by Bill Batson

During a rally of more than 1,000 residents of all races and ages held on June 1 outside the Nyack Center, the crowd took a silent knee for 9 minutes. They were rounding up by 14 seconds the time that Minneapolis, Minnesota Police Officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on the neck of an unarmed, handcuffed George Floyd, ultimately killing him.

But to understand the convulsion of anger and anguish that this murder has produced across the country, you need to consider another number: 400. Last year was the 400th anniversary of the moment when 20 enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. The nonchalant manner of Floyd’s killer was more akin to a slave master than an officer of the law. Four centuries of slavery, Jim Crow segregation, political assassinations, and mass incarceration in America have found their modern expression. Our lynchings are now broadcast.

In honor of the ancestors that have endured the relentless scourge of racism on American soil, I’ve listed one name of an unarmed African American killed by the police for each year from 1619 to 2019: 400 years of George Floyds. Speaking at yesterday’s youth-led demonstration, Nyack Pastor Everett L. Newtown said it took the COVID-19 pandemic to uncover the pandemic of racism. Ironically, the community that has the highest fatality rate when exposed to the coronavirus has engaged in mass-mobilization, where keeping social distance is difficult, to demand justice for George Floyd. (Heartened by how many masks were worn at yesterday’s protest. Well over 80%!) This is not the first, nor will it be the last time that African American sacrifice has challenged our country to hold true to its founding principals of liberty and justice for all.

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Seven nights of protest and unrest have followed in the aftermath of Floyd’s death. The lawlessness of counterproductive rioting rising from lawless environments seeded by a litany of recent murders of unarmed African Americans, with some lives stolen by those sworn to uphold the law. The National Guard has been dispatched to over 20 states. Significant protests are being held in over 120 cities. It’s as if our nation went from quarantine to chaos in 9 seconds. 400 years and 9 seconds.

Please note: The list was not easy to compile. According to the Washington Post, the federal government does not compile data on how many people are shot by police officers each year. Think about that. Thanks to my colleague, Clyde Lederman, I found MappingPoliceViolence.org, which draws from 3 databases, FatalEncounters.org, the U.S. Police Shootings Database, and KilledbyPolice.net.

1. James E. Lewis, 1/1/17, Springfield, MO
2. Trevon Johnson, 1/1/17, Villa Park, IL
3. Mark Guirguis, 1/1/17, Allen, TX
4. James Owens, 1/3/17 Brooklyn NY
5. Ruben Lamont Randolph, 1/4/17 Pomona CA
6. Muhammad Abdul Muhaymin, 1/4/17 Phoenix AZ
7. Jamal Parks, 1/6/17 Deerfield IL
8. JR Williams, 1/9/17 Phoenix AZ
