The Burlington City Council voted unanimously Monday to paint a Black Lives Matter mural on Main Street on Sunday.
The city is inviting community members to gather at 2 p.m. July 19 on Main Street, likely between South Winooski Avenue and Church Street, to paint a Black Lives Matter street mural.
Black Lives Matter street murals have been painted in cities across the country after a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd in late May and the subsequent protests against racial inequity and police brutality.
Montpelier residents led the push to paint a Black Lives Matter mural in front of the Statehouse in Montpelier in June. The mural was vandalized the next day, but has since been repainted.
Burlington Councilor Karen Paul, D-Ward 6, said the mural expands on the city’s recent racial justice work, including $1 million in funding for racial equity initiatives in the mayor’s budget.
“There are some who will say this mural is a performative distraction from real policy changes,” Paul said. “And if it weren’t for the actions that we as a body have taken … I might be inclined to agree with that. While some will view a mural as a symbol, the reality is over hundreds of years, murals have been a tool of persuasion.”
The creation of the mural will be subject to mask wearing and social distancing guidelines, Paul said.
Volunteers, with the oversight of the city’s Department of Public Works, will ensure the mural remains on the street through October 2023, at which time the City Council will consider next steps.
