Don’t forget Old Wheat Street victim Cornelius Taylor. Atlanta must do better.

My name is Allen Hall. I’m a survivor from the Old Wheat Street encampment.

I write on behalf of Cornelius Taylor, who was tragically killed on Jan. 16 by a city employee who drove a front loader truck weighing 5 tons through the Old Wheat Street homeless encampment and into Cornelius Taylor’s tent while Cornelius was sleeping — crushing him to death.

Credit: Allen Hall

Credit: Allen Hall

Cornelius was asleep, unaware of what was unfolding. It was only after people started screaming did the front loader stop moving — but it was too late.

The autopsy report, released 10 days later, found Cornelius died of blunt force trauma; his spleen and liver had been lacerated, and his pelvis cracked in half.

The Old Wheat Street homeless encampment survivors to this day still grieve and carry the trauma of the loss of Cornelius Taylor — who was a friend, a neighbor and family member to us. After Cornelius’ death, the city of Atlanta made promises but did not follow through.

We are calling on the city of Atlanta to change the approach to encampment evictions.

Policies that focus on getting people out of sight is not the solution — it’s violence.