to do so. Donovan was asleep before officers arrived and had warning that CPD would burst into his apartment.”
-Rex Elliott, attorney for the Lewis Family
“They (the family) want this police officer punished, …. not permitted to be out on the streets again. We anticipated filing an action against the police officer that engaged in this reckless conduct.”
-Rex Elliott, Attorney for the Lewis Family
“They are just a few of the many people that have had their lives altered forever because of the events of early Tuesday morning.”
-Rex Elliott, Attorney for the Lewis Family, referring to Donovan’s parents, siblings, grandmother, aunt and family friends
“He wasn’t armed. He wasn’t dangerous. He wasn’t America’s most wanted. He was just Donovan.”
-Reverend Jemimah Posey, comments at the Donovan Lewis funeral
“Fear is your enemy. Trust in God. The North Star will guide you.”
-The Black preacher advising Harriet as she prepares to flee bondage, the movie Harriet (2019)
My Dear Readers,
Here we go again. Another young Black life taken much too soon, under circumstances that are unimaginable yet imaginable, unbelievable yet very believable, and incomprehensible, yet expected by Black folks, having repeatedly endured this nightmare.
Donovan Lewis’s death by police action follows a line of recent deaths by police including George Floyd, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Walter Scott and countless others, the most recent being Jayland Walker, who was shot 46 times, including 8 shotgun blasts, over a traffic violation. He had refused to pull over and ran from his vehicle. The police allegedly recovered a firearm from the car, so they said.
Meanwhile, a worried community of Black folks, nationwide are sitting, nervously awaiting the outcome of the most recent shooting. Here speaks the concerns and frustrations of one parent:
Dear Dr. Kane,
I am the mother of three sons ages 16, 12 and 8. The killing of that black young man in Columbus OH by the police has frightened me to the point where I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, and I am unable to focus on work because I am so scared for the safety of my sons. I am southern born and raised, and although I now live in Washington State, I have long memories of police brutalizing and terrorizing Black males. I am very frightened and concerned.
I have no place to turn for help. I have spoken to my pastor and all he tells me is to fear not, pray and trust in God. I am a good Christian. School has now begun, and I place anointing oil on my sons every morning as I send them out to school and still it is simply not enough! I am so afraid for my children.
I just don’t understand the lack of response. Black folks in church are talking about these killings and yet there is nothing being done about it. It’s like since it hasn’t happened to them, they are not concerned, however, it may happen to my sons. I am living in fear. I go to bed afraid and wake up afraid.
My sons are well mannered, are attentive and love school and sports. I know that they get profiled because of their race. In reaching out to Black men for assistance, the attitude has been one of indifference. More than one suggested that I need to get accustomed to police interaction and racial profiling as this is going to be an ongoing occurrence in their lives. I have asked the men at the church to talk to my sons but all they want to do is to talk about football.
It takes a village! I feel that my community– my village– church and black men have failed me. I wish the Black men in the church would come together to teach our children how to be safe when interacting with the police. I am unable to talk to my white coworkers as they think I am being paranoid. I am concerned that my older son will mouth off should he be confronted by the police. My middle child was recently stopped and questioned by the police because they said he looks older and my youngest is afraid to sleep in his bed after watching the news about that Black man being killed in his bed by the police. He has now returned to wetting the bed and is afraid to sleep alone.
I have sought help from my church and the people in my community. Although I am being told not to be afraid and to pray, I am more fearful and desperate for more help to protect my children. When I get a notification on my cell from one of my sons, I become overwhelmed with fear. I can’t think, I am shaking. It is only until I have assurance that they are okay that I can relax. And then there is the next time. It’s like I am waiting for the negative to happen. Am I being paranoid? Do you have any suggestions? I would appreciate hearing back from you.
Village Mom Seeking Assistance, Bellevue, WA
My Dear Readers,
In the writer’s statement, she mentions that “it takes a village,” referring to the African proverb that speaks to the cultural and societal belief that family, community and communalism are needed to teach, develop, and protect a child through adulthood. While this sentiment has strong psychological and emotional roots within the values of Black Americans, the ongoing and consistent psychological and emotional pressures being faced by the Black American community, many caused by its own deficiencies and weaknesses, render it unable to protect itself from macroaggressions that result in the psychological harm and/or physical deaths of its children. Although the idea of the “village” permeates the community, this is not the lived reality being experienced by this parent seeking assistance from her church and within the community. Comments from the black men in her community merely acknowledge the indifference.
It is the natural instinct for a parent to want to protect one’s child from danger. However, as Black parents seek balance, it would be beneficial to teach our children how to empower themselves as they are being prepared to enter an environment that is hostile and suspicious to both their ethnicity, race and gender.
