COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was a bittersweet celebration for Columbus community members Saturday on what would have been Andre Hill’s birthday.
Hill was shot and killed by a former Columbus police officer nearly five months ago. He would have been 48.
His daughter, Karissa, family, and Michael Wright, the family’s attorney, were all at the celebration at the Brentnell Community Recreation Center.
“The fact that we’re at this center means even more to me because my dad always brought me here as a kid,” Karissa Hill said.
Wright is working with nationally acclaimed civil rights attorney Ben Crump on the Andre Hill case. He said he’s happy to support the family.
“Times have been very difficult for the family so this is a time that everyone can enjoy one another and have something that’s positive,” Wright said.
The event was organized by the Millennial Movement, Heartbeat Movement and the Black Nurses Association. Joshua Williams, the founder of the Millennial Movement, said they’ve been planning the celebration since January.
“I just see the turnout, like ‘this is great Mr. Andre Hill. This is for you,’ and I’m just happy to see this for him,” Williams said.
Hundreds of community members attended the event.
Karissa Hill said the support was overwhelming.
“It means a lot to me. It really does. It means a lot to me that he’s still here spiritually.”
The city of Columbus will rename the gym inside the Brentnell Community Recreation Center the “Andre Hill Gymnasium.”
