Latest news with #BlackLivesMatterPlaza
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘He should be alive today': Ilhan Omar marks 5 years since George Floyd's murder with call to 'dismantle systemic racism'
Ilhan Omar condemns the brutal murder of George Floyd On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death, US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said his murder should never be forgotten and neither should the urgent need to reform America's criminal justice system. In a series of posts on social media, Omar, who represents Minnesota's 5th congressional district, said, 'It's been five years since George Floyd's murder. He should be alive today. No amount of grandstanding or rewriting history will change that fact.' She added, 'On this day—and every day—we must commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice. That must include dismantling systemic racism and radically transforming our approach to criminal justice. ' George Floyd was a 46-year-old Black man and was killed in Minneapolis in 2020 when white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. The killing, captured on a bystander's phone, sparked worldwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Chauvin was later convicted of murder and sentenced to 22 years in prison. Omar's message came as people across the country marked five years since George Floyd's death. In Houston , where Floyd grew up, his family gathered near his gravesite. In Minneapolis, where he was killed, locals held a church service, a candlelight vigil, and a gospel concert at George Floyd Square, the street corner now named after him. In another post, Omar reflected on the wider impact of Floyd's death. 'His murder ignited urgent conversations about the state of our nation, the state of policing, and the state of our justice system — as well as who is entitled to justice,' she wrote. 'And unfortunately, as we have seen every time there is a movement for the liberation of Black people, for equality, for justice, we see a backslide — a backlash — where things not only stop progressing, but where people are emboldened to express their racism publicly. ' That backlash, she suggested, could be seen in recent efforts to undo police reforms and diversity programmes introduced in the wake of Floyd's killing. In Minneapolis, reforms introduced after a federal investigation into police misconduct are under threat, as US President Donald Trump 's administration has questioned their legitimacy, calling the data used 'flawed' and the agreements 'handcuffing' local police. However, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey insisted the city would fully comply with the new consent decree. Nationally, Trump has rolled back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies across federal agencies and the military. In Washington DC, the Black Lives Matter Plaza has been removed. In Houston, a famous mural of Floyd was recently demolished as part of a building teardown. Omar also condemned those calling for Chauvin to be pardoned. 'We are seeing unjust calls for Chauvin to be pardoned,' she wrote. 'Regardless of any federal pardon, he still faces the state murder conviction and will remain in jail. He will always be known to the people of this country and the world as a murderer.' Her posts come as surveys show a drop in public belief that Floyd's death led to lasting change. According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, 72% of Americans say little or no improvement has been made in the lives of Black people. Support for the Black Lives Matter movement has also declined by 15% since its peak in 2020. Floyd's family and supporters have continued to honour his memory and push for lasting reform. 'We still have a lot of work before we see true justice and liberation,' Omar said. 'But today I'm thinking of George Floyd's family as they continue to grieve his loss. May he forever rest in power.'
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Black Lives Matter street murals stand as an enduring reminder of protests against racism
Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., ordered crews to remove the BLM mural in March under pressure from the Republican-led Congress. Bowser noted that the mural — an act of defiance against President Trump's first administration — 'inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Keyonna Jones, one of seven artists who painted Black Lives Matter Plaza, said she understands why Bowser acted and that the mural's removal doesn't take away from its historic importance. Advertisement 'To see it replicated all over the world within 24 hours,' Jones said during the demolition of the plaza. 'I think is what really speaks to the power of art and so that is my favorite part about the whole experience.' According to Urban Art Mapping, a database of public street art, nearly 150 'Black Lives Matter' murals remain. Advertisement Lindsey Owen, an art historian in Chicago, said each one represents the shared cultural and political purpose of a community. 'Even as BLM Plaza is dismantled, the reciprocal mirroring of these murals ensures their persistence,' Owen said, 'now also reflecting the absence of spaces that have been removed.' Here are details of some notable BLM murals: Alabama In 1899, Hobson City became Alabama's first self-governed all-Black municipality. In 2020, residents including Mayor Alberta McCrory painted 'Black Towns Matter' on its main street, Martin Luther King Boulevard. In Montgomery, a temporary installation was established around Court Square Fountain, once the site of a slave market. City officials said the mural will be washed away once wear and tear begin to show. Michelle Browder, the artist, said her design reflects the history of the area, and that the community signaled a readiness to address racial inequity by uniting to complete the mural. 