Nationwide 'Say Their Names' Exhibit Unveiled in San Diego

By Alyssa Wilson Published: July 15, 2021

Nationwide ‘Say Their Names’ Exhibit Unveiled in San Diego

FILE - Signs are held up showing Breonna Taylor during a rally in her honor on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Thursday, June 25, 2020. The city of Louisville will pay several million dollars to the mother of Breonna Taylor and install police reforms as part of a settlement of a lawsuit from Taylor’s family, The Associated Press has learned. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

By: Alyssa Wilson

The photos of 200 Black people who lost their lives due to racial injustice, racism and/or police violence was unveiled at the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art.

It’s called “Say Their Names,” and it is a nationwide initiative meant to honor Black lives lost in the struggle against systematic racism, 10 News San Diego reported. The memorial began in Portland, Oregon after nationwide protests over George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis. The San Diego exhibit is the first one south of Los Angeles County.

Local leaders call the memorial a tribute. Civil rights activist Shane Harris said, “It was a very enlightening tribute. But also with some pain and some grief… and some level of hope. I’m focused on history, but I’m also focused on right now,” he said.

The museum’s executive director, Gaidi Finnie, said the opening was a “teachable moment” for all people. “We invite you to come, reflect and think about what you can do to make a difference,” he said.

The San Diego exhibit will specifically remember Demetrius DuBose. The former NFL player was killed by officers from the San Diego Police Department after being shot 12 times in July 1999 during an attempted arrest.

The team that manages the memorial oversees a submission-driven database that includes names, pictures and biographies of victims. Their goal is to facilitate conversations about systemic racism while honoring the lives taken by it.

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.