Miguel Gonzales's shrine | 1800 Columbia Road NW DC

A public shrine was erected at the corner of 18th & Columbia Roads NW, Washington DC, by community members in memory of Miguel Gonzales, a long-time resident of the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Mr. Gonzales, who had been unhoused for some time, perished of exposure in the cold weather earlier this year. 

A bank that lays claim to the site removed the original shrine built during a vigil for Mr. Gonzales. Much if it has been re-erected by community members.

According to the Admoplaza blog: 

"On Saturday, April 30, 2022, community members constructed a memorial to Miguel Gonzales with photos, letters, a large framed photo, and narrative describing events leading to Miguel’s death above the public sidewalk where he perished. Over fifty people came to celebrate the life and mourn the death of the lifelong Adams Morgan resident.  “Miguel’s sudden death in the cold has been traumatizing for our community to witness,” said Vikram Surya Chiruvolu... who co-facilitated Saturday’s vigil. He added, “There is substantial research on the positive impact of spontaneous memorials for personal healing of grief, strengthening community by public affirmation of social bonds, and reclamation of goodwill at the space where the incident occurred. The untimely and possibly malicious destruction of such property is a loss in itself, as often communities seek to preserve those materials when appropriate.”

Miguel Gonzales died in the cold snap of March 29, next to the fences erected eight days prior by Truist Bank at Adams Morgan Plaza. In the preceding weeks, Truist bank had confiscated and destroyed unhoused Plaza residents tents and sleeping bags, including Miguel’s. Truist representatives dispersed the unhoused community around the Plaza, in preparation for their encroachment and appropriation of the Plaza on that corner which had been used by the public for over 50 years.

...The Adam Morgan BID declared it wasn’t their cleaning team, and Assistant Branch Manager of the Truist bank across the street stated her staff no longer have anything to do with the fenced-in site. Orlando-based Truist VP David V. Smith has been named on the permits which effected the clearing of the plaza, but he has not responded to inquiries on the matter."

Additional information was reported in the Washington Post.

Thanks to artist Eve Hennessa for her help.