21-05-2025
George Floyd mural in Third Ward demolished
A Third Ward building famous for having a mural commemorating George Floyd was torn down this week, ahead of the five-year mark of his death.
Why it matters The demolition sparked outcry from community members, who lamented that it was a "project of erasure."
The building that housed the mural, at the corner of Elgin and Ennis streets, was left a pile of rubble with no clear future.
Flashback: The mural was painted in 2020, after Floyd's murder at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer five years ago Sunday.
The building also housed other works of art and was part of a string of buildings on the block with murals. Others still intact nearby commemorate Breonna Taylor, Vanessa Guillén and rapper Takeoff.
The vacant building was damaged in a fire in 2024 but remained standing until this week.
What they're saying: Third Ward historian Naomi Carrier told KHOU she was upset to see the building destroyed and wants more preservation of Third Ward history.
"Give me two years and that'll be a two- or three- to four-story condo on this block," Carrier said. "Preservation helps us know what came before us."
The intrigue: Other mural dedications to Floyd are still standing around the neighborhood.
They include one by Houston artist Donkeeboy near Jack Yates High School, where Floyd attended. The mural was surrounded by flowers and a statuette of Abraham Lincoln this week.
Plus, another mural depicting Floyd at the former site of Turkey Leg Hut is still intact — although its future is uncertain amid the restaurant's downfall.
What's next: To commemorate the anniversary of his death, the Houston Public Library is hosting the 4th annual George Floyd Memorial Lecture on Thursday.
