Streets all over the country are filled with Americans supporting the “Black Lives Matter” movement, and now the statement has literally been written on the pavement itself.
The words were recently painted between Hudson Avenue and Lancaster Street in Albany, New York, about three streets away from Governor Cuomo’s office. The Governor has been supportive of protestors thus far and has been saying that he will take legislative action to reform the criminal justice system, but now he’ll have a daily reminder of just how important the issue is to constituents. A package of bills encompassing many forms of police reform was just passed by NY legislators, and he has said that he will be signing them into law quickly.
I stand with the protestors.
This week we turn that solidarity into action.
This week I will sign legislation that leads the nation in police reform.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 10, 2020
According to the New York Post, an LGBTQ+ group in Albany called “In Our Own Voice” made a request to the Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s office on Friday to paint the street. So, the area was prepped over the weekend and on Tuesday, June 9 the words were painted in big, bold yellow letters.
The Mayor told the Post they were happy to comply with the community’s request, and said “there are those who say we need more than just a ‘Black Lives Matter’ sign…But, this isn’t just about signs.” She explained how she had just signed a local executive order banning the use of chokeholds by law enforcement.
#BlackLivesMattter painted on Lark Street in Albany NY #larkstreet #albanyny #mavicpro2 pic.twitter.com/tRcWusavV5
— jim franco (@jimfranco961) June 9, 2020
And it isn’t the only street that has been redesigned with the statement. Last week, the street in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. was renamed and painted “Black Lives Matter Plaza” in honor of protestors.
Also, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday that one street in each of NYC’s five boroughs will be painted and co-named Black Lives Matter.
featured image source: Twitter/ @joe_bonilla