Hashtag Quilt

Hashtag

48" x 12" (unfinished)
photographed at Victor Steinbrueck Park in Seattle

The Hashtag is a way for people to communicate content in a clear way by creating searches through categories.   People are using instagram and twitter as a way to communicate outside the normal realm of newspapers or television news in a way that isn’t delayed by print deadlines. 

With this increased access to news, I learned about the sheer quantity of black lives that are killed unnecessarily by police or other authority figures.  Many are teens, many might have been criminals.  All are sad stories and some are truly heartbreaking.  I made this quilt as a way to process my sadness at so many senseless deaths.  Awareness is being raised but the conversation needs to continue about how we can make these killings stop.

Originally, I planned on leaving the bottom edges raw so if needed I could add more names to my memorial quilt, but instead I finished the quilt in the hopes I will not have to add any more names.  (I wrote this description in March 2015.  I'm truly heartbroken that I have to add more names.)

You can search for more information using hashtags on twitter, instagram, or facebook.  Or do an internet search with someone’s name and shooting and it will pull up articles.   By no means is this a complete list. 

#BlackLivesMatter

#HandsUpDontShoot

#NoJusticeNoPeace

#ICantBreathe 

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-police-deaths-20140813-story.html#page=1

 Aaron Campbell

Alonzo Ashley

Amadou Diallo

Angelo Clark

Bo Morrison

Christopher Kissane

Dante Parker

Dante Price

Duane Brown

Eric Garner

Ervin Jefferson

Ezell Ford

James Brissette

Jersey Green

John Crawford

Johnnie Kamahi Warren

Justin Sipp

Kendrec McDade

Kimani Gray

Malissa Williams

Manuel Loggins Jr

Marquez Smart

Melvin Lawhorn

Michael Brown

Michael Lembhard

Miriam Carey

Name Withheld  (Child)

Nehemiah Dillard

Orlando Barlow

Oscar Grant

Ousmane Zongo

Patrick Dorismond

Ramarley Graham

Raymond Allen

Rekia Boyd

Robert Dumas Jr.

Ronald Madison

Sean Bell

Sheron Jackson

Stephon Watts

Steven Eugene Washington

Tamir Rice

Tanisha Anderson

Tendai Nhekairo

Timothy Russell

Timothy Stansbury Jr.

Travares McGill

Trayvon Martin

Victor Steen

Wendell Allen