‘It feels good’: Tamir Rice Butterfly Memorial becomes Cleveland historical landmark

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) -It’s been nearly 12 years since Tamir Rice was gunned down by Cleveland police.

The memorial honoring his life is now officially a historical landmark.

“It feels good. I feel happy and accomplished and grateful” Samaria Rice, Tamir’s mother, said.

The memorial is just feet from where Tamir was shot and killed outside the Cudell Recreation Center. It will now be a permanent part of Cleveland’s history.

But Samaria says that permanence comes with pain.

“It’s a mixture of feelings. It’s a beautiful picture. It’s a beautiful plaque but there is a lot of pain there,” Samaria said

Since Tamir’s death, Samaria has become an advocate against police brutality across the country. She’s the founder of the Tamir Rice Foundation, and she’s still calling for accountability.

The two officer involved in the shooting have been cleared by a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury and Cleveland’s Critical Incident Review Commission.

There was a ceremony to honor the landmark.

Dozens attended, including family, city leaders and Councilwoman Nikki Hudson. Hudson presented the landmark plaque to Samaria.

Hudson said she lives not far from the park and remembers that day back in 2014.

“I live nearby here so I heard the shots and my own son who is almost 12 was a baby,” Hudson said. “I remember holding him and being absolutely heartbroken for Ms. Rice.”

Samaria says upgrades are coming to the memorial. She recognized this is a positive step, but nothing can erase what she’s lost.