Images provided by Andrew Cecala
On Monday evening, in High Rock Park, Saratoga Springs community members gathered in remembrance of Darryl Mount on the seven year anniversary of his ultimately fatal attack at the hands of the Saratoga Springs Police Department (SSPD).
On August 31, 2013, Mount was celebrating Labor Day on Caroline Street when police reported an altercation between Mount and his girlfriend. A police chase ensued and Mount ran into the dark alley next to Northshire Bookstore with no cameras. Police claim they found Mount unresponsive at the bottom of a scaffolding structure, however, a forensic pathologist hired by Mount’s family concluded that his injuries were consistent with being physically beaten. For a more in-depth synopsis of Darryl Mount’s story, please see Skidmore News’ previous article.
Seven years later, a large crowd of Saratogians, including some Skidmore students, congregated around the 9/11 memorial in town to celebrate Mount’s life and shine a light on the ever-present issue of police brutality in Saratoga and the Capital region.
The local racial justice activist group, All of Us, was the main organizer of the event, but the event was also a collective effort alongside multiple other local groups including MLK Saratoga, The Free Radicals, as well as Pass the Mic representing Skidmore.
As the crowd formed, the atmosphere was lively – friends and family greeted each other, pizza was shared, and music could be heard in the background. Yet, despite the vigil’s animated beginning, the reason for the gathering and the severity of injustice was clear. Hollyday Hammond from MLK Saratoga, described the event as “a true coming together of community across ages, colors, faiths and perspectives. We remembered Darryl Mount. We honored his family by acknowledging their tremendous loss and suffering as well as how we, as a community, failed them.”
It should be noted that as the event commenced, two large trucks donned with “Trump 2020,” “Blue Lives Matter,” and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags passed by the park, revving their engines. Upon reflection, Daesha Devon Harris, a local Saratoga Springs artist, said that “Throughout the evening, bystanders showed both support and disdain [and] not surprisingly, there were several unsuccessful attempts by white supremacists to disrupt the vigil.” Nonetheless, the vigil’s energy did not falter.
Around 5:30pm, All Of Us took the mic and began to introduce the first few speakers. Jermaine Hammond, Mount’s childhood best friend, spoke of the immense loss he felt after the unjust murder of his best friend. Hammond also performed a heartbreaking song he wrote in memory of Darryl whom he considered a brother.
Both co-founders of All of Us spoke along with Mount’s cousin and Adia Cullors ‘21. All speakers spoke with care concerning Mount’s memory and shared an intense outrage at the injustices perpetrated by the SSPD and all police forces in the Capital region.
Following these speeches, the vigil marched together down High Rock Ave and then upwards towards Broadway, steadily chanting as onlookers watched from their apartment balconies. Shouts of “No Justice, No Peace!” “Say his name, Darryl Mount!” and “How do you spell murderer? SSPD!” filled the air.
An attendee of the vigil holds a poster which quotes then-Chief of Police Greg Veitch on his response to the attack on Darryl Mount.
The march paused at City Hall as the organizers seized the opportunity to address the Saratoga County leadership. With this intention, a few spoke out against the unjust circumstances of Darryl Mount’s death which remain suspect. Their words demanded an internal investigation of the SSPD to ensure the safety of Black community members. During this moment, Lexis Figuereo, the cofounder of All of Us, declared: “We are here to end the lies, to end injustice, and to fight for equality.”
From City Hall, the protesters peacefully formed two lines that stretched a considerable length along both sidewalks of Broadway, allowing room for others to pass by. Candles were distributed, and seven minutes of silence were honored in the remembrance of Mount. It was evident that the silence was stark against the bustle of noise that came from inside local restaurants and bars.
The march concluded in the alleyway alongside Putnam Place, the site of Mount’s attack years prior. In the candle light of the crowd, a newly-painted mural of Mount by artist Kim Vincent Harris was unveiled - a project that was spearheaded by his sister, Daesha Devon Harris. When talking with Skidmore News, Harris stated: “I practice my advocacy in my artwork. The importance of Black history and the continued struggle for justice are common themes in my work.”
In the candle light of the crowd, a newly-painted mural of Mount by artist Kim Vincent Harris was unveiled - a project that was spearheaded by his sister, Daesha Devon Harris.
As the crowd encircled the mural, Mount’s family members and friends gathered in the middle and danced to chants of “Take it to the street defund the police, no justice no peace.” Mount’s 11-year old niece also spoke about the pain she has experienced since losing her uncle. She expressed her outrage at the lack of justice her family has received in relation to knowing the truth about Mount’s murder. The lack of action and falsified investigations by the SSPD and local law enforcement with regards to providing Mount’s family with answers about his death, illuminates the systemic racism that exists in the Saratoga community, especially steered by the county’s leadership.
Along the same lines, when interviewed, The Free Radicals identified that “The problem is that for the larger Saratoga community, these systemic issues we are trying to tackle don’t affect their daily lives in a negative way. And because the majority of the population (Saratoga is 92.5% white) unfairly benefit from these systems, simply because of the color of their skin, you see a lack of participation in speaking out. Unfortunately, equality to those in control is perceived as losing something, whether what they have acquired is deserved or not.”
Ultimately, the organizer groups shared the same feelings of hope for future effective grassroots movements in the Saratoga and Capital Region, as there was a tremendous amount of solidarity and power that was felt on Monday evening.
In the words of Harris, “Perseverance is the key - we just have to keep on pushing.”
