A peace walk commemorating the life of Anna Percy, killed on July 23, 2006 on the same spot where her older brother Mickey (AKA Robert) was killed exactly 4 years earlier. One week earlier I'd walked to the site in Boston's Roxbury, near Ruggles station just off the Southwest Corridor Park, about 1/2 block from the Boston Police Headquarters. I found the site, did my own blessing, and photographed the assemblage of memorial objects: candles, photos, stuffed animals, statues, an invitation to a commemorative walk which I later joined. A black man came to me, asking, “What is this all about?” and I had to explain to him the story as I scantily knew it. The site was along a small street paralleling the Corridor Park, adjacent to a housing complex, and just over a hill or mound from the police station. The event and the location suggests the sorry state of the community and the police especially who have one of the worst conviction rates of all major northern US cities. I was one of the 1 st to arrive at the start point, the spot of the killing in the neighborhood of Mission Hill (most of the shrine was gone, luckily I had photos. A young woman sitting there explained that the city prohibits such displays). Gradually a few more came. One hour rolled by. Recalling the Middle Passage Pilgrimage, and how often and dismaying our slippery schedule was, I was on the edge of leaving for the walk's terminus in Washington Park. The day was clear and chilly. Many wore white t-shirts, some with a photo of the dead Anna “Banana,” as she was lovingly nicknamed, some also with the words, “RIP dear niece and nephew”. I noticed a handsome older black man (all were black except for one man there seemingly independently, me, and 2 men from media, WBZ radio and channel 4 or 5) with a cap and one of those shirts. Thinking this would make a good photo I strolled up to him, asked, and was rejected, told, “No sir, I think not.” A young black man from the Globe interviewed a few of us. I told him I'd read about Anna's killing in the paper the day after it happened, was tremendously moved, and came to the site last week to honor her life and pray. He asked me what I prayed, “not the exact words?” That the violence must stop, the justice begin. That I am expressing solidarity with the people in this community and especially the family. That I am trying to forge a link between communities, mine on the other side of the river and this one. Others told of being close to the young woman (20 years old, with a 4 year old daughter), of having known her since early childhood, of being shocked and unable to accept her death and the craziness of the situation. I did not hear questions about whom and why, but apparently 2 alleged killers have been identified and are now being sought. I can guess that retaliation played a major role. A day after Robert/Mickey was killed, the alleged killer, Robert Moss, 19, was found dead on the grounds of a cemetery. So maybe Moss's friends avenged his death by taking the life of the sister. A pernicious type of community bonding. Disappointed by the refusal of the solid elder gentleman (who gave the opening prayer), I scoured the scene for other photos. And found a group of young women, many between the ages of about 16 and 20, many with babies in carriages. I noticed one wearing a white t-shirt whose back carried a list of names, probably those killed locally in factional violence. She also had a baby. I photographed her, thinking: this is emblematic—the babies, the list of victims, the cycle of poverty, racism, despair, violence. Eventually we set off, about 100 people, most young, most with white shirts, nearly all black. I never again saw the people I'd noticed at the beginning, the Globe man, the 3 white guys, the man I'd tried to photograph. But then I only walked a few blocks, enough to make some photos and feel the spirit. I turned back with duties elsewhere. But I missed what might have been a celebration at the park, joy and gratitude abounding. LINKS About the killings and alleged killers |