Marshawn McCarrel, 23, committed suicide outside the Ohio Statehouse on the evening of January 8. He was an Ohio activist and extremely involved with the Black Lives Matter movement. His body was found after police responded to a call about a shooting.
Best known for his social activism, he was also the founding member of Pursuing Our Dreams, a mentorship for inner city youth and he created the homeless charity Feed The Streets in light of his past battles with homelessness.
He received the Radio One’s Hometown Champions award for his work and activism in the community. Prior to his death, McCarrel sent a farewell to his supporters via Twitter:
“Let the record show that I pi**ed on the state house before I left.”
“If we don’t have to live through hell just to get to heaven. I’ma stay right here with you.”
He also posted a Facebook message saying, “My demons won today. I’m sorry.”
Opal Tometi, co-founder of Black Lives Matter and others paid tribute to him on Twitter:
Speechless. Sad 2 learn our brother MarShawn McCarrel is no longer w/ us. Sending love 2 his fam + @OHIOStudents.
— opal tometi (@opalayo)
Rest in Power to my brother MarShawn McCarrel. You did more to help your community in your short life than most will in a lifetime
— Jasiri X (@jasiri_x)
His twin brother, MarQuan McCarrel said, “He just wanted to serve people.”
Serving his people is what he did, proudly. According to relatives, he prioritized his cause and they suspect that work affected him more than they realized. There is a huge void in the activism scene in Columbus now. This is a young man who helped organize demonstrations in Ohio following the 2014 death of Ferguson teen Michael Brown. He even won a free trip to the 47
This young man helped organize demonstrations in Ohio following the 2014 death of Ferguson teen Michael Brown. He even won a free trip to the 47th NAACP Image Awards, which his mother accompanied him.
Fellow activist Shaun King wrote:
“An activist to his soul. Fought tirelessly in Ohio and beyond for the rights of oppressed people. Brother – we’ll keep fighting. You rest, now.”
Rest In Peace Brother MarShawn. Let your mind be at rest.
– Emily Aikens
