By Omari Salisbury

Garfield High School celebrated its annual Purple and White Day Assembly last Friday. Traditionally, it is a day of smiles and laughter as it signifies the last time the entire student body will come together to recognize and uplift each other before the senior class heads toward graduation in a few days. This year’s Purple and White Day was in doubt of happening at all following the tragic and senseless murder of student Amarr A’Shawn Murphy-Payne two weeks ago just feet from the entrance to the gym on the Garfield campus as he intervened to stop a fight between two students. 

This year’s condensed assembly was short in time but long in meaning and emotion. Students struggled to balance the joy and accomplishment of another school year ending with the sadness and grief of a Bulldog lost, a young life that ended far too soon, and the trauma that still reverberates throughout the campus. It is all still so raw and has brought the realities of gun violence back home to a campus that has struggled with student safety over the years.     

The assembly began with a stirring gospel solo and a moment of silence to honor Murphy-Paine. Then the band played, and Purple and White Day festivities began, including musical chairs, the much-anticipated student-vs.-faculty basketball game, and recognition of the sports teams. 

After Principal Dr. Tarance Hart addressed students and Amarr’s family, it was time for the much-anticipated moment that all the students were looking forward to. The seniors stood up, vacated their area of the gym, and exited the building; from there, all the other classes switched positions in the gym, with the junior class of 2025 now taking up the bleachers where the seniors were sitting. After a few minutes of jubilant chaos as students crisscrossed the gym, the junior class was seated, and Amarr’s family slowly walked across the gym floor to join his classmates while being welcomed by hugs, tears, and the class of 2025 proudly and loudly saying his name “Amar A’Shawn Murphy-Paine.” 

#BulldogStrong Video

Producer - Omari Salisbury 

Camera - Francisco “Dead Eyez” Lopez

Edit - Ruben Solis 

Photo - ProofNThePlay