9. Davion Henderson, 1/9/17 St. Louis MO
10. Darrion M. Barnhill, 1/10/17 Reagan TN
11. Jahlire Nicholson, 1/14/17 Jamaica NY
12. Herbert Johnson, 1/15/17 Chicago IL
13. Mohammad Azim Doudzai, 1/16/17 Herndon VA
14. Marquis Thomas, 1/18/17 Gary IN
15. David Stroughter, 1/18/17 Los Angeles CA
16. Joshua D. Jones, 1/20/17 Chicago IL
17. Sean Revels, 1/20/17 Springhill LA
18. Ronnie Lee Shorter, 1/21/17 Greenville MS
19. Christopher Mark Thompkins, 1/22/17 Larimer PA
20. Armond Jairon Brown, 1/23/17 Kenner LA
21. Sabin Marcus Jones, 1/24/17 South Hill VA
22. Arties Manning III, 1/24/17 New Orleans LA
23. Kevin Darnell Washington,  1/25/17 Southaven MS
24. Deaundre Phillips, 1/26/17 Atlanta GA
25. Mi’Chance Dunlap-Gittens, 1/28/17 Des Moines WA
26. Marvin Washington, 1/30/17 Kiowa OK
27. Solomon Picart, 1/31/17 Los Angeles CA
28. Tavis Crane,  2/1/17 Arlington TX
29. Michael Russo, 2/1/17 Highland CA
30. Marquez Warren, 2/1/17 Alameda CA
31. Jamake Cason Thomas, 2/3/17 Lumberton NC
32. Johnnie J. Harris Jr., 2/4/17 Kansas City MO
33. Nana Adomako, 2/5/17 Fremont CA
34. Shelly Porter III, 2/5/17 Englewood OH
35. Jerome Keith Allen, 2/6/17 Jacksonville FL
36. Cole Wooley, 2/6/17 Commerce City CO
37. Curtis Jamal Deal, 2/7/17 Baltimore MD
38. Wardel Davis, 2/7/17 Buffalo NY
39. Chad Robertson, 2/8/17 Chicago IL
40. Quanice Derrick Hayes, 2/9/17 Portland OR
41. Carlos Keith Blackman, 2/10/17 Greensboro NC
42. Jocques Scott Clemmons, 2/10/17 Nashville TN
43. Darryl L. Fuqua, 2/10/17 Bridgeton NJ
44. Alonzo E. Ashley Jr., 2/11/17 Kansas City MO
45. Willard Eugene Scott Jr., 2/12/17 Durham NC
46. Raynard Burton, 2/13/17 Detroit MI
47. Kenneth Lee Bailey Jr., 2/15/17 Durham NC
48. Kadeem Torres, 2/16/17 Brooklyn NY
49. Jimmy Briggs, 2/16/17 Gardena CA
50. Jean R. Valescot, 2/17/17 Big Lake AK
51. Keo Crockett, 2/18/17 Efland NC
52. Chance David Baker, 2/18/17 Portland ME
53. Christopher Carter, 2/19/17 Kent OH
54. Don Clark, 2/21/17 St. Louis MO
55. Morgan Rankins, 2/22/17 Austin TX
56. Medger Blake, 2/22/17 Conroe TX
57. Timothy Lionel Williams, 2/23/17 Washington DC
58. Steven Valenzuela, 2/23/17 Reno NV
59. Gregory Lamont Childress, 2/24/17 Little Rock AR
60. Lorenzo Antoine Cruz, 2/25/17 Rocklin CA
61. Christopher Redding Jr.,  2/28/17 Orlando FL
62. Earl Donnell Riley, 2/28/17 Houston TX
63. Epthen Lamont Johnson, 3/1/17 Lufkin TX
64. Dennis Todd Rogers, 3/7/17 Ladera Heights CA
65. Clifton Antwone Watts, 3/8/17 Roanoke VA
66. Sherida Davis, 3/11/17 Milwaukee WI
67. Brandon Wiley, 3/11/17 Baton Rouge LA
68. Rashad Daquan Opher, 3/13/17 Gwynn Oak MD
69. Luke O. Stewart, 3/13/17 Euclid OH
70. Cordale Quinn Handy, 3/15/17 Saint Paul MN
71. Jermaine Claybrooks, 3/16/17 Milwaukee WI
72. Patrick Earl Gatson, 3/16/17 Fayetteville NC
73. Frederick Ricardo Brown, 3/16/17 Warren MI
74. Rodney James Hess, 3/16/17 Alamo TN
75. Desmond Phillips, 3/17/17 Chico CA
76. Trevor Allen Brice Gingras, 3/19/17 Cape Canaveral FL
77. Alteria Woods, 3/19/17 Vero Beach FL
78. Clarence Duane Huderle, 3/20/17 Warren MN
