The striking yellow street mural covering two blocks of a Washington D.C. street leading up to the White House proclaiming “Black Lives Matter” has inspired several similar installments in cities across the nation from New York to Denver, from Oakland California to Charlotte, North Carolina and beyond. The DC version is so large it is clearly visible to satellites above the earth. Now, former Benton Harbor City Commissioner Trenton Bowens is spearheading a similar effort for Colfax Avenue in front of Benton Harbor High School.
Bowens, who is currently working with a committee seeking donations of paint, paint brushes, rollers and other materials, says, “The mural will remind children of Benton Harbor and students of Benton Harbor that they do matter.”
The Black Lives Matter Street Mural on Colfax will be the first such art installation in Berrien County according to Bowens who was instrumental in assembling the recent large peace march from St. Joseph to Benton Harbor.
Plans are for the work to take place “within coming weeks,” according to Bowens, who invites residents and other interested parties to follow the event planning on Facebook at the highlighted link below:
https://www.facebook.com/events/758773411528998/
That page narrows the event down to Saturday, August 8th from 11am until 3pm, and also encourages the wearing of face masks, and promises that personal protective equipment will be available for participants. It also reiterates the request for donations, saying, “We are in need of paint rollers and paint and bottled water.”
Anyone interested in donating to the mural project or anyone with questions can contact Trenton Bowens at 269-861-2861.
The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market shows the Black Lives Matter street mural created by residents of Charlotte, North Carolina on Tryon Street in that city.
