Comments on: Andrew Hanlon. Gunned Down By An American Cop

By: Jo Nolan

Jo Nolan — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:20:28 +0000

Society , Society , Society .. these words in my head , I remember after A.J was killed , I was met with so much adversity from people .. from society.. I lost ” friends” people telling me that A.J. was a thief , a burglar,
illegal immigrant, and a drug abuser. Their anger and hate broke my heart … because they did not understand his beauty and his special gifts .. they turned to the only thing they knew .. FEAR.

When A.J became ill , he came to my house all the time .. he called me .. confided in me..
sometimes I feel like I abandon him .. by not answering the phone .. or just sitting in my room when I knew
he was knocking on the door .. he needed me.. and because of fear .. fear of his illness , fear of something maybe I knew I was to close to .. ( within myself )
Being different … God .. sometimes I think about all of the beautiful things he would have done ….
this world needed him …
Truly .. he was a angel ..
never forget him ..

By: Emma Lou

Emma Lou — Sat, 02 May 2009 01:43:33 +0000

Im an old friend of A.J’s. Tonight the night of his 21st all of his friends from Dunboyne. the place A.J called home were out having a drink in his memory. It so sad that one of our best friends was not here to celebrate his 21st,,,,,it is devistating the effect that this death has had on a whole town….but even sadder than that is the fact that everyone who has ever met him will ever forget him or ever ever forget him. I remember A.J nearly everyday. I am happy to see that a lot of people are questioning his death, it was unjust,,,,murder to be blunt. in america he was a teenager who liked to drink…have fun and who’s visa ran out,,,,, People have to remember he was a son,,,,,a friend,,,,and mostly a pain in the ass and will never ever be forgotten…..i ask for justice no matter how much my call will be unheard….the police look after their own and its a sad downfall of the “Justice system”. But there are people still living with this tragedy ever single day…..and it’ll never be ok…….YO YO YO BUD “Wats the crack” love always emz xxxxxxx

By: B. J. Hogan

B. J. Hogan — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:07:18 +0000

Bless you, and God keep you all safe.

By: Andrew Hanlon's Family

Andrew Hanlon's Family — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:54:12 +0000

A warm note of appreciation is sent to those who attended the 21st Birthday Rememberance Mass for Andrew-James Hanlon (AJ) on the 28th of April and after for the gathering of friends and family to honour and remember our Andrew.

Also

To those who sent cards,texts, e-mails & Messages bearing such kindness, a heartfelt thank you. Andrew’s Mum recieved messages from as far as India, Australia, Usa and all over Europe.

It is friends like this from far and wide that have helped us through this difficult time and lifted our spirits.

It is truly wonderful to know how Andrew touched so many hearts and was so highly thought of.

To B.J.Hogan, thank you for your words of kindness they express what so many people out there are feeling, and should be feeling, it is a disgrace.

But one thing is sure our Boy will never be forgotten, we will not allow it.
Every now and then we will give the people of Silverton a gentle nudge to remind them of how they failed to stand up for justice and the rights of the innocent. How they let a young Irish boy down, let us hope and pray there will be no more innocent lives taken in Silverton.

By: jane stone

jane stone — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:24:04 +0000

“shane” i don’t know you from your blogging
name, and 24 years of working with my silverton kids means you could be any one of
many who come to mind, but you each know this: i love every one of you to your bones!
i had this dream when i was 17, that if i ever “made it” as an artist, i would create a way for other kids to earn their living with a paintbrush in their hand, just as i was doing then. and each of you who has worked with me took that old dream of mine further than i ever could have imagined:
your original artwork on posters and cards has been sent out to more than 17 million people
over the years, to the finest museums and stores and galleries worldwide. you’ve painted thank you notes for the white house, all the way to doves for john lennon’s estate, because you cared about your artwork the same as you cared about each other. every one of you were the kind of human beings who either would have been or were, close friends of a.j.’s, because you walk with
the dignity, decency and spirit of a true artist.
and then, you took yourselves to another level, when last year on the 1st of july you
stood for your dear friend a.j., and let the world know that what happened was as wrong as it gets, and that you would not let this go,
until there were answers. what happened to a.j. is NOT going to happen to one of you again, as long as we never let silverton oregon
forget that a few “ruthless thugs” (whether they were disguised as “pillars of the town” or a police officer) killed a.j., and that the punishment never did fit the crime… we must remain vigilant toward never letting this ever happen again, not to you, your children or your grandchildren. and this then, is a.j.’s legacy:
we need to promise a.j. that his spirit and his goodness won’t ever be forgotten and that we won’t let the town of silverton forget: we don’t kill kids here, when they are unarmed and they only need help. we respect our kids because they are incredible human beings and they deserve recognition for their courage.

