Dear all-
I'm both saddened and relieved to say that I will not be continuing this project in 2008.
It has taken its toll on me in a number of ways, the worse being that I've caught myself feeling more sorry for the fact I had to go visit yet another homicide site than for the fact that another human life, dear to many, was lost.
As some of my readers have commented, this is one of the saddest consequences of these homicides: they become acceptable, routine, just an unfortunate ongoing phenomenon.
I so appreciate all those who have posted comments, reminding us that these victims were part of others' lives. All human life is inherently sacred and valuable, and any loss, especially by violence, is unbearably tragic.
Here's wishing 2008 sees us being more committed to addressing the issues that create the environment where such violence occurs.
Best,
Nic B
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
#99
Willie D. Tatmon III, 22
Killed 9/17/07 5:23 pm
3131 Union St
Gun
I happen to be good friends with this victim's aunt. When I visited this site, one of his relatives pointed: "That's where he tried to run out of. That's his shirt right there"...
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
"No tolerance for shrines"
Twice now, I've heard the opinion that essentially, street memorials are bad news and do more harm than good. The first time was from Tribune reporter Harry Harris, after I asked him if he was interested in looking at this site. More recently, I read in this East Bay Express article, a quote from Councilwoman Jean Quan saying "We have ... no tolerance for shrines because they have become magnets for retaliation. Please let the police and my office know if a shrine appears in your neighborhood; we make arrangements for police and Public Works to take them down."
Although I can't disprove this theory, I'm not sure there is overwhelming evidence to support it, either. As a matter of fact, the Tribune had initially implied the shrine for Anthony Dailey (#42), was partly responsible for the death of Moses Barnett (#46), who was killed near the shrine. Two days later, police stated the following:
"the Friday night fatal shooting of a man at a street shrine for Anthony in West Oakland was not connected to his killing. Killed was Moses Barnett III, 31, of Oakland. He was shot about 9:53 p.m. Friday at the shrine at 31st and Market streets (...) it was coincidental Barnett was killed at the shrine. There is nothing to indicate it's related (to the youth's death)".
In any case, it seems that when someone is killed on the street, it would be natural for loved ones to express grief, at least in part, on the street as well. The problem with Councilwoman Jean Quan's "no tolerance" attitude for street memorials is that it is yet another way to marginalize and silence the victims. The street memorials for Chauncey Bailey (who I liked and respected), can still be seen on 14th Street two weeks after his murder. Why hasn't Quan demanded that they be "taken down"? Probably because Chauncey was, well, somebody. This proverbial double standard speaks volumes about our attitude towards the "other" victims....
#82
Tawfiq GhazaliKilled 8/13/07 8:39 pm
1539 Campbell St.
Gun
"We Muslims Don't Do That"
I spoke with the owner, still wearing a bandage over his injury, before taking pictures. I explained I look for memorials, and he simply responded "we Muslims don't do that stuff"...
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Sunday, July 1, 2007
#55
Kenneth Facen, 22
Killed 6/30/07 2:55 pm
2700 block of 77th Av
Gun
"What's going on here?"
Well, isn't that just what we all want to know? In this case, the question was uttered by an OPD officer with an assault rifle. I had just arrived at this site, chatting with a couple guys on the corner, when about 6 police cruisers pulled up and a swarm of officers got out with shotguns drawn. Apparently, they had received a report of an individual with a gun. "Please stand to the side and don't move". I was happy to oblige, especially since they decided to handcuff the other two guys I was talking with and place them in the patrol cars "for their safety". A group of women then approached & started talking about the situation: "We are just trying to mourn our loved one. That's not a crime!" We started talking and they were quite appreciative when I pointed out the obvious difference in treatment I recieved from the officers as a white man. After getting some good pix of OPD's weapons arsenal, I decided to move on to the next homicide location. No rest for the weary, indeed...
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
#40
Joseph E. Lee, 22
Killed 5/30/07 12:40 am
2100 block of 13th Ave
Gun
"You Gotta Ask His Mom"
I arrived at this site the day after the homicide. It was by far the
largest memorial I had seen to date. There were over 20 young men, all Asian, hanging out in front of the memorial, lighting incense, burning paper money, placing styrofoam containers full of food, and pouring liquor in cups on the ground. As I approached and asked if I could take some pictures, I was coolly told by a couple guys I needed to get the family's consent. Although some there said "It's cool, he's doin' a good thing", I decided to return later.
The following day the entire memorial was gone, presumably removed by police. The cross and tagging were the only remaining evidence of a memorial...
