Tampa, FL – Andrew Joseph, Jr. died unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon in Tampa. The beloved husband and father of two became known around the world as one of the strongest voices in the Black Lives Matter movement after his son #AndrewJosephIII was killed as a result of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s misconduct in 2014. Andrew – the elder – often said that he turned his “pain into purpose” by working to end police violence, to advance child safety, and to support the families of those who were killed by police and white-supremacist violence.
With his wife of 28 years and partner in all things, Deanna Joseph, he founded the Florida chapter of Black Lives Matter Grassroots and serves as the founding Rapid Response Coordinator and on-the-ground lead for the worldwide organization. The family birthed the Andrew Joseph III Foundation in his son’s honor. Mr. Joseph served as lead facilitator for Chosen Fathers, a community of dads who provide collective healing justice after tragic losses. Prior to entering social justice work, he was an educator in alternative high schools and a little league football coach. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph were high school sweethearts who suffered the unimaginable pain of the death of their fourteen-year-old son, and went on to comfort, support and advocate for scores of families whose loved ones’ lives were stolen through state-sanctioned violence.
Andrew, who was born and raised in New Orleans, moved to Tampa with his young family seeking refuge from Hurricane Katrina. He is survived by his wife, Deanna, and daughter, Deja, who graduated from Howard University with honors just last weekend.
A public funeral for Andrew Joseph Jr. is set for Saturday, May 23rd in New Orleans. A memorial service in Tampa is also being planned for a later date.
When you’re a black woman, you seldom get to do what you just want to do; you always do what you have to do.”
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SENATOBIA, MS – The tiny body of baby #KohenWiley is being laid to rest this weekend. Police
murdered the one-year-old in his mother’s arms on June 14 after she was falsely accused of failing to pay
for a pack of diapers at Walmart.
Karmelo, who was just 17 years-old at the time of the incident, was never the aggressor. A child of impeccable character, a multi-sport athlete, an A student, and the captain of his football team, Karmelo should have been protected when he was being bullied. Instead, he was forced to defend himself, then criminalized, arrested, prosecuted, convicted, immediately remanded into the custody of the Collin County Sheriff, and sentenced to 35 years in prison. The state plans to cage him, stomp out his infinite potential, and deprive the world of his light until he is 54 years-old.
