Dr. Alfred O Taylor, z'l. In memory.

 In memory of Dr. Alfred Taylor, who passed away recently at the age of 91. Dr. Taylor was a dedicated community activist, a significant local historian specializing in the life of Arlington's Black communities, church elder, family man, distinguished educator, and a true gentleman; kind, wise, gracious, positive, and a pleasure to be around. A true servant leader. 

May his good works and memory ever be for a blessing.

OUDC 30 | Birmingham, Alabama- 16th Street Baptist Church / Kelly Ingram Park

OUDC Class 30's fellows visited the 16th Street Baptist Church  and Kelly Ingram Park, part of the historic Civil Rights Trail in Birmingham,  Alabama. The church is where four young girls - Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Denise McNair and Carole Robertson, were murdered by a bomb set by a racist KKK member.  Nearby Kelly Ingram Park commemorates the struggles for equality and freedom in Birmingham during the Jim Crow era.

Thanks to all the OUDC fellows and staff for their good work and for the opportunity to be of service to their mission.

 

Heather Heyer Memorial, Charlottesville VA

Street memorial to Heather Heyer, 4th Street at the corner of Water Street, Charlottesville, Virginia.

From Wikipedia: This memorial has been kept up in honor of Heaather Heyer, who was murdered by a car driven into a crowd by James Alex Fields Jr  during the  rightwing Neo-Nazi Unite the Right rally  in Charlottesville on August 12, 2017.. Thirty five other people who were protesting against racism were injured in this attack. 

Fields was convicted in a state court of the first-degree murder of 32-year-old Heather Heyer, eight counts of malicious wounding, and hit and run. He also pled guilty to 29 of 30 federal hate crime charges to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 419 years for the state charges, with an additional life sentence for the federal charges.

Heather Heyer was fatally injured in the attack… Her friends described her "as a passionate advocate for the disenfranchised who was often moved to tears by the world's injustices", and said that she "spoke out against inequality and urged co-workers to be active in their community".According to her mother, Susan Bro, Heyer would ask people of opposing views why they had come to their beliefs. Bro said that they both advocated for Black Lives Matter, which Bro said fights for equal treatment.

"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."- Heather Heyer's mother, Susan Bro.

See also this report by NBC News.

This memorial has been kept up by the community in her honor.  

Never Forget. Compassion, peace, and justice for all.

Dear Aggie - in memoriam

Our dear friend and neighborhood favorite, Aggie the fish crow, passed away sometime Sunday night/ Monday morning. She was a lively bright creature who lived at the Long Branch Nature Center, beloved by many.

Fly free dear Aggie, you will be remembered always with affection. 

I will greatly miss our conversations and fun.

Blueberries and games of keep away.

Stumbling Stones unveiling | Ball-Sellers House, Arlington VA.

At the oldest building in Arlington, VA, Glencarlyn's Ball-Sellers House, there was a solemn and powerful gathering honoring the three enslaved people who had lived in bondage there in the 18th and 19th century. These three "Stumbling Stones" were dedicated by the Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington.

A large contingent of our community leaders and members were on hand to witness, honor, and reflect.

The stumbling stones were inspired by the "Stolpersteine" that have been placed in Germany honoring and marking victims of the Nazi-era Holocaust.

Say the names. Remember.