Coming to Jacksonville in June 2021
Inspired by similar grassroots memorials displayed across the country, a group of local artists and activists recently received a grant from the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville to install a temporary memorial dedicated to victims of racial violence in Jacksonville. The exhibit will also include victims from the State of Florida and the broader national communities. Victims compiled from a national database were collected in partnership with the ”Say Their Names Memorial” national exhibit along with a local database collected from organizations such as Families of Slain Children, JASMYN, Florida Rising, and the Jacksonville chapter of Black Lives Matter.
The memorial will open in mid-June with a vigil and run for a total of 10-14 days. The intention is to provide the community space to collectively mourn and grieve the loss of each victim and provide families access to the support they need to process their unresolved trauma. The collaborative seeks to create a sacred space, honoring Black and Brown lives taken by racial violence. Programming during the event centers on reflection, understanding the impact of racial violence on our community, and facilitating conversations around systemic racism and its effects on the Black and Brown community at large.
Local artists and activists Laura Riggs, Taryn “Love
Reigns” Wharwood, Hope McMath, and Shawana Brooks are responsible for overseeing the planning of the memorial and programming in concert with Families of Slain Children, Florida Rising, and JASMYN. They intend to transport the exhibit to various locations around the city of Jacksonville.
To stay updated on the sites planned for the memorial, please visit saytheirnamesjax.com.
