Mother of Slain Palmetto Man Commemorates Son & Others Whom Died in Police Custody
Permission to reprint article that ran in Sarasota Herald Tribune on February 19, 2025
By Samantha Gholar
USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
KEY POINTS:
• The monument underscores how systemic racism continues to make Black individuals disproportionately vulnerable during police encounters.
• Selwyn Jones, George Floyd’s uncle, emphasizes the importance of the upcoming memorial in Sarasota, describing it as a catalyst for continued dialogue around police accountability.
• Tracey Washington, the mother of Breonte Johnson-Davis, has shown strength in organizing the memorial after her son’s death. Jones describes her as a “warrior” who has refused to remain silent.
• Jones shared the emotional toll of witnessing his nephew’s murder, vowing to fight against police violence to protect other families from similar pain.
• Jones advocates for policies like the Medical Criminal Rights Bill, which would require police to seek medical help for individuals experiencing mental health crises rather than resorting to force.
A commemorative monument honoring victims of police brutality was unveiled in Sarasota on Saturday, February 22 offering a space for remembrance, reflection and renewed calls for justice. The Say Their Names Monument, a temporary exhibit dedicated to preserving and sharing the lives lost to systemic police violence, will make its oneday Florida debut at the Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota on Fruitville Road in Sarasota.
Tracey Washington’s son died after being tased by a Palmetto Police officer. The memorial features shoes donated by the families of those killed, each pair representing a life cut short. Organizers hope the exhibit will bring greater awareness to the ongoing issue of police violence across the United States.
“This monument isn’t just about remembering the victims,” said Tracey Washington, the mother of 36-year-old Breonte Johnson-Davis, who died in November 2023 after being repeatedly tased by Palmetto police officers during a mental health crisis. “It’s about demanding the systemic change that could have saved my son’s life.”
The police officers involved in Johnson-Davis’s death were cleared by their department following an internal investigation supported by the State Attorney’s Office.
His mother, however, has refused to accept that outcome as the final word. Since his death, Washington has become a relentless advocate for implementing the Community. The initiative deploys mental health professionals to respond to crisis calls involving individuals experiencing mental health or substance use challenges — interventions that Washington believes could have prevented her son’s death.
“My son needed medical care, not force,” Washington said. “If the CALL program had been in place, he might still be here today.”
Tasing ‘excessive’ experts say: Criminaler family,” Jones said. “This memorial is more than names on stone. It’s a reminder that every one of those names belonged to someone who deserved to be treated with dignity.”
Jones expressed concern about the cultural and systemic factors contributing to police violence, particularly in the South, where public demonstrations of support often remain small despite the region’s historical significance in the civil rights movement.
“We can’t undo what happened to Breonte,” Washington said. “But we can make sure his death is not in vain. This memorial is a step toward that.”
The unveiling of the Say Their Names Monument took place at the Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road in Sarasota.
Samantha Gholar is the social justice journalist for USA Today Network-Florida. You can reach her at sgholar@gannett.com for news tips and story inquiries.
Permission to reprint article that ran in Sarasota Herald Tribune on February 19, 2025 Mother of slain Palmetto man commemorates son, others who have died in police custody
