Family writes names of Black victims of police violence on Halloween headstones in racial justice message

A Kentucky family has listed the names of Black men and women killed by police on Halloween headstones decorating their front yard in a powerful statement on racial inequality.

Maggie McCrery, who created the display at her home near Louisville, has called it the “Black Lives Matter cemetery".

The 25 fake foam headstones hold the names of Black Americans who have died at the hands of law enforcement in states across the US.

Among those names is Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by police during a raid on her Louisville home in March this year.

Next to the tombstones is a green sign that reads “no vacancy”.

“The significance of the 'no vacancy' sign is basically saying that we’ve had enough, that we don’t have room for one more life to be taken, that this has to be the end,” Ms McCrery told Wave 3 News.

“That as a group and as a community we need to all pull together as one to make sure that this does in fact stop.”

Ms McCrery said she was inspired by her multiracial family, adding that it was important for white people as well as Black people to support the racial equality movement.

She said some neighbours had criticised her over the display. But others said the display was positive.

“A lot of people are dealing with the racial inequities and everyone is representing things differently so it was good to see something that was so meaningful,” said neighbour La’Keisha James.

She added: “I just appreciate her [McCrery], just being willing and open and honest and confront our brutal reality".

Ms McCrery said the cemetery was intended as an act of protest and she plans to keep the headstones in place for at least a week after 31 October.

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