Stan State alumna, Mi’Shaye Venerable is organizing a mural in downtown Sacramento in honor of her father, Donald Venerable, who was fatally shot six times by Sacramento Police on the night of February 9, 2001. Venerable is a dedicated social justice advocate and is committed to getting justice for her father and making the city of Sacramento remember his name and never forget it. 

On the night of his death, Donald Venerable had called 911 in regards to a domestic dispute, and when police arrived on scene, they immediately mistook Venerable’s cellphone for a gun. 

Venerable says that the officers involved were never held accountable for their actions and in fact, one of the officers is now a sergeant for Sacramento Police Department.

“Throughout the whole 20 years, there really hasn’t been a lot of action being done,” said Venerable. 

Many people feel that change was needed when Donald Venerable’s life was wrongfully taken, long before then, and it is still needed today. “After 20 years, it’s very ridiculous that it’s still an issue,” Venerable added.

Venerable graduated from Stanislaus State in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences with concentration in Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Economics, and a minor in Business. She now works with youth at a mental health nonprofit agency in Sacramento. She also added that she is continuing her education next year, pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Work in South Africa. 

During her time at Stan State, she was involved in numerous campus organizations and clubs including student government, Black Student Union, and track & field. Venerable re-established the Black Student Union in 2016, serving as the president and accomplishing great things for her community. Some of her achievements included establishing new campus traditions such as the Welcome Black event held in the fall and the Black Graduation Celebration in the spring. 

“I encourage current students and prospective students to get involved if you’re able to,” said Venerable. 

Black Student Union Advisor and president of the Black Faculty & Staff Association (BFSA), Marvin Williams, had nothing but great things to add about Venerable’s activism and role as a student leader at Stan State. When asked about her work re-establishing the BSU, Williams said, “It’s because of her that it’s alive… that’s Mi’Shaye’s hard work right there on display.” He added that she began the collaboration between the BSU and the BFSA. 

Williams also mentioned that he thinks her father would be proud of that, “She is trying to use the adversity that she has had to help others, and this mural becomes a testament to that.”  

Director for Presidential Initiatives at Stan State, Neisha Rhodes, recounted her relationship with Venerable. “I got to know her through her role as the ASI Director for Diversity. In that capacity she served as the student representative on the President’s Commission on Diversity & Inclusion (PCDI), and she was also a member of the Joint City of Turlock/Stan State Taskforce on Diversity & Inclusion,” stated Rhodes. 

Rhodes finished by stating that “Mi’Shaye was an especially critical piece of the foundation established to ensure student representation and collaboration related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice initiatives, and her work with the Black Student Union helped to build and strengthen the network of support that our black students at Stan State needed.” 

The mural honoring Donald Venerable will be created by Sacramento black muralist, Brandon Alexander (@brndn_alxndr on Instagram). Venerable explained, “He is very active in the community and he uses his art as a form of expression for black liberation and I’m very here for that.” 

She wants this mural to uplift and honor her father’s name. “The whole point of the mural is for him to not to be forgotten about,” said Venerable. 

Venerable went to the city of Sacramento to acquire funds for the project, but they denied her with the reasoning of financial insufficiency within the city. In Venerable’s words, “The community was really the last place I wanted to go to because it really isn’t my family’s job, my job, the community’s job, to pay for something that should have already been done by the city at the very least.” 

Justice is demanded for all marginalized lives wrongly taken by police. Donald Venerable did not deserve to be taken from this earth on February 9, 2001. There are no excuses for the unlawful actions of law enforcement on people of color. We have to keep fighting for the justice and protection of the marginalized community and to make sure those we have lost are never forgotten. Say their names! 

“The goal is for the mural to be up by April 1,” stated Venerable. She also is planning on holding a mural viewing event on April 3, 2021 at the site of the mural. There will be more details to come from Venerable regarding the special event.

You can donate to the mural honoring Donald Venerable via GoFundMe or Venmo @mural4DV. 

You can also follow Mi’Shaye Venerable on Instagram @mishady_lady for more updates.