Volunteers vow to replace memorial T-shirts taken down overnight Monday

A screen grab from a video posted in the Ashland, Oregon Community Facebook group page in November 2024 by Tony Lxor shows the fence by Railroad Park shorn overnight of about 100 T-shirts commemorating those who died unjustly.
November 20, 2024

About 100 Say Their Names Memorial T-shirts removed from fence along bike path by Railroad Park

By Debora Gordon for Ashland.news

The Say Their Names Memorial was vandalized again sometime overnight Monday night, with dozens of T-shirts removed from the fence along the Central Bike Path by Railroad Park. It’s the sixth time the memorials been vandalized, and the second time in 2024.

The memorial was set up in 2020 by a woman who is an Ashland resident who wanted to be anonymous after George Floyd was murdered by a white police officer in May. She gathered a group of friends and they set it up in the middle of the night. It is called the “Say Their Names Memorial” because the T-shirts bore the names of Black and Brown people who died because of their color, including slain Ashland teen Aidan Ellison.

A couple ride their bikes down the Central Bike Path in July past then-newly mounted shirts at Railroad Park, at the time the fifth time the shirts had been replaced due to vandalism. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

City Councilor Gina DuQuenne said the theft of more than 100 T-shirts either late Monday night or very early Tuesday morning “was very, very sad. 

“Each time, the T-shirts have been torn down and sometimes they were just left on the ground or have been taken or, the last time, there were a few T-shirts in the trash, but most times they just tear them down completely and take them with them.” 

It is not known who the vandals are, or if it has been the same person or persons each time.

DuQuenne notes that no matter how many times there is vandalism, the memorial will be replaced.

“We have replaced each individual’s name on the T-shirt (every time), and we’ve put every person up there and the last person to go on the Say Their Name Memorial was Sonya Massey, who was killed in her home by the police. 

“Last night the shirts were ripped off the fence in their entirety to make their statement,” DuQuenne said Tuesday, adding, with emphasis, “But we cannot be removed.” 

She said there will be a plan to restore the memorial. After receiving multiple texts early Tuesday morning, DuQuenne reached out to a couple of trusted friends, who are very much a part of the Say Their Name Memorial. “Right now we are grieving, and then we will put our heads together and we will take the next steps of what that will look like.”

DuQuenne concluded, “We cannot, and we will not, be removed. The Say Their Name Memorial is more than just a fence. And we will not be removed.”

Debora Gordon is a writer, artist, educator and non-violence activist who recently moved to Ashland from Oakland, California. Email her at [email protected].

Related stories:

Say Their Names memorial in Railroad Park rebuilt for fifth time (July 21, 2024)

Volunteers work together to replace Say Their Names T-shirts (April 3, 2023)

‘Say Their Names’ T-shirt memorial vandalized again, community responds (March 31, 2023)

Say Their Names memorial restored by community within hours of vandalism (Jan. 25, 2023)

Say Their Names memorial along fence at Railroad Park vandalized (Jan. 25, 2023)

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Shrooms on Main: Licensed psilocybin facility offers low dose option

A crowd gathered outside the psychedelic entrance of the Shrooms Cafe in downtown Ashland Friday night, Feb. 7. They were among the first visitors to climb the long flight of stairs that lead to a large open room filled with music and colored lights. It was opening night at Shrooms Cafe at 139 E. Main Street, next door to O’Ryans Irish Pub. 

Read More »

Ashland native finishes Yukon Quest 450 Dog Sled Race

Erik Oline, a 2017 graduate of Ashland High School, finished the Yukon Quest 450 dog sled race Feb. 6. The race started and finished in Teslin, Canada, and covered 450 miles through the beautiful wintry Yukon Territory. Erik brought home the “Red Lantern” award, which is given to the final finisher of the race.

Read More »

Stiff winds likely followed by rain showers over coming days

Ashland’s hiatus of dry days ends with five straight days with rain showers in the forecast, according to a National Weather Service forecast as of Wednesday evening. Showers are expected during the day Thursday and Friday, in the evening Saturday, night and day Sunday and during Monday’s Presidents Day holiday day.

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Klamath Bird Observatory Experience the wonders of Souteast Brazil Ashland Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Southern Oregon

Latest posts

Crossword: Peak Performances

This week’s crossword: roles, runs and readings at a nearby mountain. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week’s crossword: “Camelot 2025 #02.” More crosswords under the Culture menu.

Read More >

Shrooms on Main: Licensed psilocybin facility offers low dose option

A crowd gathered outside the psychedelic entrance of the Shrooms Cafe in downtown Ashland Friday night, Feb. 7. They were among the first visitors to climb the long flight of stairs that lead to a large open room filled with music and colored lights. It was opening night at Shrooms Cafe at 139 E. Main Street, next door to O’Ryans Irish Pub. 

Read More >

Ashland native finishes Yukon Quest 450 Dog Sled Race

Erik Oline, a 2017 graduate of Ashland High School, finished the Yukon Quest 450 dog sled race Feb. 6. The race started and finished in Teslin, Canada, and covered 450 miles through the beautiful wintry Yukon Territory. Erik brought home the “Red Lantern” award, which is given to the final finisher of the race.

Read More >

Obituary: David Brian Shaw

Obituary: David Shaw, 78, former executive director of the Peter Britt Festivals in Jacksonville, founder of Artbeat Inc., and facilitator of nonprofit Mt. Ashland Ski Area founding, died Feb. 1, 2025.

Read More >

Stiff winds likely followed by rain showers over coming days

Ashland’s hiatus of dry days ends with five straight days with rain showers in the forecast, according to a National Weather Service forecast as of Wednesday evening. Showers are expected during the day Thursday and Friday, in the evening Saturday, night and day Sunday and during Monday’s Presidents Day holiday day.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Ashland Parks and Recreation Ashland Oregon
City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Explore More...

This week's crossword: roles, runs and readings at a nearby mountain. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week's crossword: "Camelot 2025 #02." More crosswords under the Culture menu.
A crowd gathered outside the psychedelic entrance of the Shrooms Cafe in downtown Ashland Friday night, Feb. 7. They were among the first visitors to climb the long flight of stairs that lead to a large open room filled with music and colored lights. It was opening night at Shrooms Cafe at 139 E. Main Street, next door to O'Ryans Irish Pub. 
Herbert Rothschild: Regarding the evisceration of USAID, I didn’t expect any better from Musk or Trump. What I’m watching closely is how Christian leaders respond.
Erik Oline, a 2017 graduate of Ashland High School, finished the Yukon Quest 450 dog sled race Feb. 6. The race started and finished in Teslin, Canada, and covered 450 miles through the beautiful wintry Yukon Territory. Erik brought home the "Red Lantern" award, which is given to the final finisher of the race.
The city of Ashland’s police volunteer program, which had around 30 volunteers before the COVID pandemic, now has only around 10. Volunteers help put extra eyes on patrol areas such as Lithia Park and the bike path and help manage special events such as parades.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.