79. Don Johnson, 3/22/17 Crowley LA
80. Eddie Davis, 3/23/17 Sheridan AR
81. William Stokes, 3/23/17 Federal Way WA
82. Reno Joseph Owens Jr., 3/24/17 Baltimore MD
83. Leroy Brown Jr., 3/29/17 New Castle DE
84. Marcus Williams, 4/1/17 Cantonment FL
85. Kenneth Francis, 4/6/17 Newark NJ
86. Richard Xavier Summers, 4/6/17 Largo FL
87. Christopher Wade, 4/6/17 Westerville OH
88. Jarrad Hill, 4/10/17 Houston TX
89. Kenneth Johnson, 4/12/17 Reading PA
90. Zelalem Eshetu Ewnetu, 4/12/17 Los Angeles CA
91. Roderick Ronall Taylor, 4/15/17 Houston TX
92. Olugbalah Ridley, 4/15/17 West Memphis AR
93. Keith Price, 4/19/17 Wilmington DE
94. Damarius Butts, 4/20/17 Seattle WA
95. William D. Spates, 4/22/17 Portage IN
96. Daezion Turner, 4/24/17 Killeen TX
97. Kendell Wilson, 4/24/17 Houston TX
98. Gavin Williams, 4/25/17 Lizella GA
99. Hakim A. McNair,  4/25/17 Newark NJ
100. Selwyn Aubrey Hall, 4/26/17 Jacksonville FL
101. Burgon Sealy Jr., 4/27/17 Bear DE
102. Avery Richard, 4/28/17 Atlanta GA
103. Caleb “CJ” Jackson Jr., 4/29/17 Newport News VA
104. Jordan Edwards, 4/29/17 Balch Springs TX
105. Samir Nicholson, 4/29/17 East Orange NJ
106. James Edward Ray, 4/30/17 Detroit MI
107. Derrick Ronald Woolbright, 5/1/17 Jacksonville FL
108. Rodney L. Henderson, 5/2/17 Irving TX
109. Malik Carey, 5/3/17 Grand Rapids MI
110. Tizaya Jordan-Robinson, 5/5/17 Braintree MA
111. Cedric Jamal Mifflin, 5/7/17 Phenix City AL
112. Landon Nobles, 5/7/17 Austin TX
113. Mikel Laney Mcintyre, 5/8/17 Rancho Cordova CA
114. Terry Percy Campbell, 5/9/17 Jacksonville FL
115. Robin White, 5/10/17 St. Louis MO
116. Terrell Kyreem Johnson, 5/10/17 Portland OR
117. Ronald Singletary, 5/12/17 Philadelphia PA
118. Tywon Salters, 5/13/17 Geneva IL
119. Clarence E. Coats Jr5/13/17 Columbia MO
120. Tashii S. Brown Black 5/14/17 Las Vegas NV
121. Jonie Block Black 5/15/17 Phoenix AZ
122. Jaison Fitzgerald Black 5/15/17 Richmond VA
123. Tristan Long, 5/16/17 Tempe AZ
124. Rashad S. Wells Jr., 5/17/17 Chicago IL
125. Deonte Marces Giles, 5/18/17 Columbus GA
126. Jayden Young, 5/19/17 Glendale AZ
127. Mark Roshawn Adkins, 5/20/17 Lemon Grove CA
128. Jimmie Montel Sanders, 5/21/17 Appleton WI
129. DeRicco Devante Holden, 5/21/17 Converse LA
130. Maurice Ifill, 5/22/17 Wilmington DE
131. Adam Trammell, 5/25/17 West Milwaukee WI
132. Darius Smith, 5/26/17 Arcadia CA
133. Jamie J. Robinson, 5/26/17 St. Louis MO
134. Shaquian Tyrone Johnson, 5/28/17 Cary NC
135. Marc Brandon Davis, 6/2/17 Petal MS
136. Charles Darnell Baker Jr., 6/2/17 Abbeville AL
137. Corsean Lewis, 6/2/17 Chicago IL
138. Quinton Cortez Samuel, 6/5/17 Dothan AL
139. John Spaulding, 6/5/17 Miami FL
140. Adrian Maurice Hardeman, 6/5/17 Shiner TX
141. David Thomas Jones, 6/8/17 Philadelphia PA
142. Joshua Anthony Barre, 6/9/17 Tulsa OK
143. Avery D. Metrejean, 6/12/17 Broussard LA
144. Chazz Brown, 6/13/17 St. Louis MO
145. Terry Williams, 6/13/17 Milwaukee WI
146. Jordan Frazier, 6/13/17 Baton Rouge LA
147. Joshua Terrell Crawford, 6/16/17 Tuscaloosa AL