FEAR: Conceptualizing the Psychological & Emotional Impacts
Fear can be defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. For this parent, several subtypes of trauma, including microaggression (racial profiling by the police) macroaggression (physical injury/death), and invisibility syndrome (fear that her sons’ talents, abilities and character are not acknowledged or valued) combine to induce the distress that she shares in her letter.
Fear has psychologically and emotionally impacted the African American community to the point where it has been stuck in the status of existence, that is, the acceptance of an imposed way of life and survival.
Historically, the Black community has faced continuous and consistent pressure in the form of violence, domestic terrorism and state sanctioned laws/ordinances such as the Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, Sundown laws, and redlining. Although its members are capable of achieving and advancing in industry, economics, medicine, arts and letters, they remained blocked in stages of existing and survivorship and “living in FEAR,” a psychological and emotional status which continues to limit the community to this very day. Therefore, “living in FEAR” can be viewed as the following:
F (foundation) the justifications or cause of held beliefs.
E (expectations) strong beliefs that something will happen or be the case in the future.
A (assumptions) things that are accepted as true or certain to happen.
R (reality) the world that is being experienced or the state of things as they actually exist.
In this conceptualization of fear, African Americans are simply reacting to their deeply held beliefs and experiences based on their 403 years of experience in this country, through direct experience and passed downward intergenerationally.
In reconceptualizing fear, it is essential that Black people recognize the psychological impacts of internalizing fear and seek transformation towards the following:
- Fear is not the enemy. It is simply an emotion that is a normal response to a specific situation.
- Fear during times of danger can serve as a positive attribute in assisting the individual in being aware, alert, aroused, aloof and most importantly …staying alive.
- Rather than rejecting fear, we must want to embrace and integrate it as an aid that can move the individual from surviving an ordeal to empowerment psychologically.
By holding on to the illusion of village communalism as “acting as one,” the Black American community is not psychologically or emotionally prepared to conceptually transform from “living in FEAR” to “living with FEAR.”
Reconceptualizing FEAR
Psychologically and emotionally, “living in FEAR” has been a disservice because it limits the group’s options for response to this trauma to acceptance of a way of life and survival, or simply existing.
In reconceptualizing fear, it is essential that fear be viewed as a resource that can be utilized to move individual forward, not as preventing them from achieving goals, objectives and outcomes.
Therefore “living with FEAR” can be viewed as the following:
F (facing) confronting, accepting or dealing with a difficult task, fact or situation.
E (embracing) accepting or supporting a belief willingly and enthusiastically.
A (acknowledging) accepting or appreciation of the truth or recognition of fact or an object.
R (responding) the advocacy of reply as in words or in action.
To this end, the Black parent can consider the following:
- Letting go of the concept of the “village” i.e., communalism and accept the reality of the fragmented and weakened community structure.
- Reject the advice to “not be afraid” and view fear as what is simply is: an emotion to respond to.
- Transform the response of desperation to one of empowerment. Develop strategies that will reduce feelings of helplessness and reinforce safety regarding the children’s interaction with police.
There can be nothing stronger, more meaningful and more built on belief, faith and trust, (BFT) than the love a Black mother has for her child. Understanding their fears, given the history of police interaction with Black males and the risk of death, incarceration and trauma it is imperative that Black mothers transform from “living in FEAR” by implementing developmental strategies that will empower their children and thereby allowing the parent to be able to wake and sleep every day with empowerment “living with FEAR.”
Behavioral Strategies-Police Interactions
“Mama said life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.”
-Forrest Gump (1994),
In her letter, the Black parent alleges that she was told that she “need(ed) to get used to police interaction and racial profiling as these are going to be ongoing occurrences.”
These comments are partially correct; in the lives of Black people, especially with males, racial profiling and police interaction ARE going to be ongoing occurrences. However, what is incorrect is the belief that this is something to get used to. Words can have powerful psychological impacts on those who hear them, and in this case, what comes across is further trauma and insensitivity to the lived experience. Specifically, the word “need” as a verb, defined as to “require (something) because it is essential or very important. In essence, this Black parent is being told that it is very important for her to get used to these brutal injustices.
The Black parent (s) can best serve their children and themselves by
- Transformation- moving from positions of survival and desperation to that of living, growth and development.
- Education of their children and themselves in the expectation and normalizing of police interaction.
- Psychological/emotional preparation for possible racial profiling. When interaction with the police occurs, it is unknown what type of prejudice (cognitive, affective or conative) will be involved in the interaction.
Understanding ABC’s of Behavior
The Black parent can also reinforce self-empowerment in their children by normalizing the police stop or interaction, and by teaching them to accept their internalized fears when responding to police directions and interactions. The fear of police in our community is normal and some police want the individual to be fearful as it allows them to maintain control. However, it is essential that the individual maintain a “sense of presence” by “living with FEAR” and not “living in FEAR”. This can be achieved by teaching your children the following:
- (A) Advocacy– Know when to “hold” or “show” your cards. Know when to speak and what to say.
