Durham Homicide and Victims of Violent Death Memorial Quilt &National Connector Quilt
WhY was the durham homicide memorial Quilt started?
The Durham Homicide and Victims of Violent Death Memorial Quilt was started to bring awareness to a rise in gun violence in Durham, North Carolina. It was created in protest after 2-year-old Shaquanna Attwater was shot and killed in 1994 while playing outside in a public housing community.
Who Created the durham homicide memorial Quilt?
Sidney Brodie created the quilt while employed as a 911 communications official at Durham Emergency Communication Center.
How does the quilt maker/artist know when someone has been murdered?
A small group of volunteers help monitor the news on TV and social media. The artist may also get a call directly from a concerned citizen, family member, or friend of a murder victim notifying him of their passing.
ArE all murder victiMs on the quilt black?
No…The Durham Homicide Memorial Quilt is an accounting of every murder victim in Durham County since 1994 with no regard to race. However, the majority of the victims on the quilt are disproportionately African-American males.
Where is the quilt displayed daily for public viewing?
When not publicly displayed the quilt is kept in a black box (vault) away from direct sunlight. It can only be seen at scheduled public events.
How long has the quilt been traveling from place to place?
Mr. Brodie began taking the quilt to vigils and other gatherings in Durham in 2017 after 7 year old Kamari Munerlyn was shot and killed while riding with his family following an afternoon of fun at a pool party.
Who sews on the squares?
Mr. Brodie is the primary craftsman , but is now actively recruiting others to cut and assemble squares for the national version of the Durham quilt. Mr. Brodie also scribes the names on the squares however, the first couple hundred squares were sewn and scribed by his former wife, Yvonne.
CAN ANYONE VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO HELP SEW SQUARES ON THE QUILT?
Yes. Mr. Brodie once solicited the help of his sister Gail and a small group of volunteers from the community. He also saught the help of a quilting club at the senior citizen center to cut and sew squares during a period of transition from his former wife after a forced retirement of the quilt for an indefinite period.
ARE NAMES OF MURDER VICTIMS FROM OTHER CITIES PUT ON THIS QUILT?
Yes & No. Not on the original quilt. There was a second quilt created for that purpose by Mr. Brodie in 2018 know as the “National Connector”. During the setup phase the “National Connector” is attached to the original quilt on a custom runway. This only occurs whenever the quilt is transported outside of Durham County for an exhibition. The “National Connector” bear the names of victims murdered outside of Durham County.
Who funds this work?
Mr. Brodie gathers material and art supplies, from many sources using his own resources. Other Philanthropist donate items such as security stanchions and red carpet adornments for the quilt’s runway. Mr. Brodie also designs keepsake and related memorabilia — products to support the effort. Private Donors, also contribute through cash app: $theArtofPeace.
Booking The National MEMORIAL Quilt
Contact a Booking manager: Gwendolyn Moore (Mooreg224@gmail.com)
tel. 919-765-5825 911escapeRoot@gmail.com