Rest in Power, Iris Baez 🕊️

Iris was THE OG—the matriarch to families whose loved ones were murdered by police, not just in NYC but across the country and around the world. For over 3 decades, she never gave up the fight against police violence and brutality. While this is devastating news, we know she's being welcomed by the ancestors.

Iris’s son #AnthonyBaez was killed by NYPD Officer Francis Livot in 1994 with an already-banned chokehold – 20 years before #EricGarner was killed in the same way. Anthony’s murder catapulted Iris into the streets, and she became a force like no other. Iris fought tirelessly for her son, and she co-founded Parents Against Police Brutality with Margarita Rosario (the mother of Anthony Rosario & aunt of Hilton Vega, who were killed by NYPD) to fight with other families against police violence.

When another family lost a loved one, Iris was always there, providing a shoulder to cry on, a word of advice, or inspiration to fight. In her son’s memory, she founded the Anthony Baez Foundation to do just that. Iris was featured in PBS’s award-winning documentary ‘Every Mother’s Son’ alongside the mom of Amadou Diallo and Gidone Busch, documenting her fight for her son & her leadership in the movement.

As a long-time leader in Justice Committee and the ultimate GOAT, Iris was at the forefront of many wins: forcing Cuomo to sign an executive order for a special prosecutor (and later winning legislation on that), passing the Community Safety Act & Right to Know Act, repealing 50-A, calling for defunding NYPD, and standing in solidarity with families at the discipline trials of cops who killed their loved ones. She engaged in civil disobedience, and staged a takeover of the Bronx DA office. If there was a righteous action, you bet Iris was there. 

Iris was an inspiration and co-conspirator to so many of us.  She never gave up, and never lost her kindness and ferocity. She remained an active leader of JC even while facing severe health struggles, joining meetings up until the moment that her body would not let her anymore. Her mentorship, wisdom, tenacity and power left its mark on so many of us - we are her legacy.

Rest in Power, Iris. We love you. !Pa’lante!