By: shane

shane — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:38:36 +0000

your so right jane stone has been so great through all this. i have watched her work close with the kids of silverton my whole life and a lot of us have learned a great deal from her. she has embrassed the artistic and creative side of kids in silverton and continues to do so. thanks jane.

By: B. J. Hogan

B. J. Hogan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:35:19 +0000

It was Jane Stone who put a face to the name AJ Hanlon that appeared in the news but briefly. Since that time, the lad Andrew became an individual, lost to his family, but woven tightly into the fabric of this country.

What a sin and disgrace it is to know this happened in our country! I will ALWAYS associate the town of SILVERTON OREGON with wanton killing and lack of justice, and avoid passing near it or thinking good thoughts about it. Those living there who failed to stand up for the powerless child of Ireland will be judged one day for this sin of ommission.

Trust that one day AJ will be vindicated and set at peace for his wrongful death. I pray for his soul, and for the beloved family he left behind in Ireland. Please, Mam, rally your spirit and your heart. Andrew’s wish would be that you stay with his siblings to comfort one another. Your laments and cries are raised so loudly that the gates of heaven are shaken on their hinges, and God peers out to see how He may comfort your grieving.

May peace be with you always.

By: Andrew Hanlon's Family

Andrew Hanlon's Family — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:09:01 +0000

I loved my brother Andrew to bits.
We were really close, there was only a year and 6 days between us so we were more lyk twins.
When we were little our Mam used to bring us everywhere in a twin buggy, we did everything together.

Officer Tony Gonzalez robbed my brother of his young life and he stripped this family of its future with Andrew.

Since Andrew was killed it has ripped this family apart, no one really knows what we are going through.

My Mams health has gone steadily down hill since Andrew was killed, she is not the same person.

When I lost my brother it wasnt all I lost, I lost part of me and now I worry for my Mam too.

I just wanted people to know how I felt and what we are going though.

AJ I miss you so bad, I wish you were here.
I luv you bro.

By: shane

shane — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:38:20 +0000

i just wanted to let everyone know that aj’s close friends and family have actually arranged a gathering in the town square in silverton. this is where all of us kids hang out, it is down by the river that flows through the town and its a place we all relate especially aj. we will meet to celebrate honor and give respect to a person who has changed our town and our lives. we continue to walk with aj and receive his gifts. its like he’s teaching us. aj was one of three kids that died that year and so we all send our love to them to. we hope they are feeling the love we have and will always have for them.
ps sorry i repeated this but i think i put it on the wrong place on your site bock. shane

By: Andrew Hanlon's Family

Andrew Hanlon's Family — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:16:44 +0000

To clarify our comment,

‘No one gives a damn’

this was in regard to the so called Powers that be.

It has been stated many time here on Bock and so is on the record how much Andrews Family appreciate the support of friends old and new and this sentiment is still the same.
Without them the past 10 months would have been even more difficult.

Its wonderfull to hear Andrews friends are holding a get together in Silverton to Remember our Andrew. Because that is what AJ was ‘OURS’ his family, his friends and everyone who knew him, he was such a warm natured giving boy. He thought little of material posessions but gloried in his interaction with fellow human beings. He always saw the good in people.

Andrew’s stoty to us will NEVER NEVER NEVER be forgotton, he lives with us each day and goes everywhere with us, he will remain in our hearts till we go to join him.

And, no matter what people try to say or try to do or what they try to imply , and many have done all these things.

No one can take away from this family the 20 years we spent with our loving Andrew, through the good times and the bad, through the arguements and the loving. Watching him being born into this sad World that was to take him away all to soon. Watching him take his first steps, his bright shining blue eyes and that wide mischievious grin.
We loved him and he loved us.

Should people try to undermine these deep feelings and emotions then we have this to say to them “Look to your self, to your own conscience and your own personal issues, we feel sad and sorry for them”

So once again we would like to say a warm thank you to all Andrews Friends in Ireland and the USA who have been a support to his family, they will never know just how much heart it has given us to know how many people cared for our beautiful boy.

Thank you.