- (B) Balance– Remember that your power lies within you and cannot be taken from you without your consent. Balance your anger with your wisdom.
- (C) Calmness– Use your balance and your empowerment to project calmness to the outside world. Use this to defuse the situation.
When Black Males Encounter the Police
“My sons are well mannered, are attentive and love school and sports. I know that they get profiled because of their race.”
-Village Mom Seeking Assistance
This is true of many black children. However, it is important to remember that police officers, in interacting with numerous different individuals on a daily basis, carry their internalized prejudices with them, including, but not limited to the belief that some individuals, particularly African Americans, are not “well mannered, or attentive”. Black youth can impower themselves by planning out their actions and behaviors when they encounter law enforcement:
- Know that the police officer will ask for identification and that it is legal for the police officer to do so.
- Know that the police officer will seek verification in a criminal database to identify any warrants or other notices.
- Know that the police officer will be looking for suspicious behavior from the individual being questioned or anyone who is in company of the individual.
- Be prepared for a possible “stop and search” of one’s personal space (body) and belongings.
The Police Encounter
- Never…Never.. Ever …run from the police.
- Remember, that the police officer is entitled to use deadly force if he/she feels physically threatened.
The Black parent must emphasize these two points with their children as the first and most important parts of a process to ensure their safety during an encounter with the police. The rest of the process includes the following:
- Immediately telling the police officer: I AM UNARMED. I AM NOT A THREAT TO YOU
- Always comply and follow the police officer’s instructions. Speak in a respectful tone.
- If you are under the age of 18, immediately inform the police officer of your age.
- If you are under the age of 18, immediately request that your parent, legal guardian or legal representative be present prior to answering questions.
- If you are above the age of 18, and have chosen not to speak, inform the police officer of your intent to remain silent until you have legal representation. Afterwards, immediately stop talking.
- Use your powers of observation. Document the incident and any concerns regarding ant behaviors occurring during the encounter. Memory can lapse quickly. Document immediately following the encounter.
- Remember to document following information: the date, time and location; the license plate and vehicle number, the badge number of the police officer and the name of the police department.
- DO NOT seek to resolve your complaint in the street. File a formal complaint
- with the Internal Affairs Section within the local sheriff or police department.
————————————————-
Concluding Words-Dr. Kane
“I have asked the men at the church to talk to my sons but all they want to do is to talk about football.”
-Village Mom Seeking Assistance
“Black people love their children with a kind of obsession. You are all we have, and you come to us endangered.”
-Ta-Nehisi Coates, Author “Between the World and Me. (2015)
Dear Village Mom Seeking Assistance,
In responding to your letter, I have sought to provide ideas, strategies, concepts and protocols that could be utilized in transforming fear and empowering your children and self. You have written that your village, church and Black men have failed you at the time in which you needed them the most. I encourage you to transform from the positions of desperation and helplessness to that of empowerment and growth, preparing your sons to protect themselves during encounters with police. Racial profiling is an uneasy reality in the lives of Black people.
Please dismiss the notion of paranoid as indicated by your white coworkers. As a Black person, you are responding to your lived experience, which has included frequent incidences of brutality towards Black males. As a parent with three sons, you are displaying vigilance to abnormal experiences that your white coworkers have no direct knowledge or experience with. Simply stated, when your white coworkers get encountered by the police, they receive “community policing, while your sons, during similar encounters, receive “law enforcement” instead.
Holding to your strength in your Christian faith, it is important for you to channel the belief, faith and trust you have in your village, church and Black men to the self, which will enable you to empower your sons in expecting and normalizing upcoming police encounters. Once again, it is essential to let go of the concept that “fear is the enemy” and instead, see fear as a desired and wanted emotion that can assist you and your sons in keeping them aware, alert, aroused, aloof and most importantly…alive. It would be most advantageous for you to stop looking and depending on assistance that is not forthcoming and look within your abilities to provide the assistance in developing the strategies that will empower and protect your sons.
Wishing you the best,
Dr. Kane
****************************************************************************
“That is the philosophy of the disembodied, of a people who control nothing, who can protect nothing, who are made to fear not just the criminals among them but the police who lord over them with all the moral authority of a protection racket. It was only after that I understood love that I understood the grip of my mother’s hand. She knew that the galaxy itself could kill me, that all of me cold be shattered and all of her legacy spilled upon the curb like bum wine.”
-Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between The World And Me
IN MEMORIAM of Black Males Killed in Police Related Deaths
The universe shrank
when you went away.
Every time I thought your name,
stars fell upon me.
