By Nick Escalada
A collection of Arcata residents, HSU alumni and members of Black Humboldt gathered at the community garden El Jardin Sanctuario on Tuesday, April 15, for a candlelight vigil in memory of David Josiah Lawson. The day marked the 8 year anniversary of the Humboldt student’s fatal stabbing at a house party, which the Arcata Police Department recognized to have been mishandled in court by the Humboldt County DA’s office. The city community has remained steadfast in its support of Josiah’s family and their efforts to ensure the still-open case reaches a just conclusion.
Rosemary Grady, a member of Black Humboldt, Changing Tides and the activist group Justice for Josiah, voiced her motivations behind her work as a community organizer.
“Of course we want justice. We keep saying that Josiah was lost, but he wasn’t lost. He was stolen, and that deserves justice, and his mother deserves justice,” Grady said. “But the thing that I continue to move forward with is just the fact that we are in community, there are people to share this heaviness with. There are people who are ready to support and continue to show up, so that’s why I continue to show up.”
Lawson’s routine vigils have grown into a powerful point of convention in Arcata such that people who did not know him personally or did not live in Humboldt during his death continue to appear to pay him homage. Kris Coy, who has been involved with Justice for Josiah for most of its existence, expressed appreciation for the growing public support while acknowledging the continued activism needed to see proper change.
“[Josiah’s killing] occurred when I was a student, and it really emboldened me to join the student-led movement at the time and to continue to follow it after I graduated,” Coy said. “I think that giving the spotlight to the people who are actually doing the work is the responsibility of all those people who are here. There’s been hundreds, probably thousands of hours I’ve gone into stuff like this, and props to those who just show up, but the work gets to be done.”
Participants mobilized through town to conclude the vigil by Josiah’s mural across the street from the Cal Poly Humboldt campus. While these events are a strong vessel for further community awareness and healing, their organizers make it clear that efforts for justice are not limited to Lawson’s death anniversary. Justice for Josiah persists in working with city authorities and judiciaries to ensure this case closes with equity and respect.
Nick is a sophomore minoring in journalism who reports on happenings of all sorts. As a wildlife major, he enjoys nature-related pieces. On his off days, you can find him taking a hike behind campus or collecting shiny stuff on the beach.
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