George Floyd - Killed by a police officer with his knee on George's neck.
Ahmaud Abery - Killed by vigilante.
Tamir Rice - Shot by a police officer.
Sandra Bland - Found hanging in a jail cell.
Freddie Gray - Died while being transported in a police van after having been beaten by police.
Atatiana Jefferson - Shot by a police officer.
Breonna Taylor - Shot by a police officer.
Eric Garner - Died from a police choke hold.
Michael Brown - Shot by a police officer.
Philando Castile - Shot by a police officer.
Alton Sterling - Shot by two police officers
Oscar Grant - Shot by a BART police officer.
John Crawford - Shot by a police officer
Sean Bell - Shot by multiple police officers.
Amadou Diallo - Shot by multiple police officers.
Trayvon Martin - Shot by a vigilante.
Rodney King - Violently beaten by LA police.
Addie Mae Clark
Cynthia Wesley
Carole Robertson
Carol Denise MeNair - all killed by a bombing of a church by the KKK.
Rayshard Brooks - Shot in the back by police.
I have added to the list a few times.
One of the aspects of ageing for me is forgetting people's names. It is endlessly frustrating to me. I forget the name of people I love. I forget the name of people standing right in front of me. I forget names two minutes after I've said them in a conversation. My memory isn't bad otherwise. I forget numbers but that's always been true.
Last night a friend was watching demonstrations in Denver and wondered why the protesters were holding up their arms. I said - oh that might be hands up don't shoot - and I couldn't remember Michael Brown's name. It bothered me. I want to remember these names.
When I was writing this post I thought maybe I'd add ages and circumstance. In the end I wanted to focus on the names. My brain is failing and I probably won't remember but I want to remind myself. Again and again.
This isn't even a complete list.
It has to stop.