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Local artists paint 'Black Lives Matter' mural outside Salt Lake City hall


Local artists paint "Black Lives Matter" outside Salt Lake's City and County Building on Tuesday, Agu. 4, 2020. (Photo: Chris Williams){p}{/p}
Local artists paint "Black Lives Matter" outside Salt Lake's City and County Building on Tuesday, Agu. 4, 2020. (Photo: Chris Williams)

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After weeks of planning, a group of local artists spent Tuesday evening painting "Black Lives Matter" outside the city and county building in Salt Lake City.

Eight artists were selected, each to paint two letters of the mural. The city reported each of them would be given a $300 stipend for supplies.

Painting is expected to be completed Tuesday night.

Though some in the community criticized the mural when the city's intent to have it painted was announced, Lex Scott of Black Lives Matter Utah said it is an important message.

"This mural is a symbol of how this country is changing, and coming to understand the movement," Scott said on July 8.

Q&A with Mayor Mendenhall on Black Lives Matter mural at city hall

Other cities throughout the U.S. had similar murals painted after George Floyd was killed by police in Minnesota and weeks of nationwide protesting ensued. It brought the issues of excessive force and racial inequity in policing back to the forefront of many Americans' news feeds, but activists like Scott have aimed to reform policing for years.

"We have been in these streets working towards justice and equality for 6 years. Now we get a visual representation of our work and goals to truly achieve justice in this country," Scott said.

The painting was scheduled the day after Mayor Erin Mendenhall announced a series of reforms to the Salt Lake City Police Department's policies for use of force, body cameras, and search and seizure.

Those were planned in coordination with the police department, Mendenhall said.

Scott praised the reform efforts on Monday, telling 2News: “This is a huge win. People's’ lives will be saved by what Mayor Mendenhall did today."

The reforms have been heavily criticized by the Salt Lake Police Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.

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