Killed 5/30/07 12:40 am
2100 block of 13th Ave
Gun
"You Gotta Ask His Mom"
I arrived at this site the day after the homicide. It was by far the
largest memorial I had seen to date. There were over 20 young men, all Asian, hanging out in front of the memorial, lighting incense, burning paper money, placing styrofoam containers full of food, and pouring liquor in cups on the ground. As I approached and asked if I could take some pictures, I was coolly told by a couple guys I needed to get the family's consent. Although some there said "It's cool, he's doin' a good thing", I decided to return later.The following day the entire memorial was gone, presumably removed by police. The cross and tagging were the only remaining evidence of a memorial...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
"Tragedy"
I hate that word. Not just because it's inherently bad news. It has completely lost its meaning.
As I compile the information on these "tragedies", I find myself looking for patterns & similarities. For example, the last 2 homicide victims were both Black 21 year-olds killed on Feb 3rd by a gun. But such exercises are silly. I'm sure these 2 individuals were completely different and, well, individuals (one was killed by police, the other by a friend). I think the brain tries to look for things to distract it from the reality at hand.
I remember being at a meeting to discuss funding for violence prevention initiatives. There was a high-ranked public official present who said something to the effect of: "When a homicide happens, it shouldn't be a story buried in the paper somewhere. We should respond according to the tragedy that it is".
I remember thinking it sounded nice, but was essentially bullshit. If we really thought these homicides were the tragedies that they are, our grief would lead us to outrage, solidarity, and mobilization. These tragedies have happened too much and for too long. By and large, we've gotten used to them. I'd even say they've become acceptable. Is it because the lives lost are expendable, or is it because mainstream society can afford to continue without doing more about it?
Probably both.
How did it come to this?
The only appropriate social response to this "plague of killing" (as the SF Chronicle calls it), and to the fact that we've all but abandoned our inner cities nationwide, would be a response and investment of Marshall Plan proportions. Nothing short of this will result in any meaningful, significant and sustainable change, nor convey to our underclass the message that Yes, we do care. Until then, poverty and neglect will continue to reap and sow themselves.
As I compile the information on these "tragedies", I find myself looking for patterns & similarities. For example, the last 2 homicide victims were both Black 21 year-olds killed on Feb 3rd by a gun. But such exercises are silly. I'm sure these 2 individuals were completely different and, well, individuals (one was killed by police, the other by a friend). I think the brain tries to look for things to distract it from the reality at hand.
I remember being at a meeting to discuss funding for violence prevention initiatives. There was a high-ranked public official present who said something to the effect of: "When a homicide happens, it shouldn't be a story buried in the paper somewhere. We should respond according to the tragedy that it is".
I remember thinking it sounded nice, but was essentially bullshit. If we really thought these homicides were the tragedies that they are, our grief would lead us to outrage, solidarity, and mobilization. These tragedies have happened too much and for too long. By and large, we've gotten used to them. I'd even say they've become acceptable. Is it because the lives lost are expendable, or is it because mainstream society can afford to continue without doing more about it?
Probably both.
How did it come to this?
The only appropriate social response to this "plague of killing" (as the SF Chronicle calls it), and to the fact that we've all but abandoned our inner cities nationwide, would be a response and investment of Marshall Plan proportions. Nothing short of this will result in any meaningful, significant and sustainable change, nor convey to our underclass the message that Yes, we do care. Until then, poverty and neglect will continue to reap and sow themselves.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
#6
Jerry Lee Fairley, 48Killed 1/19/07 9:00 pm
7900 block of MacArthur Blvd
Gun
"I stay in the house"
Once again, nothing found at the site of the sixth homicide. I asked a middle-aged woman who was waiting for the bus if she knew of a memorial, but she wasn't even aware of the murder, despite living on that block. "I just stay in the house, baby" she replied sweetly.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Yellow Tape & Holy Ground
Its looking like yellow caution tape is becoming a theme in these photos.
I've been struggling with the ultimate purpose of this blog. I don't want it to be another hand-wringing commentary on the insanity of Oakland's homicides. I was hoping to post these photos without any commentary, an attempt at artistic objectivity (probably an oxymoron). But when visiting each of the first five homicide sites, whether a piece of dirt or sidewalk concrete, I've felt a sense that I'm on holy ground, a sacred place where life passed into death. I don't think photos can express that, ergo this post.
I've been struggling with the ultimate purpose of this blog. I don't want it to be another hand-wringing commentary on the insanity of Oakland's homicides. I was hoping to post these photos without any commentary, an attempt at artistic objectivity (probably an oxymoron). But when visiting each of the first five homicide sites, whether a piece of dirt or sidewalk concrete, I've felt a sense that I'm on holy ground, a sacred place where life passed into death. I don't think photos can express that, ergo this post.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Monday, January 8, 2007
Thursday, January 4, 2007
#1
Verdair Laroy Mosley, 24Killed 1/3/07 11:30 pm
900 block of 89th Ave
Gun
Nothing there...
Went to the site of the first homicide, but found nothing but a wad of Police tape.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
