Newsletter OCTOBER 2023
Remembering Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson, Laquan McDonald and Ollie Hammonds Part of healing is tending to the layers of loss we have experienced individually and collectively. We experience loss not only from covid-19 and at the hands of police, but also have endured incredible harm and loss in courts, in the jails and carceral facilites, in our communities, and in centuries of dispossession. We seek to name and honor who and what we have lost and all that we are losing--to recognize as grief--and to create and hold space for moving through grief as we nurture resilience and liberation. Grieving is part of healing.
an excerpt from our Grieving is Healing zine
Ollie Hammonds (April 22, 1949 – September 13, 2023): Ollie Hammonds was a husband, father and grandfather. From the beginning, Ollie was involved in the fight for reparations for survivors of police torture, and played a pivotal role in the opening of the Chicago Torture Justice Center in 2017. He is remembered by our community as someone who stood for and fought for survivors. Ollie leaves behind a legacy of strength and resilience, and his contributions to the movement to end all forms of police violence will be remembered for generations to come.
Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson (December 14, 1988-October 12, 2014): On October 12, 2014, Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson was killed by Chicago police officer George Hernandez 8 days before Laquan McDonald was murdered. He was 25 at the time and a father of five. Since then, his mother Dorothy Holmes has been active in the fight not only for justice for her son, but for all mothers and families that have experienced the same pain she has gone through. She established the Ronald Johnson III Memorial Foundation in honor of her son. The foundation hosts annual school supply and Christmas toy drives. Ronald “RonnieMan” Johnson III was killed on 53rd and King Drive, in front of a playground in Washington Park. Today, Dorothy is fighting for this park to be named in Ronald’s honor.
Laquan McDonald (September 25, 1997 – October 20, 2014): On October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. Laquan’s murder sparked public outrage across the city and the nation. “16 shots and a coverup” became a rallying cry in the streets as thousands of people marched to demand accountability and transparency from the city. Laquan should have celebrated his 26th birthday this year. Instead, he is remembered as a catalyst of a movement for justice from police and state violence, and someone who our systems failed at every turn. We celebrate Laquan’s life that was taken far too soon, and we mourn for the life that he should have had. 6337 S. WOODLAWN AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60637 CHICAGOTORTUREJUSTICE.ORG