Say Their Name
Artist Name:
Alec Burns
Luis Jimenez
Noor Earpy
Artist Statement
Violence against black and brown men and women goes as far back as when Christopher Columbus discovered what is now known as the Bahamas, and perhaps even before then. The Spanish conquest of the New World, against Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand’s orders, would lead to the beginning of the slave trade in the West Indies. Throughout modern-history of the Caribbean and in the Southeastern United States, minority white men monetized off their African slaves’ hard labors. In a post-Civil-War, there was a very brief period of reconstruction in the Southeastern United States, when Joseph Rainey, a man born into slavery, became the first black man to serve in the House of Representatives. These enormous victories for the recently freed African-American community would soon be eclipsed by the implementation of Jim Crow Laws, which enacted racial segregation policies throughout the former Confederacy. When the men and women spoke out against such injustices, many marched and protested, and their voices were heard, but the path was not easy. Along the way, many of these protestors exercising their Constitutional protections under the First Amendment were hosed down by firemen and attacked by police dogs. The recent assaults against the black and brown communities are not by any means new, and the heinous murder of George Floyd only proves that the work towards a more just and equitable nation has only just begun.
Burns, Jimenez, Earpy 2
With the long history of police brutality in mind, we wanted to create a moment where people could cry, reflect, and honor the men and women of color who have been killed at the hands of on-duty police officers. Without a doubt, this year has been one of the most challenging for all of us. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has seen the death of nearly 300,000 Americans due to the virus. Minority groups of color are 2.7% more likely to die from this virus than white Americans. Then on May 25, 2020, the nation witnessed the horrific murder of a father of five children by the name of George Floyd for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We have decided to place this memorial at the front of Barclays Center, in the Prospect Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. Many of the George Floyd Protests that took place throughout the five boroughs of the city had a common meeting place here, and this truly speaks to what can happen when we all come together. The Say Their Name memorial is a remembrance piece to say that enough is enough. When you say their name, you remember that each person had died at the hands of the police. Every person has a hope, a dream, and with every death, there is a loss, a loss of life, and a lost potential for what they could have done with their lives. This memorial is for the people to be a lesson for future generations that these acts of violence must no longer be tolerated. It is a statement piece that values lives of color, values action, but above all, the Say Their Name Memorial values justice. Atop the plinth of this memorial is a bed of white gladiolus flowers representing purity and remembrance. Here we remember every individual who has died of police brutality. We recognize their innocence because committing a crime like a counterfeit $20 bill or a busted tail light does not justify murder. The time for justice is now.
Burns, Jimenez, Earpy 3
Say Their Name Memorial Plaque
This Memorial stands in honor of the men and women of color who have been murdered at the hands of on-duty police officers. On June 2020 marches took place throughout the five boroughs of New York City, many of which met here at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn’s own Prospect Heights neighborhood. These events marked a momentous shift in the Black Lives Matter Movement. Around the base of this Memorial are the names of unarmed Americans who have gone too soon. Atop this plinth lies bed of white gladiolus flowers which symbolize remembrance for the departed. The uprising that took place here at Barclays Center accompanies with this memorial will hopefully act as catalyst for increased visibility for persons of color, and echo their calls that these acts of violence must stop. Take a moment for silent reflection, and
SAY. THEIR. NAME.
