Join us for remarks from various speakers, including Anderson Police Chief Jim Stewart, Greer Police Chief Matt Hamby, and Spartanburg Police Chief Alonzo Thompson. There will be a moderated Q&A and sculpture viewing to follow. This conversation is being co-hosted by AnMed and TATT.
Tuesday, June 27 · 12 – 1:30pm EDT
Peggy Gardner Dean Conference Room
AnMed North Campus
2000 East Greenville Street
Anderson, SC 29621
About the AAR&RI:
In early 2020, a group of community members in Anderson County, South Carolina formed the Anderson Area Remembrance and Reconciliation Initiative (AAR&RI.) The goal of the group is to honor the five known victims of racial terror lynching in Anderson County by reflecting more honestly on the history and legacy of racial and economic injustice. AAR&RI is working in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, to raise awareness and inspire action through dialogue, community education, and public memorials to eliminate disparities and move us toward the goal of a “Beloved Community.”
About the Sculpture:
The AAR&RI has partnered with designer, lead artist, and Anderson native Herman Keith, Jr. Keith and his team have a vision to “take the story to the people” in a powerful way to educate, evoke empathy and inspire movement toward a more just society. He and his team have constructed a world-class exhibit to travel throughout Anderson County’s nine municipalities and unincorporated areas with a potential reach of 200,000 people.
This structure, made of wood and metal, is designed in harmony with the art installation in tribute to lynching victims at the Equal Justice Initiative. Glass jars containing soil from the site of each lynching are cradled in a movable structure accented with potent imagery and verbiage.