The Tender Work of Preserving Renee Good's Memorial

"I want to make sure people in the future understand what happened here," Vizzions told Hyperallergic in an interview. So far, Vizzions has photographed about 200 items and relocated fragile objects to what he described as a "secret location" in the southern part of the city. He's left behind some items, including plastic signs, for the public to view."

"Nearly two months after Good's murder, Vizzions is still in Minnesota, but his focus has shifted from observation to intervention. He is now the de facto archivist of Good's memorial site, where mourners have left hundreds of devotional objects, short notes, and artwork in protest and in grief."

"Among the items Vizzions has documented is a note signed by an employee of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency driving the Trump administration's escalating immigration enforcement tactics. "Ms. Good," the message reads, "We will never forget you. Rest in peace and power. Your work on earth is done. Your legacy lives on.""

Ryan Vizzions, a photojournalist from Atlanta, was traveling across the United States documenting what it means to be American when poet and mother Renee Nicole Macklin Good was killed by federal immigration agents in Minnesota. Vizzions attended the vigil held in Good's memory and decided to remain in Minneapolis to preserve the memorial site. He has become the de facto archivist, photographing approximately 200 items left by mourners including devotional objects, artwork, and notes. Vizzions has relocated fragile items to a secure location while maintaining the site and removing decaying flowers. His documentation efforts aim to ensure future understanding of the events and Good's legacy.

Read at Hyperallergic