— Henry Dumas (poet, social activist, teacher)
Updated June 9, 2022
| Donovan Lewis, Columbus, Ohio Shot by Columbus Police Officer August 30, 2022 Daunte Demetrius Wright, October 27, 2000 – April 11, 2021 Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Shot: Brooklyn Center Police Officer | Jayland Walker, Akron, Ohio Shot: 46 times by 8 Police Officers June 27, 2022 Marvin David Scott III, 1995 – March 14, 2021 McKinney, Texas Asphyxiated: Collin County Jail Detention Officers |
| Patrick Lynn Warren Sr., October 7, 1968 – January 10, 2021 Killeen, Texas Shot: Killeen Police Officer | Vincent “Vinny” M. Belmonte, September 14, 2001 – January 5, 2021 Cleveland, Ohio Shot: Cleveland Police Officer |
| Angelo Quinto, March 10, 1990 – December 26, 2020 Antioch, California Knee on neck/Asphyxiated | Andre Maurice Hill, May 23, 1973 – December 22, 2020 Columbus, Ohio Shot: Columbus Police Officer |
| Casey Christopher Goodson Jr., January 30, 1997 – December 4, 2020 Columbus, Ohio Shot: Franklin County Sheriff Deputy | Angelo “AJ” Crooms, May 15, 2004 – November 13, 2020 Cocoa, Florida Shot: Brevard County Sheriff Deputies |
| Sincere Pierce, April 2, 2002 – November 13, 2020 Cocoa, Florida Shot: Brevard County Sheriff Deputies | Marcellis Stinnette, June 17, 2001 – October 20, 2020 Waukegan, Illinois Shot: Waukegan Police Officer |
| Jonathan Dwayne Price, November 3, 1988 – October 3, 2020 Wolfe City, Texas Tasered/Shot: Wolfe City Police Officer | Dijon Durand Kizzee, February 5, 1991 – August 31, 2020 Los Angeles, California Shot: Los Angeles County Police |
| Rayshard Brooks, January 31, 1993 – June 12, 2020 Atlanta, Georgia Shot: Atlanta Police Officer | Carlos Carson, May 16, 1984 – June 6, 2020 Tulsa, Oklahoma Pepper Sprayed/Shot in Head: Knights Inn Tulsa Armed Security Guard, former sergeant and detention officer with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office |
| David McAtee, August 3, 1966 – June 1, 2020 Louisville, Kentucky Shot: Louisville Metropolitan Police Officer | Tony “Tony the TIger” McDade, 1982 – May 27, 2020 Tallahassee, Florida Shot: Tallahassee Police Officers |
| George Perry Floyd, October 14, 1973 – May 25, 2020 Powderhorn, Minneapolis, Minnesota Knee on neck/Asphyxiated: Minneapolis Police Officer | Dreasjon “Sean” Reed, 1999 – May 6, 2020 Indianapolis, Indiana Shot: Unidentified Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer |
| Michael Brent Charles Ramos, January 1, 1978 – April 24, 2020 Austin, Texas Shot: Austin Police Detectives | Daniel T. Prude, September 20, 1978 – March 30, 2020 Rochester, New York Asphyxiation: Rochester Police Officers |
| Breonna Taylor, June 5, 1993 – March 13, 2020 Louisville, Kentucky Shot: Louisville Metro Police Officers | Manuel “Mannie” Elijah Ellis, August 28, 1986 – March 3, 2020 Tacoma, Washington Physical restraint/Hypoxia: Tacoma Police Officers |
| William Howard Green, March 16, 1976 – January 27, 2020 Temple Hills, Maryland Shot: January 27, 2020, Prince George’s County Police Officer | John Elliot Neville, 1962 – December 4, 2019 Winston-Salem, North Carolina Asphyxiated /Heart Attack/Brain Injury: Forsyth County Sheriff Officers |
| Atatiana Koquice Jefferson, November 28, 1990 – October 12, 2019 Fort Worth, Texas Shot: Fort Worth Police Officer | Elijah McClain, February 25, 1996 – August 30, 2019 Aurora, Colorado Chokehold/Ketamine/Heart Attack: Aurora Police Officers and Paramedic |
| Ronald Greene, September 28, 1969 – May 10, 2019 Monroe, Louisiana Stun gun/Force: Louisiana State Police | Javier Ambler, October 7, 1978 – March 28, 2019 Austin, Texas Tasered/Electrocuted: Williamson County Sheriff Deputy |
| Sterling Lapree Higgins, October 27, 1981 – March 25, 2019 Union City, Tennessee Choke hold/Asphyxiation: Union City Police Officer and Obion County Sheriff Deputies | Gregory Lloyd Edwards, September 23, 1980 – December 10, 2018 Brevard County Jail, Cocoa, Florida Kneed, Punched, Pepper Sprayed, Tasered, and Strapped into a restraint chair with a spit hood over his head/Failure to Provide Medical Care: Brevard County Sheriffs |
| Emantic “EJ” Fitzgerald Bradford Jr., June 18, 1997 – November 22, 2018 Hoover, Alabama Shot: Unidentified Hoover Police Officers | Charles “Chop” Roundtree Jr., September 5, 2000 – October 17, 2018 San Antonio, Texas Shot: San Antonio Police Officer |