'It gives us a sense of uniqueness and shows that our statement has not only significance but also invites people to look down, read and reflect on what happened in this space,' Browder said. California In downtown Oakland, residents and community groups painted 'Black Lives Matter' along three blocks of 15th Steet. A month later, another mural was erected by The Queer Healing Arts Center honoring Black Trans and Queer Lives. The city council in neighboring Berkeley then approved a BLM painting in front of city hall. A rainbow-colored mural along the center lane of Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard states 'All Black Lives Matter' in celebration of the BLM movement and transgender people of color. Mural designer, Luckie Alexander, said its message resonates stronger than ever today. Advertisement 'Seeing the BLM Plaza (in Washington) destroyed feels like we are going back in time, when Black folks and LGBTQ+ had to struggle just to exist,' Alexander said. 'With the one here in Hollywood still remaining, it gives me hope that California is still a safe place to live.' Connecticut In Hartford, a Black Lives Matter mural — each letter painted by a different artist — was created on Trinity Street, just steps from the Capitol. That mural was repainted in 2023 after it was defaced with a swastika. Andre Rochester, who painted one of the Ts in 2020 and 2023, said the mural represents the city's Black and brown population. 'It was placed with intention,' Rochester said, adding: 'It makes a loud statement, that the City of Hartford cares.' Tyrone Motley, who inked the V during the 2023 repainting, said it is important that Hartford continues to protect the mural even as others around the country disappear. 'I feel work like this is ageless,' Motley said. 'I'm pretty sure in 10 years people can look at a piece like this and still get the message.' Florida A 'Black Lives Matter' mural in St. Petersburg mural was repainted in 2023 to read 'Black History Matters.' Illinois One of the murals that sprung up across Chicago — a 100-foot 'Black Lives Matter' display in Oak Park — was vandalized to read 'All Lives Matter.' The original message was later restored. Minnesota In Minneapolis, where a bystander used her cellphone to record Floyd's killing at the hands of police, 16 artists participated in the creation of 'Black Lives Matter' in 24-foot-high letters on the street outside the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum. Missouri In Florissant, activists attempted to paint a mural in front of the police department on North Lindberg Avenue, but the city kept painting over it. Advertisement In Kansas City, six murals were painted across one block, totaling a span of 2,000 feet. The murals were enhanced in response to vandalism, but some are now deteriorating. New Jersey A block-long mural on Grand Street in Jersey City took two weeks to complete. In East Orange, 100 people participated in the creation of a 9,000 square-foot mural. New York In New York City, a mural in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan and others in Harlem and Brooklyn were defaced with black paint by anti-abortion protesters. Texas Six murals were painted across Dallas in 2020. Abounding Prosperity, Inc., which provides health services to the Black community, secured private funding to ensure they will be maintained for 10 years. Washington A permanent mural was installed in Seattle's Capitol Hill. The city and the Vivid Matter Collective — an artists' group — repaint and maintain the mural every year. In 2021, a second mural was installed outside Seattle City Hall. The organization will repaint that mural in June.
NBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Black Lives Matter street murals stand as an enduring reminder of protests against racism
In 2020, after a summer of protests rocked U.S. cities, the words "Black Lives Matter" went from the rallying cry of racial justice demonstrators to words lining the very roads along which they marched. After the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, towns and cities nationwide commissioned artists to paint BLM street murals in solidarity with the reckoning on police brutality and racism prompted by the unprecedented, multiracial mass rallies. Five years on, many of the murals are still maintained by activists and community groups, while wear and tear, construction and vandalism spelled the end of others. And the mural widely thought to have inspired them all — 35-foot-tall (11-meter-tall) yellow capital letters painted on a street one block from the White House — is gone. Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., ordered crews to remove the BLM mural in March under pressure from the Republican-led Congress. Bowser noted that the mural — an act of defiance against President Donald Trump's first administration — "inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period." Keyonna Jones, one of seven artists who painted Black Lives Matter Plaza, said she understands why Bowser acted and that the mural's removal doesn't take away from its historic importance. "To see it replicated all over the world within 24 hours," Jones said during the demolition of the plaza. "I think is what really speaks to the power of art and so that is my favorite part about the whole experience." According to Urban Art Mapping, a database of public street art, nearly 150 "Black Lives Matter" murals remain. Lindsey Owen, an art historian in Chicago, said each one represents the shared cultural and political purpose of a community. "Even as BLM Plaza is dismantled, the reciprocal mirroring of these murals ensures their persistence," Owen said, "now also reflecting the absence of spaces that have been removed." Here are details of some notable BLM murals: Alabama In 1899, Hobson City became Alabama's first self-governed all-Black municipality. In 2020, residents including Mayor Alberta McCrory painted "Black Towns Matter" on its main street, Martin Luther King Boulevard. In Montgomery, a temporary installation was established around Court Square Fountain, once the site of a slave market. City officials said the mural will be washed away once wear and tear begin to show. Michelle Browder, the artist, said her design reflects the history of the area, and that the community signaled a readiness to address racial inequity by uniting to complete the mural. "It gives us a sense of uniqueness and shows that our statement has not only significance but also invites people to look down, read and reflect on what happened in this space," Browder said. California In downtown Oakland, residents and community groups painted "Black Lives Matter" along three blocks of 15th Steet. A month later, another mural was erected by The Queer Healing Arts Center honoring Black Trans and Queer Lives. The city council in neighboring Berkeley then approved a BLM painting in front of city hall. A rainbow-colored mural along the center lane of Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard states "All Black Lives Matter" in celebration of the BLM movement and transgender people of color. Mural designer, Luckie Alexander, said its message resonates stronger than ever today. "Seeing the BLM Plaza (in Washington) destroyed feels like we are going back in time, when Black folks and LGBTQ+ had to struggle just to exist," Alexander said. "With the one here in Hollywood still remaining, it gives me hope that California is still a safe place to live." Connecticut In Hartford, a Black Lives Matter mural — each letter painted by a different artist — was created on Trinity Street, just steps from the Capitol. That mural was repainted in 2023 after it was defaced with a swastika. Andre Rochester, who painted one of the Ts in 2020 and 2023, said the mural represents the city's Black and brown population. "It was placed with intention," Rochester said, adding: "It makes a loud statement, that the City of Hartford cares." Tyrone Motley, who inked the V during the 2023 repainting, said it is important that Hartford continues to protect the mural even as others around the country disappear. "I feel work like this is ageless," Motley said. "I'm pretty sure in 10 years people can look at a piece like this and still get the message." Florida A "Black Lives Matter" mural in St. Petersburg mural was repainted in 2023 to read "Black History Matters." Illinois One of the murals that sprung up across Chicago — a 100-foot (30-meter) "Black Lives Matter" display in Oak Park — was vandalized to read "All Lives Matter." The original message was later restored. Minnesota In Minneapolis, where a bystander used her cellphone to record Floyd's killing at the hands of police, 16 artists participated in the creation of "Black Lives Matter" in 24-foot-high (7-meter-high) letters on the street outside the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum. Missouri In Florissant, activists attempted to paint a mural in front of the police department on North Lindberg Avenue but the city kept painting over it. In Kansas City, six murals were painted across one block, totaling a span of 2,000 feet (610 meters). The murals were enhanced in response to vandalism, but some are now deteriorating. New Jersey A block-long mural on Grand Street in Jersey City took two weeks to complete. In East Orange, 100 people participated in the creation of a 9,000 square-foot (840-square-meter) mural. New York In New York City, a mural in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan and others in Harlem and Brooklyn were defaced with black paint by anti-abortion protesters. Texas Six murals were painted across Dallas in 2020. Abounding Prosperity, Inc., which provides health services to the Black community, secured private funding to ensure they will be maintained for 10 years. Washington A permanent mural was installed in Seattle's Capitol Hill. The city and the Vivid Matter Collective — an artists' group — repaint and maintain the mural every year. In 2021, a second mural was installed outside Seattle City Hall. The organization will repaint that mural in June.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Black Lives Matter street murals stand as an enduring reminder of protests against racism
