Contact: Colin Fiske, colin@transportationpriorities.org
HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif.—The Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities and allies will be holding a memorial for people killed by cars in Humboldt County at 5:30 pm on Friday, August 27th, 2021, at the Humboldt County Courthouse in Eureka.
In the last decade, at least 80 people in Humboldt County have been killed by drivers while walking, biking, skateboarding, or rolling in a wheelchair. The county is consistently ranked among the most dangerous in the state for people walking and biking. Too often, the lives of these people killed on our streets are minimized or ignored, or the victims blamed for their own deaths. That is unacceptable.
This event will be a gathering for friends and families to remember those who have been killed, and for community members to acknowledge and honor the losses. At the event, the names of those killed will be read aloud, friends and family members may speak about their lost loved ones if they wish, and actions to prevent future tragedies will be discussed. There will also be a short, silent walk of commemoration in downtown Eureka, where participants will contemplate the vulnerability of pedestrians in the current streetscape.
The event will be led by Rev. Molly Cate, and social workers will be present to provide support for those grieving. This is a public, outdoor event, and all are encouraged to attend and pay their respects. Attendees are requested to wear masks, keep 6 feet apart from people not in their households, and follow all other public health guidelines and traffic laws during the event.