August 21, 2008
Bringing Justice Home: A March for Rashawn
Three years after the brutal murder of her son, Desire Brazell literally sees him everywhere. Much of the city is covered in posters offering a $12,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Rashawn’s killer; the Nostrand Avenue subway station where his dismembered remains were discovered in February 2005, the streets of Greenwich Village where he enjoyed nights out with friends and even on several Jersey-bound PATH trains. Everywhere but in the bustling Bushwick neighborhood that he called home.
With each day that witnesses and would-be informants remain silent about the crime, the callous murderer that killed her 19-year old son gains a little more time to elude justice. So, after three years without a single suspect in custody, Desire believes that the time has come for the Bushwick community that embraced and nurtured Rashawn to aid in tracking down his killer. On Saturday, August 30th, Desire will be directing an hour-long flyering session geared toward soliciting tips from neighbors and commuters who might have information about what happened on Valentine’s day of 2005 when her son left their Gates Avenue apartment, never to be seen again. Her message is a simple one: if you want justice, you have to start at home.
And Desire will not be alone. After posting reward flyers throughout the area where Rashawn was raised, Desire will lead NYPD officers, elected officials, activists and concerned community members in a march to the subway stop where her son’s severed body parts were found to proclaim that no parent should ever lose their child to homophobic violence or intolerance of any kind. Also joining her will be the parents and families of gay and lesbian people of color from New York and New Jersey who have been jailed, assaulted, killed or treated unjustly because of their identities.
Desire is supported by the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund, which honors the teen’s legacy by granting $1500 scholarships annually to college-bound NYC students committed to the fight against racism, sexism and homophobia. Invited guests include NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Councilwoman Letitia James, Kimma Dandridge (mother of the New Jersey Four’s Terrain Dandridge), Denise and Ezekiel Sandy (parents of the late Michael Sandy) and LaTona Gunn (mother of the late Sakia Gunn).
Date: Saturday, August 30th
Time: Flyering begins at 12pm, March begins at 1pm
Location: Start at the intersection of Gates Avenue and Broadway
(J train to Gates Avenue Station, or take the B47 or B52 bus to Gates and Broadway).
The March ends at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and Fulton Street, Brooklyn
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September 13, 2007
Scholarship Committee Makes Unprecedented Decision
Last week, the RBMS selection committee convened to select our 2007 scholar. After careful deliberation, we were unable to decide between two exceptionally strong applicants. One had an amazing story of triumph over adversity, detailing how she maintained her drive and her grades even as she and her family while navigated NYC’s homeless shelters. One spoke eloquently about how he coordinated a series of social outings to help ease racial tensions in his school.
How could we possibly choose between two scholars who so clearly embodied two distinct aspects of Rashawn’s legacy? Well, we’re hoping that through your generosity, we won’t have to.
Since the meeting, the selection committee has collected and donated over $700 to make it possible for BOTH of these promising scholars to receive the award. Today, we are less than $500 away from meeting our goal. For as little as $25, you could help us show these promising young scholars how much we appreciate their commitment to furthering Rashawn’s legacy of academic excellence and selfless service.
Will you donate today?
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February 01, 2007
Brazell Family Organizes Vigil
On February 17, 2007 family and friends of Rashawn Brazell with gather at the corner of Fulton and Nostrand Avenues in Brooklyn, NY to mourn the loss of 19-year old Brazell and to pray that 2007 will bring with it the answers, the justice and the closure that the Brazell family has sought since his February 2005 murder.
Desire Brazell, Rashawn's mother, is asking that the community show their support by joining her as she marks the two year anniversary of her son's disappearance and the discovery of his dismembered remains at the Nostrand Avenue subway station.The vigil, which will begin at 7pm, is open to the public.
Desire adds, "We will not allow this tragedy to be forgotten. Gather with as we pray that this never happens to anyone else and that no more families have to suffer this kind of loss."
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September 05, 2006
RBMF Names 2006 Scholarship Recipient
The RBMF is proud to announce Roger Fleming as the inaugural recipient of the $1500 Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship. A Queens, New York native, Roger is currently a freshman at Buffalo State College where he is pursuing interests in psychology and English literature.
While attaining his GED, Roger served as Vice President of the Future Giants Program, a life preparation organization dedicated to educating, encouraging and empowering New York’s at-risk youth. During his tenure, Roger was proud to assist in planning protests against businesses with discriminatory policies against people of color and the LGBT community. In addition, he co-founded the organization’s “Next Generation” initiative, which prepared his peers (ages 11 – 21) to serve as advocates for tolerance and sexual health.