148. Charleena Lyles, 6/18/17 Seattle WA
149. Giovonn Joseph-McDade, 6/24/17 Kent WA
150. Deveonte Johnson, 6/25/17 Oklahoma City OK
151. Lawrence Heyward Jr., 6/25/17 North Charleston SC
152. Phillip Clark, 6/27/17 Baton Rouge LA
153. Rodney L. Cole, 6/28/17 Nashville TN
154. Joel Gatu Muturi, 6/29/17 Marietta GA
155. Aaron Bailey, 6/29/17 Indianapolis IN
156. Quintec Locke, 7/1/17 Chicago IL
157. David Leon Bell, 7/3/17 Brunswick GA
158. Zepp Crouchet, 7/3/17 Antioch CA
159. Dana D. Dubose, 7/4/17 Vandalia OH
160. Alexander Bonds, 7/5/17 Bronx NY
161. DeJuan Guillory, 7/6/17 Mamou LA
162. Brian Easley, 7/7/17 Marietta GA
163. Travis Williams, 7/7/17 Clarksdale MS
164. Euree Lee Martin, 7/7/17 Deepstep GA
165. Kareem Ali Nadir Jones, 7/7/17 Franklinton OH
166. Cardell Vance III, 7/8/17 Crescent City FL
167. Edward Earl Taylor, 7/9/17 Akron OH
168. Michael T. Ward, 7/9/17 Salisbury MD
169. Antonio Garcia Jr., 7/11/17 Leavenworth KS
170. Vaughn Shaw, 7/15/17 Moreno Valley CA
171. India Nelson, 7/17/17 Norfolk VA
172. Isaiah Perkins, 7/20/17 St. Louis MO
173. Aries Clark, 7/25/17 Marion AR
174. Kesharn K. Burney, 7/26/17 Dayton OH
175. Deltra Henderson, 7/27/17 Homer LA
176. Rodney E. Jacobs, 7/28/17 Kansas City MO
177. Jashod Carter, 7/29/17 Norco CA
178. Isaiah Tucker, 7/31/17 Oshkosh WI
179. Dwayne Jeune, 7/31/17 Brooklyn NY
180. Christopher E. Clapp, 8/1/17 Catonsville MD
181. Kerry Demars Bradley,  8/1/17 Waco TX
182. Preston Thornton, 8/2/17 Coushatta LA
183. Kemonte Cobbs, 8/2/17 Gary IN
184. Quintas Harris, 8/2/17 Decatur GA
185. James Lacy, 8/4/17 San Diego CA
186. Aaron Payne, 8/4/17 Myrtle Beach SC
187. Thomas Williams, 8/5/17 Fort Lauderdale FL
188. Danatae Franklin, 8/6/17 Kansas City MO
189. Darreon J. Neal, 8/8/17 Dolton IL
190. Eugene Nelson, 8/9/17 Kent WA
191. Tyrease Carlyle, 8/11/17 Philadelphia PA
192. Patrick Harmon, 8/13/17 Salt Lake City UT
193. Hussein D. Hassan, 8/13/17 Kennewick WA
194. Herbert Gilbert, 8/15/17 Thomasville GA
195. Kenneth Lewis, 8/16/17 Los Angeles CA
196. Derrick Rashard Brabham, 8/18/17 Jacksonville FL
197. Keshawn Wilson, 8/20/17 Brick NJ
198. Nathaniel Richmond, 8/21/17 Steubenville OH
199. Kenny “Kiwi” Herring, 8/22/17 St. Louis MO
200. Scott Mayfield, 8/24/17 Orange NJ
201. Devin Howell,  8/25/17 Marietta GA
202. Charles David Robinson, 8/25/17 Woodville GA
203. Michael Malik Kawon Lee, 8/26/17 Pine Bluff AR
204. Demond Grimes, 8/26/17 Detroit MI
205. William Matthew Holmes, 8/28/17 Moundridge KS
206. Anthony Antonio Ford,  8/28/17 Miami FL
207. Aaron Brandon, 8/29/17 Hazel Crest IL
208. Ricky Ard, 8/29/17 Evansville IN
209. Jarvis Hayes, 9/3/17 Myrtle Beach SC
210. Antwon “Blind Mack” Springer, 9/3/17 Milwaukee WI
211. Name withheld by police, 9/4/17 Chicago IL
212. Miguel Richards, 9/6/17 Bronx NY
213. Eric Arnold, 9/7/17 Sacramento CA
214. Ervin Eugene Sweat Jr., 9/9/17 Arcata CA
215. Brian Ziro, 9/17/17 West Milford WV
216. Haraesheo Milton Rice, 9/20/17 Huntsville AL
217. Edward “Eddie” Russell Jr. Black 9/20/17 Peoria IL