| Chinedu Okobi, February 13, 1982 – October 3, 2018 Millbrae, California Tasered/Electrocuted: San Mateo County Sheriff Sergeant and Sheriff Deputies | Anton Milbert LaRue Black, October 18, 1998 – September 15, 2018 Greensboro, Maryland Tasered/Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Greensboro Police Officers |
| Botham Shem Jean, September 29, 1991 – September 6, 2018 Dallas, Texas Shot: Dallas Police Officer | Antwon Rose Jr., July 12, 2000 – June 19, 2018 East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Shot: East Pittsburgh Police Officer |
| Saheed Vassell, December 22, 1983 – April 4, 2018 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Shot: Four Unnamed New York City Police Officers | Stephon Alonzo Clark, August 10, 1995 – March 18, 2018 Sacramento, California Shot: Sacramento Police Officers |
| Dennis Plowden Jr., 1992 – December 28, 2017 East Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Shot: Philadelphia Police Officer | Bijan Ghaisar, September 4, 1992 – November 27, 2017 George Washington Memorial Parkway, Alexandria, Virginia Shot: U.S. Park Police Officers |
| Aaron Bailey, 1972 – June 29, 2017 Indianapolis, Indiana Shot: Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officers | Charleena Chavon Lyles, April 24, 1987 – June 18, 2017 Seattle, Washington Shot: Seattle Police Officers |
| Fetus of Charleena Chavon Lyles (14-15 weeks), June 18, 2017 Seattle, Washington Shot: Seattle Police Officers | Jordan Edwards, October 25, 2001 – April 29, 2017 Balch Springs, Texas Shot: Balch Springs Officer |
| Chad Robertson, 1992 – February 15, 2017 Chicago, Illinois Shot: Chicago Police Officer | Deborah Danner, September 25, 1950 – October 18, 2016 The Bronx, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officers |
| Alfred Olango, July 29, 1978 – September 27, 2016 El Cajon, California Shot: El Cajon Police Officers | Terence Crutcher, August 16, 1976 – September 16, 2016 Tulsa, Oklahoma Shot: Tulsa Police Officer |
| Terrence LeDell Sterling, July 31, 1985 – September 11, 2016 Washington, DC Shot: Washington Metropolitan Police Officer | Korryn Gaines, August 24, 1993 – August 1, 2016 Randallstown, Maryland Shot: Baltimore County Police |
| Joseph Curtis Mann, 1966 – July 11, 2016 Sacramento, California Shot: Sacramento Police Officers | Philando Castile, July 16, 1983 – July 6, 2016 Falcon Heights, Minnesota Shot: St. Anthony Police Officer |
| Alton Sterling, June 14, 1979 – July 5, 2016 Baton Rouge, Louisiana Shot: Baton Rouge Police Officers | Bettie “Betty Boo” Jones, 1960 – December 26, 2015 Chicago, Illinois Shot: Chicago Police Officer |
| Quintonio LeGrier, April 29, 1996 – December 26, 2015 Chicago, Illinois Shot: Chicago Police Officer | Corey Lamar Jones, February 3, 1984 – October 18, 2015 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Shot: Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer |
| Jamar O’Neal Clark, May 3, 1991 – November 16, 2015 Minneapolis, Minnesota Shot: Minneapolis Police Officers | Jeremy “Bam Bam” McDole, 1987 – September 23, 2015 Wilmington, Delaware Shot: Wilmington Police Officers |
| India Kager, June 9, 1988 – September 5, 2015 Virginia Beach, Virginia Shot: Virginia Beach Police Officers | Samuel Vincent DuBose, March 12, 1972 – July 19, 2015 Cincinnati, Ohio Shot: University of Cincinnati Police Officer |
| Sandra Bland, February 7, 1987 – July 13, 2015 Waller County, Texas Excessive Force/Wrongful Death/Suicide(?) Texas State Trooper | Brendon K. Glenn, 1986 – May 5, 2015 Venice, California Shot: May 5, 2015, Los Angeles Police Officer |
| Freddie Carlos Gray Jr., August 16, 1989 – April 19, 2015 Baltimore, Maryland Brute Force/Spinal Injuries: Baltimore City Police Officers | Walter Lamar Scott, February 9, 1965 – April 4, 2015 North Charleston, South Carolina Shot: North Charleston Police Officer |
| Eric Courtney Harris, October 10, 1971 – April 2, 2015 Tulsa, Oklahoma Shot: Tulsa County Reserve Deputy | Phillip Gregory White, 1982 – March 31, 2015 Vineland, New Jersey K-9 Mauling/Respiratory distress: Vineland Police Officers |
