May 16, 2020
Aiyana’s Dreams is an annual campaign in May hosted by BLM Philly that honors, recognizes and remembers Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Aiyana was killed by the Detroit Police Department Special Response Team on May 16, 2010 while she slept on her grandmother’s couch. Black girls and women are only 13% of the female population but account for a third of all women shot to death by the police.
The 2020 Day of Action commemorated the 10th year since the death of Aiyana on what would have been her 18th birthday. Local artist, Kimberly Ashby, led a virtual workshop on connecting the art of collage, healing, and letter writing. This event allowed participants the opportunity to grieve community losses like Aiyana’s and offered a moment of healing through letter writing. In remembering Aiyana we also remember the other black women, trans women, femmes, and children lost to us at the hands of the state. We say their names to honor their lives and demand justice.
Black girls and women are only 13% of the female population but account for a third of all women shot to death by the police.
*Source The African American Policy Forum’s #SayHerName campaign*
#Dear18yome
#My18yodreams
#IamAiyana
#AiyanasDreams
