As organizers, we have learned to be aware of changes in the material conditions of our communities and stay ready to shift.

We met Dominic Robinson during the summer of 2018 after police conducted illegal searches on Sheriff Rd. NE. Dominic or “Domo” or “Nice” quickly became family. A staunch advocate, he vowed to expose the violent tactics MPD used in the name of addressing violence in his Deanwood neighborhood. He testified at a DC Council hearing about the impact of these tactics. Sadly Dominic lost his life to community violence on July 9, 2019 just a year after giving his testimony. This Fund was created in his memory.

In 2020 we shifted focus and resources to supporting more than 45 families that had lost a loved one to community or police violence. We were able to provide significant financial and in-person support for funerals, burials, vigils and repasts. After the cameras left, we were still there to support children with school supplies, families with food, assistance with utilities and rent, secure emergency housing, transportation, and legal costs through Mutual Aid.

The cost of even small funerals and burials can run around $16,000 and for most families this is incredibly difficult to come up with unexpectedly. As a community, knowing families are struggling to do all of this alone should be met with immediate collective action.

The cost of final arrangements often means families must delay services until they can afford it, or have no services at all. Families don’t expect the death of their young loved ones so very few have life insurance. Even then life insurance companies do not cover justice involved community members and funds take a long time to pay out. Unfortunately crowdfunding pages rarely raise enough funds to meet the need.

D.C.’s Crime Victims Compensation Program often provides funds up to $10,000, but eligibility often depends on criteria that has nothing to do with the family. In some cases even the families of young children who were killed are denied funds based on allegations against other family members. Families with loved ones killed by police are prohibited from receiving these funds and have a much harder time coming up with funds in general.

Those lost to community and police violence as well as their families are part of our community. In difficult times, caring for each other is how we build community. We have paused this critical support until we can establish ongoing financial support. Your donation can help us resume helping DC families in their time of grief