| Mya Shawatza Hall, December 5, 1987 – March 30, 2015 Fort Meade, Maryland Shot: National Security Agency Police Officers Tony Terrell Robinson, Jr., October 18, 1995 – March 6, 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Shot: Madison Police Officer | Meagan Hockaday, August 27, 1988 – March 28, 2015 Oxnard, California Shot: Oxnard Police Officer Janisha Fonville, March 3, 1994 – February 18 2015 Charlotte, North Carolina Shot: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer |
| Natasha McKenna, January 9, 1978 – February 8, 2015 Fairfax County, Virginia Tasered/Cardiac Arrest: Fairfax County Sheriff Deputies | Jerame C. Reid, June 8, 1978 – December 30, 2014 Bridgeton, New Jersey Shot: Bridgeton Police Officer |
| Rumain Brisbon, November 24, 1980 – December 2, 2014 Phoenix, Arizona Shot: Phoenix Police Officer | Tamir Rice, June 15, 2002 – November 22, 2014 Cleveland, Ohio Shot: Cleveland Police Officer |
| Akai Kareem Gurley, November 12, 1986 – November 20, 2014 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer | Tanisha N. Anderson, January 22, 1977 – November 13, 2014 Cleveland, Ohio Physically Restrained/Brute Force: Cleveland Police Officers |
| Dante Parker, August 14, 1977 – August 12, 2014 Victorville, California Tasered/Excessive Force: San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputies | Ezell Ford, October 14, 1988 – August 11, 2014 Florence, Los Angeles, California Shot: Los Angeles Police Officers |
| Michael Brown Jr., May 20, 1996 – August 9, 2014 Ferguson, Missouri Shot: Ferguson Police Officer | John Crawford III, July 29, 1992 – August 5, 2014 Beavercreek, Ohio Shot: Beavercreek Police Officer |
| Tyree Woodson, July 8, 1976 – August 2, 2014 Baltimore, Maryland Shot: Baltimore City Police Officer | Eric Garner, September 15, 1970 – July 17, 2014 Staten Island, New York Choke hold/Suffocated: New York City Police Officer |
| Dontre Hamilton, January 20, 1983 – April 30, 2014 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Shot: Milwaukee Police Officer | Victor White III, September 11, 1991 – March 3, 2014 New Iberia, Louisiana Shot: Iberia Parish Sheriff Deputy |
| Gabriella Monique Nevarez, November 25, 1991 – March 2, 2014 Citrus Heights, California Shot: Citrus Heights Police Officers | Yvette Smith, December 18, 1966 – February 16, 2014 Bastrop County, Texas Shot: Bastrop County Sheriff Deputy |
| McKenzie J. Cochran, August 25, 1988 – January 29, 2014 Southfield, Michigan Pepper Sprayed/Compression Asphyxiation: Northland Mall Security Guards | Jordan Baker, 1988 – January 16, 2014 Houston, Texas Shot:, Off-duty Houston Police Officer |
| Andy Lopez, June 2, 2000 – October 22, 2013 Santa Rosa, California Shot: Sonoma County Sheriff Deputy | Miriam Iris Carey, August 12, 1979 – October 3, 2013 Washington, DC Shot 26 times: U. S. Secret Service Officer |
| Barrington “BJ” Williams, 1988 – September 17, 2013 New York City, New York Neglect/Disdain/Asthma Attack: New York City Police Officers | Jonathan Ferrell, October 11, 1989 – September 14, 2013 Charlotte, North Carolina Shot:, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer |
| Carlos Alcis, 1970 – August 15, 2013 Brooklyn, New York City Heart Attack/Neglect: New York City Police Officers | Larry Eugene Jackson Jr., November 29, 1980 – July 26, 2013 Austin, Texas Shot: Austin Police Detective |
| Kyam Livingston, July 29, 1975 – July 21, 2013 New York City, New York Neglect/Ignored pleas for help: New York City Police Officers | Clinton R. Allen, September 26, 1987 – March 10, 2013 Dallas, Texas Tasered and Shot: Dallas Police Officer |
| Kimani “KiKi” Gray, October 19, 1996 – March 9, 2013 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Shot: New York Police Officers | Kayla Moore, April 17, 1971 – February 13, 2013 Berkeley, California Restrained face-down prone:, Berkeley Police Officers |
| Jamaal Moore Sr., 1989 – December 15, 2012 Chicago, Illinois Shot: Chicago Police Officer | Johnnie Kamahi Warren, February 26, 1968 – February 13, 2012 Dothan, Alabama Tasered/Electrocuted: Houston County (AL) Sheriff Deputy |
| Shelly Marie Frey, April 21, 1985 – December 6, 2012 Houston, Texas Shot: Off-duty Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy | Darnisha Diana Harris, December 11, 1996 – December 2, 2012 Breaux Bridge, Louisiana Shot: Breaux Bridge Police Office |
