Several dozen artists, elected officials and and family members gathered in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden Saturday on the 13th Anniversary Memorial of the death of City Councilman James E. Davis, who was shot and killed in the City Hall Council Chambers on July 23, 2003.
“James E. Davis was truly a visionary before his time who taught us to honor our commitment to honor ourselves,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “Yes there is the blacklives matter movement, but before that was his love yourselves Stop the Violence movement.
Among the elected officials besides James that attended the memorial included Assembly Members Walter Mosley and Diana Richardson, and City Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. The Democratic District Leaders at the memorial included James E. Davis brother, Geoffrey Davis, Cory Provost, and Female Democratic District leader Olanike Alabi.
As is often the case whenever Geoffrey Davis has any kind of event, artists are part of the event, and thus this was a poetry memorial featuring poets from the Green Earth Poets Cafe.
Geoffrey Davis, whose leadership is growing nationally with the running of the James E. Davis Stop Violence Foundation, and locally as a political powerbroker, thanked all the elected officials for coming and in particular James, who he lost to for the council seat after his brother died, and to Richardson, who beat him last year in the special election for the 43rd Assembly District seat.
“Thirteen years ago, I went toe to toe with this brilliant young lady (on live TV),” recalled Davis on Facebook of his race against James. “During the debate, I was trying to signal to my corner to throw in the towel. She hit me with upper cuts, right crosses, fast jabs & left hooks. After the debate, I was a bloody mess (Lol). However, & more importantly, after the debate & her City Council victory, she helped me develop, mature & has been showing unconditional love ever since.”
Likewise Davis recalled on Facebook debating Richardson on national TV during the assembly race.
“As I was dropping bombs, she eloquently answered my questions & dropped bombs right back. As the cameras were rolling, in my mind I was saying, I love this young smart amazing woman, she’s the future. At the memorial for my brother, her poem (read by Parlay Living) was very moving & touching & I’ll appreciate it always. My Assemblywoman Diana Richardson.”