218. Damian Murray, 9/24/17 San Francisco CA
219. Anthony Robinson, 9/25/17 Palmetto FL
220. Demilo Trayvon Hodge, 9/27/17 Berkeley CA
221. Name withheld by police, 9/28/17 Oakland CA
222. Dominique Tyrell White, 9/28/17 Topeka KS
223. Stephen Gayle, 9/28/17 Temple TX
224. Tyrell Dewayne Pinkston, 9/30/17 Palatka FL
225. Marquis “Bubba” Jones, 10/1/17 Burlington IA
226. Marquinton T. Brooks, 10/2/17 West Monroe LA
227. Sandra Guardiola aka Sandy Guardiola, 10/4/17 Canandaigua NY
228. Jomekia Turner, 10/4/17 Thomasville GA
229. Corey Antonio Boykin Jr., 10/8/17 Louisville KY
230. Cariann Denise Hithon, 10/8/17 Miami Beach FL
231. John Robert Payne, 10/12/17 Birmingham AL
232. J.C. Hawkins Jr., 10/13/17 Charlottesville VA
233. Eric Garrison, 10/16/17 Baltimore MD
234. DeAndre Bethea, 10/17/17 Hampton VA
235. Dewboy Lister, 10/20/17 Corpus Christi TX
236. Armando Frank, 10/20/17 Mansura LA
237. Jamarco McShann, 10/20/17 Moraine OH
238. Darius Miller Jr., 10/23/17 Baltimore MD
239. Timothy Earl Jackson, 10/25/17 St. Petersburg FL
240. Antonio Levison, 10/25/17 Cleveland OH
241. Jerry Richardson, 10/27/17 Indiantown FL
242. Eric Higgs, 10/29/17 Senatobia MS
243. Kalin Jackson, 10/29/17 King of Prussi PA
244. Dante Holden, 10/30/17 Newark NJ
245. Tymyr Wilson, 10/30/17 Newark NJ
246. Luvelle Kennon, 10/31/17 Riverside CA
247. Vincent Jewan Hall,  10/31/17 Arlington TX
248. Raymond Davis, 11/4/17 Columbus MS
249. Augustus Crawford, 11/4/17 Bakersfield CA
250. Eddie Patterson, 11/5/17 Rockford IL
251. Jarrett Blakely Varnado, 11/7/17 Las Vegas NV
252. Paul Jones III, 11/9/17 Salisbury NC
253. Thomas Aikens, 11/10/17 Phoenix AZ
254. John Bazemore III, 11/10/17 Denver CO
255. Name withheld by police, 11/10/17 Edwards MS
256. Phillip Pitts, 11/11/17 Las Vegas NV
257. Calvin Toney, 11/13/17 Baton Rouge LA
258. Cornell Lockhart, 11/13/17 Bronx NY
259. Keian Jones, 11/14/17 Stockton CA
260. Antonio T. Green, 11/14/17 Waverly VA
261. Name withheld by police, 11/15/17 Jackson MS
262. Chester Randolph Ward, 11/16/17 Brazoria TX
263. Shady Bell Jr., 11/17/17 West Monroe LA
264. Lawrence Hawkins, 11/18/17 Prichard AL
265. Jackie Germaine Ragland, 11/23/17 Pell City AL
266. Rehyen Bost-McMurray , 11/23/17 St. Louis MO
267. Name withheld by police, 11/25/17 Detroit MI
268. Aquoness Cathery,  11/30/17 Chicago IL
269. Rufus Cedric Baker, 12/1/17 Hendersonville NC
270. Keita O’Neil, 12/1/17 San Francisco CA
271. David Facen, 12/6/17 Miami FL
272. Jean Pedro Pierre, 12/6/17 Lauderdale Lakes FL
273. Frederick Douglas Wilburn Jr. Black 12/7/17 Tucson AZ
274. Ira Crawford, 12/10/17 Mobile AL
275. Zoe Dowdell, 2/14/17 New Britain CT
276. Willie Floyd McCord, 12/17/17 Bremerton WA
277. Todd A. Stone, 12/18/17 Oak Park MI
278. Shaquille Rogers, 12/19/17 The Colony TX
279. Devan Rachad Stevenson, 12/22/17 Chesnee SC
280. Dennis Plowden, 12/27/17 Philadelphia PA
281. Corey Bailey, 12/28/17 Elkhart IN
282. Isaiah Christian Green, 12/28/17 Dover PA

The database did not include location and dates for the following records.

