On December 23, 2003, our co-founder Lewis Haggins passed away on the subway. Eight months later he was buried on Potter’s Field. When our members wanted to go visit his grave and honor their friend, they were told they couldn’t. The Department of Corrections only allows relatives by blood or marriage to visit the secluded island where New York City buries its indigent dead. The way the poor and homeless are handled after they die in New York City is not the only insult the poor face… but it’s the final insult. The graves on Hart Island are dug by prisoners from Riker’s Island, so the city limits visitors for “security” reasons. The city would not allow any memorial services or other opportunities for people of faith to commend their loved ones to God. found picture on this website https://www.picturethehomeless.org/whatwedo/past-organizing-campaigns/potters-field/