Achievements of Potter's Field Campaign

  • ♥ Worked with Thomas McCarthy, unofficial historian for Hart Island, to include a memorial card for Lewis Haggins at correctionhistory.org.

  • ♥ Under the leadership of the Rev. Amy Gopp, developed a moving memorial, "With All Due Respect," to honor the lives of all those buried in Potter's Field. Union Theological Seminary hosted this memorial on March 3, 2005.
  • ♥ On Ascension Thursday, May 5, 2005, members of the Potter’s Field Campaign made a journey to join St. Benedict Catholic Church on Hart Island for a memorial mass for those who are buried in Potter’s Field. Members of the campaign were unsuccessful gaining access to Hart Island, but the journey was recorded into a moving documentary film.

  • ♥ On Tuesday, August 2, 2005, Interfaith Friends of Potter’s Field and members of Picture the Homeless’ Potter’s Field Campaign met with Deputy Commissioner Thomas Antenen of the Department of Correction to negotiate interfaith memorial services on Hart Island. As a result of that meeting, the Department of Correction has provisionally allowed bi-monthly memorial services.

  • ♥ On August 4, 2005, the Potter’s Field Campaign’s documentary film, “Journey Towards Dignity” aired on Manhattan Neighborhood Network. The film aired again on September 1, 2005.

  • ♥ On Sunday, August 14, 2005, Newsday did a cover story article by Luis Perez about our Potter’s Field Campaign.

  • ♥ On August 25, 2005, Picture the Homeless intiated dialogue with Deputy Chief Joseph J. Reznick and several members of N.Y.P.D.’s Missing Person’s Squad about existing impediments to efficient identification of deceased John and Jane Does. We have agreed to work together to explore ways in which identification of deceased persons can become quicker and more efficient.

  • ♥ On September 29, 2005, the Potter's Field Campaign was invited to join Union Theological Seminary's Poverty Initiative to address the International Peace Council about the Potter's Field Campaign and about the inhumanity in which the poor are treated in New York City.
















♥ On September 30, 2005, several members of Picture the Homeless, Lewis Haggins family and four faith leaders went to Potter's Field on Hart Island to celebrate a memorial for Lewis Haggins; the first time ever the homeless were able to explicitly gain access for such a memorial.


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