In 2020, after a summer of protests rocked U.S. cities, the words 'Black Lives Matter' went from the rallying cry of racial justice demonstrators to words lining the very roads along which they marched. After the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, towns and cities nationwide commissioned artists to paint BLM street murals in solidarity with the reckoning on police brutality and racism prompted by the unprecedented, multiracial mass rallies. Five years on, many of the murals are still maintained by activists and community groups, while wear and tear, construction and vandalism spelled the end of others. And the mural widely thought to have inspired them all — 35-foot-tall (11-meter-tall) yellow capital letters painted on a street one block from the White House — is gone. Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., ordered crews to remove the BLM mural in March under pressure from the Republican-led Congress. Bowser noted that the mural — an act of defiance against President Donald Trump's first administration — 'inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period.' Keyonna Jones, one of seven artists who painted Black Lives Matter Plaza, said she understands why Bowser acted and that the mural's removal doesn't take away from its historic importance. 'To see it replicated all over the world within 24 hours,' Jones said during the demolition of the plaza. "I think is what really speaks to the power of art and so that is my favorite part about the whole experience." According to Urban Art Mapping, a database of public street art, nearly 150 'Black Lives Matter' murals remain. Lindsey Owen, an art historian in Chicago, said each one represents the shared cultural and political purpose of a community. 'Even as BLM Plaza is dismantled, the reciprocal mirroring of these murals ensures their persistence,' Owen said, 'now also reflecting the absence of spaces that have been removed.' Here are details of some notable BLM murals: Alabama In 1899, Hobson City became Alabama's first self-governed all-Black municipality. In 2020, residents including Mayor Alberta McCrory painted 'Black Towns Matter' on its main street, Martin Luther King Boulevard. In Montgomery, a temporary installation was established around Court Square Fountain, once the site of a slave market. City officials said the mural will be washed away once wear and tear begin to show. Michelle Browder, the artist, said her design reflects the history of the area, and that the community signaled a readiness to address racial inequity by uniting to complete the mural. 'It gives us a sense of uniqueness and shows that our statement has not only significance but also invites people to look down, read and reflect on what happened in this space,' Browder said. California In downtown Oakland, residents and community groups painted 'Black Lives Matter' along three blocks of 15th Steet. A month later, another mural was erected by The Queer Healing Arts Center honoring Black Trans and Queer Lives. The city council in neighboring Berkeley then approved a BLM painting in front of city hall. A rainbow-colored mural along the center lane of Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard states 'All Black Lives Matter' in celebration of the BLM movement and transgender people of color. Mural designer, Luckie Alexander, said its message resonates stronger than ever today. "Seeing the BLM Plaza (in Washington) destroyed feels like we are going back in time, when Black folks and LGBTQ+ had to struggle just to exist," Alexander said. 'With the one here in Hollywood still remaining, it gives me hope that California is still a safe place to live.' Connecticut In Hartford, a Black Lives Matter mural — each letter painted by a different artist — was created on Trinity Street, just steps from the Capitol. That mural was repainted in 2023 after it was defaced with a swastika. Andre Rochester, who painted one of the Ts in 2020 and 2023, said the mural represents the city's Black and brown population. 'It was placed with intention,' Rochester said, adding: 'It makes a loud statement, that the City of Hartford cares.' Tyrone Motley, who inked the V during the 2023 repainting, said it is important that Hartford continues to protect the mural even as others around the country disappear. 'I feel work like this is ageless,' Motley said. 'I'm pretty sure in 10 years people can look at a piece like this and still get the message.' Florida A 'Black Lives Matter' mural in St. Petersburg mural was repainted in 2023 to read 'Black History Matters.' Illinois One of the murals that sprung up across Chicago — a 100-foot (30-meter) 'Black Lives Matter' display in Oak Park — was vandalized to read 'All Lives Matter." The original message was later restored. Minnesota In Minneapolis, where a bystander used her cellphone to record Floyd's killing at the hands of police, 16 artists participated in the creation of 'Black Lives Matter' in 24-foot-high (7-meter-high) letters on the street outside the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum. Missouri In Florissant, activists attempted to paint a mural in front of the police department on North Lindberg Avenue but the city kept painting over it. In Kansas City, six murals were painted across one block, totaling a span of 2,000 feet (610 meters). The murals were enhanced in response to vandalism, but some are now deteriorating. New Jersey A block-long mural on Grand Street in Jersey City took two weeks to complete. In East Orange, 100 people participated in the creation of a 9,000 square-foot (840-square-meter) mural. New York In New York City, a mural in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan and others in Harlem and Brooklyn were defaced with black paint by anti-abortion protesters. Texas Six murals were painted across Dallas in 2020. Abounding Prosperity, Inc., which provides health services to the Black community, secured private funding to ensure they will be maintained for 10 years. Washington A permanent mural was installed in Seattle's Capitol Hill. The city and the Vivid Matter Collective — an artists' group — repaint and maintain the mural every year. In 2021, a second mural was installed outside Seattle City Hall. The organization will repaint that mural in June.