| Timothy Russell, December 9. 1968 – November 29, 2012 Cleveland, Ohio 137 Rounds/Shot 23 times:, Cleveland Police Officers | Malissa Williams, June 20, 1982 – November 29, 2012 Cleveland, Ohio 137 Rounds/Shot 24 times: Cleveland Police Officers |
| Noel Palanco, November 28, 1989 – October 4, 2012 Queens, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officers | Reynaldo Cuevas, January 6, 1992 – September 7, 2012 Bronx, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer |
| Chavis Carter, 1991 – July 28, 2012 Jonesboro, Arkansas Shot: Jonesboro Police Officer | Alesia Thomas, June 1, 1977 – July 22, 2012 Los Angeles, California Brutal Force/Beaten: Los Angeles Police Officers |
| Shantel Davis, May 26, 1989 – June 14, 2012 New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer | Sharmel T. Edwards, October 10, 1962 – April 21, 2012 Las Vegas, Nevada Shot: Las Vegas Police Officers |
| Tamon Robinson, December 21, 1985 – April 18, 2012 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Run over by police car: New York City Police Officers | Ervin Lee Jefferson, III, 1994 – March 24, 2012 Atlanta, Georgia Shot: Shepperson Security & Escort Services Security Guards |
| Kendrec McDade, May 5, 1992 – March 24, 2012 Pasadena, California Shot: Pasadena Police Officers | Rekia Boyd, November 5, 1989 – March 21, 2012 Chicago, Illinois Shot: Off-duty Chicago Police Detective |
| Shereese Francis, 1982 – March 15, 2012 Queens, New York City, New York Suffocated to death: New York City Police Officers | Jersey K. Green, June 17, 1974 – March 12, 2012 Aurora, Illinois Tasered/Electrocuted: Aurora Police Officers |
| Wendell James Allen, December 19, 1991 – March 7, 2012 New Orleans, Louisiana Shot: New Orleans Police Officer | Nehemiah Lazar Dillard, July 29, 1982 – March 5, 2012 Gainesville, Florida Tasered/Electrocuted: Alachua County Sheriff Deputies |
| Dante’ Lamar Price, July 18, 1986 – March 1, 2012 Dayton, Ohio Shot: Ranger Security Guards | Raymond Luther Allen Jr., 1978 – February 29, 2012 Galveston, Texas Tasered/Electrocuted: Galveston Police Officers |
| Manual Levi Loggins Jr., February 22, 1980 – February 7, 2012 San Clemente, Orange County, California Shot: Orange County Sheriff Deputy | Ramarley Graham, April 12, 1993 – February 2, 2012 The Bronx, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer |
| Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., April 12, 1943 – November 19, 2011 White Plains, New York Tasered/Electrocuted/Shot: White Plains Police Officers | Alonzo Ashley, June 10, 1982 – July 18, 2011 Denver, Colorado Tasered/Electrocuted: Denver Police Officers |
| Derek Williams, January 23, 1989 – July 6, 2011 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Blunt Force/Respiratory distress: Milwaukee Police Officers | Raheim Brown, Jr., March 4, 1990 – January 22, 2011 Oakland, California Shot: Oakland Unified School District Police |
| Reginald Doucet, June 3, 1985 – January 14, 2011 Los Angeles, California Shot: Los Angeles Police Officer | Derrick Jones, September 30, 1973 – November 8, 2010 Oakland, California Shot: Oakland Police Officers |
| Danroy “DJ” Henry Jr., October 29, 1990 – October 17, 2010 Pleasantville, New York Shot: Pleasantville Police Officer | Aiyana Mo’Nay Stanley-Jones, July 20, 2002 – May 16, 2010 Detroit, Michigan Shot: Detroit Police Officer |
| Steven Eugene Washington, September 20, 1982 – March 20, 2010 Los Angeles, California Shot: Los Angeles County Police | Aaron Campbell, September 7, 1984 – January 29, 2010 Portland, Oregon Shot: Portland Police Officer |
| Kiwane Carrington, July 14, 1994 – October 9, 2009 Champaign, Illinois Shot: Champaign Police Officer | Victor Steen, November 11, 1991 – October 3, 2009 Pensacola, Florida Tasered/Run over: Pensacola Police Officer |
| Shem Walker, March 18, 1960 – July 11, 2009 Brooklyn, New York Shot: New York City Undercover C-94 Police Officer | Oscar Grant III, February 27, 1986 – January 1, 2009 Oakland, California Shot: BART Police Officer |
| Tarika Wilson, October 30, 1981 – January 4, 2008 Lima, Ohio Shot: Lima Police Officer | DeAunta Terrel Farrow, September 7, 1994 – June 22, 2007 West Memphis, Arkansas Shot: West Memphis (AR) Police Officer |
