JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman, in collaboration with the City of Jacksonville and the Inaugural Memorial and Soil Collection Community Planning Committee, will host a ceremony to honor the victims and survivors of the tragic 2023 Dollar General shooting in Jacksonville.
This comes as city council members voted unanimously Tuesday night in favor of an emergency resolution ensuring a historical marker would be ready in time for the ceremony.
The marker is set to be unveiled at the event. According to a rendering of the marker, the words “Lives Lost” are near the top. The text beneath shares special words of unity and memory.
“These victims were more than just names, they were beloved family members, friends, and members of our community. Their achievements and legacies stand as a testament to their character and resilience. We honor their memories and stand together in the fight against hate, striving for a future where such tragedies are no more, and where peace and equality prevail.”
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On August 26, 2023, a gunman from Clay County, holding a rifle painted with swastikas opened fire at the Dollar General store just minutes after being confronted at Edward Waters University. At the end of the rampage, A.J. Laguerre, Angela Carr, and Jerrald Gallion were dead. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said writings left by the gunman made it clear he was motivated by racism. Each victim was Black.
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Pittman says the event is going to be held at the intersection of Kings Road and Almeda Street, close to the store’s location. Pittman went on to say the area is being renamed “Kings Road Memorial Park”.
“Every time I talk about it in depth, I still get emotional about it,” Pittman said. “Again, there will be a day that we will be able to shine a light on those families that’s deserving, as well as those survivors. I hope we don’t ever have to go through anything like this again.”
The Jacksonville-based nonprofit, 904ward, is also directly involved in organizing the ceremony. 904ward’s CEO, Kimberly Allen, said the purpose of the soil collection is to symbolically commemorate the victims of racial terror lynchings. Allen said the soil represents the blood of lost victims, and new life.
“The community participates together at the site,” Allen said. “We literally take shovels and put the soil into a glass jar.”
Allen was grateful when she learned the city council voted in favor of the marker for the ceremony.
“You don’t have to directly experience to empathize with people and know that hurt is hurt, hate is hate,” Allen said. “And hate robs us every day of the opportunity to get to know each other better.”
The public is invited to attend the memorial ceremony. It is taking place on Sunday, Aug. 25, one day before the one-year mark of the shooting.