283. Malik Williams
284. Frederick Perkins
285. Antonio Smith
286. Deangelo Rashad Martin
287. Elray Barber
288. Romir Talley
289. Steven DeWayne Haizlip
290. Kentrey Marquis Witherspoon
291. Emanuel Johnson
292. Mohamed Ahemed Al-Hashemi
293. Louis Patrick Veal
294. Jamee Christopher Deonte Johnson
295. Cortez Bufford
296. Romello Barnes
297. Taveonte Art Emmanuel
298. Kreen Cornell Bateman
299. Montay Steven Penning
300. Francine Graham
301. David N. Anderson
302. Antonio Nichols
303. Alvern Donell Walker
304. Lamar Alexander
305. Ronnie Jerome Hill
306. Demetrius Williams
307. Cameron Lamb
308. Miguel Russo
309. Jerric Harris
310. Alejandro Betancourt Mendoza
311. Mauro Carrillo
312. Frank Ordonez
313. Neil Lyle Chiago
314. Kelly Michael Stephens
315. John Bott
316. Patrick Alden
317. Troy Kirk
318. Heriberto Rodriguez
319. John Lowell Dollen
320. Christopher Camacho
321. Lori Jean Canada
322. Harvey Cantrell
323. David A. White
324. Richard Ruiz
325. Kenneth Collins
326. Brian Lee Mullen
327. Jason Elliot Waterhouse
328. Tyler Hall
329. Paul Jarvis
330. Erik Lee
331. Dominick Matt
332. Michael Lorenzo Dean
333. Jimmie Phillips
334. Yemerson Melendez
335. Eliborio Rodriguez
336. Derrick Everett
337. Gerardo Martinez Ramirez
338. Micduff Lamarco Robinson
339. Nathaniel Pinnock
340. Ariane Lamont McCree
341. Estevon Cruz
342. Lance Edward Smith
343. Kenneth Simeus
344. Luis Cardona
345. Christopher Terrell Willis
346. Alex Flores
347. Raul Antonio Menjivar Saabedra
348. Dante Redmond Jones
349. Mark Sheppard
350. Treon McCoy
351. Omar Enrique Garcia
352. Roy McAllister
353. Michael Kahalehoe
354. Tammy Pierce
355. James Aubrey
356. Eric Reason
357. Andrew Joseph Roberts
358. Daniel Thomas Childers
359. Shelby Gazaway
360. Gerald Newton Allen
361. Eddie Ray Maxwell
362. Treva Smutherman
363. Raul Casas Campos
364. Maurice Brown
365. Daniel Munoz
366. Michael Austin
367. Jose Gallegos
368. Luis Fino Nabarrette
369. Benjamin Diaz
370. Luis Morales-Camacho
371. Edward Roe
372. John Feggins
373. Arturo Moreno
374. Dana Sherrod Fletcher
375. Earnest Easterling
376. Luis Arreguin-Lara
377. Johnathan Wayne Slattery
378. Kwesi Ashun
379. Raymond V. Tahod
380. Anthony Viadero
381. Matthew James Fleming
382. Delfon Garnell Kinney Sr.
383. Victor Hernandez
384. David W. Shafer
385. Dominador Araquel Rabot
386. Adam Martinez
387. Claudia Nadia Rodriguez
388. Christopher McCorvey
389. Steven Day
390. Ruben Escudero
391. Rickey Leonard Harris
392. David Sanders
393. Christopher Dequan Crosby
394. Allan Feliz
395. Cameron L. Bennett
396. Lazzeri James Frazier
397. Nasheem Prioleau
398. Akinyia Malik Jerome Gray
399. Victor Ervin Jarvis
400. Christopher L. Brown

Photo credit: Kate McCabe

Bill Batson is an activist, artist and writer who lives and sketches in Nyack, NY. Nyack Sketch Log: “Nyack Sketch Log: 400 George Floyds” © 2020 Bill Batson.  To see more, visit billbatsonarts.com