The Stowe Center for Literary Activism lifts up local voices that, like Harriet Beecher Stowe, use words to change hearts and minds.

Our good friend and community activist Kamora Herrington recently posted this on March 3, 2026:

Many of you know Menen Walker; a young entrepreneur here in Hartford and a friend of Kamora’s Cultural Corner. Last week, her father, Everard Walker, was killed during a police response to a mental health crisis inside his home.
Eight days later, another Hartford resident, Steven Jones, was also killed by police during a mental health crisis.
This morning I asked Menen what she and her family most want the public, advocates, and allies to understand right now. She shared this:
“My family wants said that 11 officers should not have broken in his house after he declined services. It is his right to refuse medical treatment. They obviously had intention to harm him because what were they planning to do? They could not force him to go to the hospital and could not arrest him because he committed no crimes.”
Her family’s request is clear. They are asking that the officers involved in the deaths of both Everard Walker and Steven Jones be fired.
Our role today is to hold space for the humanity at the center of these tragedies, and to reflect on our personal and collective responsibilities in the systems we live within.
[Please] center the humans involved the families who are grieving, the community that is shaken, and the real questions being raised about how our city responds when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis.
Attached below is the statement Menen wrote about her father and the life that was taken from her family. She has asked that it be circulated widely.
Please read it slowly.
Please read it with the understanding that behind every headline is a family whose life has been permanently changed
Peace,
Kamora

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The Stowe Center’s mission is to encourage social justice and literary activism by exploring the legacy of Harriet Beecher Stowe and all who advocate hope and freedom then and now.