Keaton Otis Vigil

Six years ago the Portland Police killed a 25-year-old man named Keaton Otis for driving while black and wearing a hoodie. He was tazed six times and shot twenty-three times while still sitting in his mother’s car. Details are available at a thoroughly researched and fact-checked site here. On the 12th of every month, a vigil is held at the corner where Keaton Otis was killed. In all six years, not a single month has been missed, in all weathers. Tonight about twenty-five people showed up and stood in the rain to honor Keaton’s memory. One of the observers identified himself as Carlos, said he is the age Keaton would be if he had lived, and added, “It’s easy to get arrested--or killed--if you’re a young man of color in this city. All you have to do is leave your house and try to live your life.”


Extras are one of the young women holding the “Justice for Keaton Otis” Banner, and Jo Ann Hardesty, leading the vigil.