Gone Too Soon
George Floyd (1973–2020) / May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. – On May 25, 2020, 46-year-old George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by police officer derek chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes during an arrest.
Trayvon Martin (1995–2012) / February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida – On February 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida, by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman while walking back from a convenience store.
Sandra Bland (1987–2015) / July 13, 2015, in Waller County, Texas – On July 10, 2015, 28-year-old Sandra Bland was pulled over for a minor traffic violation in Prairie View, Texas. The stop escalated into a confrontational arrest, and three days later, she was found dead in her jail cell.
Breonna Taylor (1993–2020) / March 13, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky – The 26-year-old emergency medical technician was shot and killed by police officers executing a botched, forcible midnight entry search warrant at her apartment
Emmett Till (1941-1955) was a 14-year-old Black teenager from Chicago who was abducted, tortured, and lynched on August 28, 1955, while visiting family in Money/Drew, Mississippi. Accused of whistling at a white woman in a grocery store, his brutal murder and subsequent acquittal of his killers became a major catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.
Ahmaud Arbery (1994–2020) / February 23, 2020, in Glynn County, Georgia – On February 23, 2020, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was chased and fatally shot while jogging through a residential neighborhood by three white men in pickup trucks, sparking national outcry and leading to federal hate crime convictions.
Tamir Rice (2002–2014) / November 22, 2014, in Cleveland, Ohio – On November 22, 2014, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was playing in a public park with a toy replica gun when a police officer shot him within seconds of arriving on the scene, dying from his injuries the following day.
Elijah McClain (1996–2019) / August 24, 2019, in Aurora, Colorado – On August 24, 2019, 23-year-old massage therapist Elijah McClain was stopped by police while walking home from a convenience store, put in a chokehold, and injected with an excessive dosage of ketamine by paramedics, causing fatal cardiac arrest.
Medgar Evers (1925–1963) / June 12, 1963, in Jackson, Mississippi – On June 12, 1963, civil rights leader and WWII veteran Medgar Evers, the first NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, was assassinated in his driveway by a white supremacist following a night of voting rights advocacy.
Philando Castile (1984–2016) / July 6, 2016, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota – On July 6, 2016, 32-year-old school nutrition worker Philando Castile was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop after politely informing the officer that he was carrying a legally licensed firearm.
Eric Garner (1970–2014) / July 17, 2014, in Staten Island, New York – On July 17, 2014, 43-year-old Eric Garner was killed after an officer placed him in a prohibited chokehold during an arrest for allegedly selling loose cigarettes, repeating “I can’t breathe” eleven times.
Botham Jean (1992–2018) / September 6, 2018, in Dallas, Texas – On September 6, 2018, 26-year-old accountant Botham Jean was fatally shot inside his own apartment by an off-duty police officer who mistakenly entered his home believing it was her own.
Fred Hampton (1948–1969) / December 4, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois – On December 4, 1969, 21-year-old Fred Hampton, chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party and key organizer of the Rainbow Coalition, was shot and killed in his bed during an early-morning law enforcement raid coordinated by the FBI and local police.
Oscar Grant III (1986–2009) / January 1, 2009, in Oakland, California – On January 1, 2009, 22-year-old Oscar Grant III was fatally shot in the back while lying face down and restrained by transit police officers on a train platform at Fruitvale station.
Daunte Wright (1990–2021) / April 11, 2021, in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota – On April 11, 2021, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was fatally shot during a traffic stop by an officer who claimed to have accidentally drawn her handgun instead of her Taser.
Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley / September 15, 1963, in Birmingham, Alabama – On September 15, 1963, four young Black girls—Addie Mae Collins (14), Denise McNair (11), Carole Robertson (14), and Cynthia Wesley (14)—were killed when white supremacists bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church during Sunday school services.
Charleston Church Shooting (June 17, 2015) / Charleston, South Carolina
On June 17, 2015, nine Black worshipers were murdered during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Emanuel AME) by a 21-year-old white supremacist who was welcomed into the session before opening fire in a racially motivated attack.
Clementa C. Pinckney (1973–2015) – The 41-year-old senior pastor of Emanuel AME Church and a state senator in South Carolina, who dedicated his life to public service, community advocacy, and preaching.
Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd (1960–2015) – A 54-year-old veteran librarian who served the Charleston County Public Library system for over 30 years and managed the St. Andrews Regional Library.
Sharonda Coleman-Singleton (1970–2015) – A 45-year-old speech therapist, high school track and field coach, and ordained minister at Emanuel AME.
Tywanza Sanders (1988–2015) – A 26-year-old recent business administration graduate from Allen University, known for his ambition, creativity, and attempts to protect his grandaunt during the attack.
Myra Thompson (1955–2015) – A 59-year-old retired educator and active church leader who was leading the Bible study group on the evening of the shooting.
Ethel Lee Lance (1944–2015) – A 70-year-old longtime custodian at Emanuel AME Church who had worked at the church for over 30 years and was a beloved matriarch in her family.
Depayne Middleton-Doctor (1965–2015) – A 49-year-old former county administrator, admissions coordinator at Southern Wesleyan University, and singer in the church choir.
Susie Jackson (1927–2015) – An 87-year-old devoted church member, choir singer, and community volunteer, who was the oldest victim killed in the attack.
Daniel L. Simmons Sr. (1940–2015) – A 74-year-old retired pastor and Army veteran who regularly attended services and ministered at Emanuel AME.
Sean Bell (1983–2006) / November 25, 2006, in Queens, New York: 23-year-old Sean Bell was killed on the morning of his wedding day when undercover and plainclothes officers fired 50 rounds at his vehicle outside a venue.
Alton Sterling (1979–2016) / July 5, 2016, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 37-year-old Alton Sterling was shot and killed at close range by officers outside a food mart where he was selling CDs.
Stephon Clark (1995–2018) / March 18, 2018, in Sacramento, California: 22-year-old Stephon Clark was shot and killed in his grandmother’s backyard by officers who mistook his cell phone for a gun.
Walter Scott (1965–2015) / April 4, 2015, in North Charleston, South Carolina: 50-year-old Walter Scott was fatally shot in the back while running away from an officer following a traffic stop over a broken brake light.
Atatiana Jefferson (1991–2019) / October 12, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas: 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson was shot and killed through her bedroom window by an officer performing a non-emergency welfare check requested by a neighbor.
Amadou Diallo (1975–1999) / February 4, 1999, in The Bronx, New York: 22-year-old Guinean immigrant Amadou Diallo was killed outside his apartment building when four officers fired 41 shots after mistaking his wallet for a firearm.
Vicente Chin / Vincent Chin (1955–1982) / June 19, 1982, in Highland Park, Michigan: 27-year-old Vincent Chin was beaten to death by two white autoworkers during a period of anti-Asian sentiment in the U.S. auto industry, serving as a landmark catalyst for Asian American civil rights advocacy.