Last weekend, Jammie Holmes initiated an art demonstration (with support from Library Street Collective) in five cities in the United States (Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York) that flew banners with George Floyd’s last words across the skies. With this highly visible and powerful presentation, the artist’s form of protest was meant to bring people together in their shared incense at the inhumane treatment of American citizens.
He further explains – “With this demonstration, I hope that people across the United States will use the outlets available to them to continue to demand change. The use of sky media to recount Floyd’s final words presents a contrast to the noise of digital media and employs a form of communication that is most often used by the privileged to announce sporting events, marriage proposals, or promote consumption. It is rarely used for political or social purposes – to exercise free speech – because it is an outlet unavailable to the poor and marginalized. I hope that people will be reminded of the power we can have to be heard and that coming together behind a unified message is key for real change.
Like countless silenced and fearful young black men, I have been the victim of police misconduct on a number of occasions in my life. At some point, they will realize they can’t kill us all. I hope that people across the United States will use the outlets available to them to continue to demand change. Please sign petitions to support the families of the latest victims in their pursuit of justice, and donate what you can.”
Photo by Hayden Stinebaugh
Photo by Ricky Fabrizio
Photo by Sue Kwon
Photo by Mark LaBoyteaux
Photo by Andre De Aguilar