In his application essay, Roger shared that he was committed to continuing his organizing on campus while also mentoring the young men and women of Future Giants whenever possible. Having been deeply inspired by Rashawn’s story, Roger is elated to receive the scholarship and hopes that his work in the community follows in Brazell’s legacy of selfless service.
“This scholarship will allow me to become more active on campus and join other organizations and help to continue the struggle towards racial, ethnic and sexual equality and rights,” Fleming says.
As we celebrate awarding Roger Fleming the 2006 Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship recipient, we are excited to start search for our 2007 recipient. Contact us today to assist in our recruiting efforts. Your assistance will help a new wave of New York City high school students pay tribute to Rashawn while thinking critically about the impact of intolerance and violence on their communities.
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March 15, 2006
Rashawn Brazell Memorial March
Rashawn Brazell Memorial March
From Nostrand Avenue Station stop (at Fulton and Nostrand)
To the 79th Precinct (263 Tompkins Avenue Brooklyn)
When the NYPD investigated the murders of Immette St. Guillen and Nicole DuFresne, they left no stone unturned. Each case was afforded an appropriate amount of resources from the department. Desire Brazell has one simple question: Why should the investigation of her son's murder be treated any differently?
On Saturday, April 15, the day the would have marked Rashawn Brazell's twenty-first birthday, Desire will demand an answer from the NYPD's 79th precinct.
The Rashawn Brazell Memorial March will begin at the Nostrand Avenue station stop at 12pm. The procession to the 79th precinct station house will begin at 1pm. There, Mrs. Brazell, along with invited guests, will demand that the police devote the maximum amount of resources available to the year-old investigation her son's murder.
Scheduled Speakers:
Eric Adams, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care
Letitia James, Council Member – District 35
Hameed (Herukhuti) S. Williams, Ph.D., M.Ed.
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January 30, 2006
Welcome Message from the Co-Founders
Welcome to the new online home of the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund!
It's a new year and we have some exciting initiatives lined up to expand the work of the RBMF. We spent much of last year building this new entity, which we hope will reframe the landscape of diversity and change in New York City and beyond. We'd like to share some of the things we have lined up for 2006. The year ahead promises to be fruitful and productive as we forge new alliances and continue to receive the support of those touched by Rashawn's life.
After last summer's amazing launch party, we've incorporated our Brighter Days event into our initiatives. We'd planned the first event with the knowledge that our communities often gather in celebration in the face of adversity. Because we recognize that these gatherings can be catalysts for change, we're excited to host a bigger and better Brighter Days event this year. Not only will attendees be connected to the work of the Fund, they'll be treated to world-class DJ's, giveaways, and much more.
Attendees at Brighter Days also reached deep into their pockets to contribute to our work. Thanks to your unbridled generosity, we are able to award the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship to a deserving student this year and continue to build the reach of the fund through our various initiatives. And after much feedback, we've paired our Scholarship with a Mentoring Program. The program will connect a scholar with an ally in the community, someone who has the training and life experience to support their academic and organizing endeavors. We hope that together with the monetary support from the Scholarship, the Mentoring Program will help to usher in a new generation of thinkers committed to the fight against racism and homophobia.
In addition, we're inaugurating an initiative called "Speak Out!" These events commit the Fund and the community at large to engaging the scholars, thinkers, and activists who shape critical thought around the impact of violence and intolerance on our communities. The first of these events, "Injustice, Intolerance, and Intersectional Identity" is planned for February at Princeton University. Drawing upon political philosophy, black feminist thought and queer theory, this panel discussion will bring together prominent activists and academicians to examine the ways in which our society enables and normalizes violence against individuals that stand at the intersection of marginal identities.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the generosity you've shown in the past. People touched by Rashawn's life and the work of the Fund are our main supporters. Please join us in the year to come by making a donation to the RBMF. Any amount counts and your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Feel free to peruse the rest of our new site. Learn more about Rashawn and see pictures from past events. Read about these and other exciting initiatives. See how you can get involved.
Join us as we build the New York City that Rashawn wanted to see.
In Hope,
Larry Lyons & Mervyn Marcano
Co-Founders
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May 02, 2005
Detectives Are Asking
Detectives are asking anyone with information about the murder of Rashawn Brazell to call Detective St. John at 718-636-6655 or Detective Baker at 718-963-5370 or 1-800-577- TIPS. All calls are confidential.
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