Khadafy Hassan Washington was born March 3, 1982, the son of Marilyn Washington Harris, a long-time resident of the Acorn community in West Oakland. 

Khadafy had recently graduated from McClymonds High School and was planning to start junior college in a few weeks.  On August 4, 2000, he was shot and killed while riding his bicycle at the high school.  He was 18 years old.

Khadafy was an outstanding athlete and was destined to join the ranks of McClymonds High School's other illustrious alumni, including Wendell Hayes (former K.C. Chiefs fullback), basketball greats Bill Russell, Antonio Davis, or baseball greats Curt Flood, Frank Robinson, Charlie Beamon, Vada Pinson, and Lee Lacey. 

In October 1999, the year before his death, he was named Athlete of the Week by the Oakland Tribune (see press clip, right).  He was 5'9", with tremendous heart and drive and a great work ethic.  "He always gave all a person could give," says his coach, Alonzo Carter.

Khadafy played three years of varsity football for McClymonds as a running back and defensive back.  He earned All-City honors in his senior year, and played on an Oakland all-stars team that defeated the San Francisco all-stars.  In his final campaign, Khadafy gained 597 yards on 108 carries and scored eight touchdowns. 

A memorial service was held for Khadafy at the high school.  His jersey was retired and framed and the football team wore "KW" and Khadafy's uniform number as helmet stickers for the 2000 season.
 
Police had no motive and no suspects in the slaying, Oakland's 50th homicide of the year. 

At the urging of Marilyn Washington Harris, his mother, the Eller Media Company donated 15 of its billboards in and around West Oakland with a message appealing for information about Khadafy's murder.  (See photo of billboard, below.)  Oakland police offered a reward of $10,000 for information leading to capture of the slayer or slayers.

" I did all the right things I felt a mother could do," said Marilyn, "to keep my son involved in constructive activities such as playing little league baseball with David Macon.  He was active in Simba with Michael Holland and played midnight basketball and was with the Oakland Saints." 

Marilyn turned her shock and grief into determination to call a halt to the cycle of violence.  Toward that end, she founded the Khadafy Foundation for Non-Violence Inc.  The motto of the foundation is summed up in the acronym for her son's name:  Stop Killing, Hurting, And Destroying All Families and Youth. 

" When a young man or woman is killed before offspring is produced," says Marilyn, "it's like the killing of hundreds of people down the road of life because no one will ever be born; my son will never be able to provide me with grandchildren."

Recently Marilyn spoke with another Oakland mother who had lost her son.  The mother asked, "Why my child?  There are so many out there, they're doing much worse [than my son]." Marilyn replied, "No one deserves to die senselessly."  Marilyn went on to tell the distraught woman about one purpose of the Khadafy Foundation: to form support groups for relatives of murdered children, to assist them in the grieving process.

On December 13, 2000, hundreds of community activists, friends and students at McClymonds attended a memorial service in Khadafy's honor.  Hundreds of balloons were released and the first billboard about Khadafy was unveiled.

The Khadafy Foundation seeks to raise funds for scholarships to be provided for young people who may not be A-students but who have strong public service outlooks and community involvement like Khadafy.  He was a team leader and had great respect among his fellow students. Marilyn said that the Khadafy Foundation seeks to provide support services to anyone who has lost a child through murder, illness, or accident.  The Foundation will provide consultation, education and counseling and provide referrals to relevant services. 

For more information, contact the Khadafy Foundation at 1112 8th Street, Oakland, telephone 510-839-1706.