四虎影院

Onlookers lined the sidewalks down Evans Avenue the afternoon of Oct. 12, drawn out of their houses by roaring engines and booming music.

Stepping out of their doors, residents of the Historic Southside neighborhood were greeted by dance teams, vintage cars, bikers and pedestrians, all walking, rolling and strolling down the road with a single purpose: to honor Atatiana Jefferson.

It鈥檚 been five years since former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean shot and killed Jefferson inside her home. It鈥檚 been two since Dean was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison. Since then, a city that prides itself on its police force has reckoned with difficult questions and proposed reforms. Many recommendations by the city鈥檚 race and culture task force have been put in place; others, such as a community police advisory board, .

On the anniversary of Jefferson鈥檚 death, participants of the Pull Up for Tay Parade, hosted by the , kept the focus on Jefferson鈥檚 memory and the legacy she left behind, with her name sitting and .

鈥淓ven though her death itself was tragic, Atatiana is not tragic. Her life is not tragic. Our community is not tragic,鈥� Angela Mack, who was born and raised in the Historic Southside neighborhood, said.

Camilo Diaz

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Fort Worth Report

Mack was in the parade capturing footage of the moment 鈥� a role she鈥檚 familiar with. She was attending Texas Christian University at the time of Jefferson鈥檚 death, and Mack said it changed the course of her life. Working with Jefferson鈥檚 family, she to show the full spectrum of life and emotion in Historic Southside and make Jefferson鈥檚 memory more than one of victimhood.

鈥淲hat bothered me was, there was so much negativity being attached to where she lived, without people knowing the people themselves who lived there,鈥� Mack said. 鈥淚 thought, if I could use my voice to amplify Atatiana鈥檚 story, and make sure that Fort Worth gets the narrative of our community right, that鈥檚 what I want to do.鈥�

For Mack, whose father died in December 2023, the celebration of Jefferson鈥檚 life also felt like a moment of collective healing. So many people who started the fight for justice in Fort Worth aren鈥檛 here anymore, she said, making it even more important to continue the work with the next generation.

鈥淲e鈥檙e still here, even if they may not be,鈥� Mack said.

Mack wasn鈥檛 the only one who found healing at the event. Fort Worth Police Capt. Brent Halford, who was there the night of the 2019 shooting, reunited with Jefferson鈥檚 nephew Zion Carr. Last year, city officials with Jefferson鈥檚 family to benefit Zion, who witnessed the fatal shooting of his aunt.

Halford helped take care of Zion at the scene, but hadn鈥檛 reconnected with him in the ensuing five years. He was invited to join the parade by Jefferson鈥檚 family, and he said it represented a big show of healing and unity.

For the first time since Tay Day celebrations began five years ago, the Fort Worth Police Department had a float in the parade, which Zion rode on. Officers threw candy to children along the parade route and spoke with residents who came out to commemorate Jefferson鈥檚 life.

鈥淶ion鈥檚 had a rough time coming up,鈥� Halford said. 鈥淗opefully the police department can offer him some resources, some support, role models and mentorship. He鈥檚 been playing life from behind, so maybe we can get him a step ahead.鈥�

Camilo Diaz

/

Fort Worth Report

Cliff Sparks, one of the event鈥檚 organizers, was happy to see Halford in attendance.

鈥淚t really put a good look on Fort Worth PD,鈥� he said.

But his excitement around the event鈥檚 success was tempered by lackluster turnout.

鈥淚 was expecting more people to participate,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was lighter this year than it was last year. A lot of people don鈥檛 really know about Atatiana or the event.鈥�

Shunda Moore, a member of the Spirit of Truth Ministries church that sits along the parade route, was among those who didn鈥檛 know about the event. But when Moore found out the reason behind the celebration in the streets, she was ecstatic.

鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see, it lets us know that she hasn鈥檛 been forgotten,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淭he community will continue to come together and show love for those who have gone on before us.鈥�

The parade also attracted new participants from the community. Cedric Harris, a member of the trike group Set-of-Threez, joined fellow riders revving their engines for the cause.

鈥淚 think it was really eye-opening seeing people out in the streets, engaging with everybody in the parade,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 worthwhile. Especially the kids, because a lot of kids don鈥檛 realize what is going on until the adults let them know. It鈥檚 all about education and awareness.鈥�

This first appeared on and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.