| Sean Bell, May 23, 1983 – November 25, 2006 Queens, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officers | Kathryn Johnston, June 26, 1914 – November 21, 2006 Atlanta, Georgia Shot: Undercover Atlanta Police Officers |
| Ronald Curtis Madison, March 1, 1965 – September 4, 2005 Danziger Bridge, New Orleans, Louisiana Shot: New Orleans Police Officers | James B. Brissette Jr., November 6, 1987 – September 4, 2005 Danziger Bridge, New Orleans, Louisiana Shot: New Orleans Police Officers |
| Henry “Ace” Glover, October 2, 1973 – September 2, 2005 New Orleans, Louisiana Shot: New Orleans Police Officers | Timothy Stansbury, Jr., November 16, 1984 – January 24, 2004 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer |
| Ousmane Zongo, 1960 – May 22, 2003 New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer | Alberta Spruill, 1946 – May 16, 2003 New York City, New York Stun grenade thrown into her apartment led to a heart attack: New York City Police Officer |
| Kendra Sarie James, December 24, 1981 – May 5, 2003 Portland, Oregon Shot: Portland Police Officer | Orlando Barlow, December 29, 1974 – February 28, 2003 Las Vegas, Nevada Shot: Las Vegas Police Officer |
| Nelson Martinez Mendez, 1977 – August 8, 2001 Bellevue, Washington Shot: Bellevue Police Officer | Timothy DeWayne Thomas Jr., July 25, 1981 – April 7, 2001 Cincinnati, Ohio Shot: Cincinnati Police Patrolman |
| Ronald Beasley, 1964 – June 12, 2000 Dellwood, Missouri Shot: Dellwood Police Officers | Earl Murray, 1964 – June 12, 2000 Dellwood, Missouri Shot: Dellwood Police Officers |
| Patrick Moses Dorismond, February 28, 1974 – March 16, 2000 New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer | Prince Carmen Jones Jr., March 30, 1975 – September 1, 2000 Fairfax County, Virginia Shot: Prince George’s County Police Officer |
| Malcolm Ferguson, October 31, 1976 – March 1, 2000 The Bronx, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer | LaTanya Haggerty, 1973 – June 4, 1999 Chicago, Illinois Shot: Chicago Police Officer |
| Margaret LaVerne Mitchell, 1945 – May 21, 1999 Los Angeles, California Shot: Los Angeles Police Officer | Amadou Diallo, September 2, 1975 – February 4, 1999 The Bronx, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officers |
| Tyisha Shenee Miller, March 9, 1979 – December 28, 1998 Riverside, California Shot: Riverside Police Officers | Dannette “Strawberry” Daniels, January 25, 1966 – June 7, 1997 Newark, New Jersey Shot: Newark Police Officer |
| Frankie Ann Perkins, 1960 – March 22, 1997 Chicago, Illinois Brutal Force/Strangled: Chicago Police Officers | Nicholas Heyward Jr., August 26, 1981 – September 27, 1994 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer |
| Mary Mitchell, 1950 – November 3, 1991 The Bronx, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer | Yvonne Smallwood, July 26, 1959 – December 9, 1987 New York City, New York Severely beaten/Massive blood clot: New York City Police Officers |
| Eleanor Bumpers, August 22, 1918 – October 29, 1984 The Bronx, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer | Michael Jerome Stewart, May 9, 1958 – September 28, 1983 New York City, New York Brutal Force: New York City Transit Police |
| Eula Mae Love, August 8, 1939 – January 3, 1979 Los Angeles, California Shot: Los Angeles County Police Officers | Arthur Miller Jr., 1943 – June 14, 1978 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Chokehold/Strangled: New York City Police Officers |
| Randolph Evans, April 5, 1961 – November 25, 1976 Brooklyn, New York City, New York Shot in head: New York City Police Officer | Barry Gene Evans, August 29, 1958 – February 10, 1976 Los Angeles, California Shot: Los Angeles Police Officers |
| Rita Lloyd, November 2, 1956 – January 27, 1973 New York City, New York Shot: New York City Police Officer | Phillip Lafayette Gibbs, September 1, 1948 – May 15, 1970 Jackson, Mississippi Shot: Jackson State University Police Officers |
| James Earl Green, 1953 – May 15, 1970 Jackson, Mississippi Shot: Jackson State University Police Officers | Henry Dumas, July 20, 1934 – May 23, 1968 Harlem, New York City, New York Shot: New York City Transit Police Officer |
Until the next time,
Remaining … In Our Corner
Loving Me More 