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Black Lives Matter street murals stand as an enduring reminder of protests against racism
In 2020, after a summer of protests rocked U.S. cities, the words 'Black Lives Matter' went from the rallying cry of racial justice demonstrators to words lining the very roads along which they marched. After the deaths of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery , towns and cities nationwide commissioned artists to paint BLM street murals in solidarity with the reckoning on police brutality and racism prompted by the unprecedented, multiracial mass rallies. Five years on, many of the murals are still maintained by activists and community groups, while wear and tear, construction and vandalism spelled the end of others. And the mural widely thought to have inspired them all — 35-foot-tall (11-meter-tall) yellow capital letters painted on a street one block from the White House — is gone. Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., ordered crews to remove the BLM mural in March under pressure from the Republican-led Congress. Bowser noted that the mural — an act of defiance against President Donald Trump's first administration — 'inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period.' Keyonna Jones, one of seven artists who painted Black Lives Matter Plaza, said she understands why Bowser acted and that the mural's removal doesn't take away from its historic importance. 'To see it replicated all over the world within 24 hours,' Jones said during the demolition of the plaza. 'I think is what really speaks to the power of art and so that is my favorite part about the whole experience.' According to Urban Art Mapping, a database of public street art, nearly 150 'Black Lives Matter' murals remain. Lindsey Owen, an art historian in Chicago, said each one represents the shared cultural and political purpose of a community. 'Even as BLM Plaza is dismantled, the reciprocal mirroring of these murals ensures their persistence,' Owen said, 'now also reflecting the absence of spaces that have been removed.' Here are details of some notable BLM murals: Alabama In 1899, Hobson City became Alabama's first self-governed all-Black municipality. In 2020, residents including Mayor Alberta McCrory painted 'Black Towns Matter' on its main street, Martin Luther King Boulevard. In Montgomery, a temporary installation was established around Court Square Fountain, once the site of a slave market. City officials said the mural will be washed away once wear and tear begin to show. Michelle Browder, the artist, said her design reflects the history of the area, and that the community signaled a readiness to address racial inequity by uniting to complete the mural. 'It gives us a sense of uniqueness and shows that our statement has not only significance but also invites people to look down, read and reflect on what happened in this space,' Browder said. California In downtown Oakland, residents and community groups painted 'Black Lives Matter' along three blocks of 15th Steet. A month later, another mural was erected by The Queer Healing Arts Center honoring Black Trans and Queer Lives. The city council in neighboring Berkeley then approved a BLM painting in front of city hall. A rainbow-colored mural along the center lane of Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard states 'All Black Lives Matter' in celebration of the BLM movement and transgender people of color. Mural designer, Luckie Alexander, said its message resonates stronger than ever today. 'Seeing the BLM Plaza (in Washington) destroyed feels like we are going back in time, when Black folks and LGBTQ+ had to struggle just to exist,' Alexander said. 'With the one here in Hollywood still remaining, it gives me hope that California is still a safe place to live.' Connecticut In Hartford, a Black Lives Matter mural — each letter painted by a different artist — was created on Trinity Street, just steps from the Capitol. That mural was repainted in 2023 after it was defaced with a swastika. Andre Rochester, who painted one of the Ts in 2020 and 2023, said the mural represents the city's Black and brown population. 'It was placed with intention,' Rochester said, adding: 'It makes a loud statement, that the City of Hartford cares.' Tyrone Motley, who inked the V during the 2023 repainting, said it is important that Hartford continues to protect the mural even as others around the country disappear. 'I feel work like this is ageless,' Motley said. 'I'm pretty sure in 10 years people can look at a piece like this and still get the message.' Florida A 'Black Lives Matter' mural in St. Petersburg mural was repainted in 2023 to read 'Black History Matters.' Illinois One of the murals that sprung up across Chicago — a 100-foot (30-meter) 'Black Lives Matter' display in Oak Park — was vandalized to read 'All Lives Matter.' The original message was later restored. Minnesota In Minneapolis, where a bystander used her cellphone to record Floyd's killing at the hands of police, 16 artists participated in the creation of 'Black Lives Matter' in 24-foot-high (7-meter-high) letters on the street outside the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum. Missouri In Florissant, activists attempted to paint a mural in front of the police department on North Lindberg Avenue but the city kept painting over it. In Kansas City, six murals were painted across one block, totaling a span of 2,000 feet (610 meters). The murals were enhanced in response to vandalism, but some are now deteriorating. New Jersey A block-long mural on Grand Street in Jersey City took two weeks to complete. In East Orange, 100 people participated in the creation of a 9,000 square-foot (840-square-meter) mural. New York In New York City, a mural in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan and others in Harlem and Brooklyn were defaced with black paint by anti-abortion protesters. Texas Six murals were painted across Dallas in 2020. Abounding Prosperity, Inc., which provides health services to the Black community, secured private funding to ensure they will be maintained for 10 years. Washington A permanent mural was installed in Seattle's Capitol Hill. The city and the Vivid Matter Collective — an artists' group — repaint and maintain the mural every year. In 2021, a second mural was installed outside Seattle City Hall. The organization will repaint that mural in June.
