MLK Jr. Community Center mural in Springfield honors black lives ended by police brutality

SPRINGFIELD — The phrase “say their names” is written in bold large print across the side of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in honor of George Floyd and other victims of police brutality.

The words are part of a mural that is being painted by three artists all donating their time to create the piece for the community center.

Ronn D. Johnson, president of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services in Springfield, said he had been looking for a way to participate in the national outcry for justice for George Floyd when the mural idea was presented to him.

“I had been thinking and reflecting and praying for some strategic words or message that I could present to our community, to our families, to the children we work with and to the staff and board members. Words we could put out as our message during these times,” Johnson said.

He decided to collaborate with Common Wealth Murals, organizer of Fresh Paint Springfield, and Rosemary Tracy Woods, executive director and chief curator of Art for the Soul Gallery, to create this permanent art installation on the side of the building.

“Indifference to issues of systemic and personal racism is something that only whites have the privilege of feeling and I think it’s our responsibility to break through that indifference, and for me art is one of the most powerful ways to do that,”said Britt Ruhe, director of Common Wealth Murals, based in Easthampton.

She said she hopes the mural will be a source of inspiration for the community.

“Art inspires us to think things and feel things that we don’t spontaneously think on our own. That’s my hope for this mural that people will come down, stand in front of it, say their names, read the names and imagine what it would feel like to stand here with your mother’s name on this wall or your child or your brother or your friend,” she said.

The mural is designed and will be painted by internationally-known muralist and graffiti artist Wane One from New York City, with assistance from two additional muralists, Nero and Souls. Wane One painted the East Columbus Parking Garage during the Fresh Paint Springfield Mural Festival in 2019 and a mural for the Friends of the Homeless Shelter on Worthington Street in Springfield. Nero painted a mural on Spring Street.

“What we are trying to do is a tribute to innocent people that have been killed by the police and to uplift and give hope to the community,” Wane One said. “We have to bring attention to injustice and racism, these things exist. They have been here for a long time.”

The mural will contain over 60 names of people of color killed by police in the last 12 months.

“There are many, many more people of color killed by police going further back than that, but we wanted to call attention to the frequency with which this happens, much more often than it’s caught on camera,” Ruhe said.

In addition to the mural, there will be a table with with paper cutouts of white doves where members of the community are encouraged to share their own tributes and remembrances.

During the kickoff event spoken word artist Kyreen Tabar Kynard, of Springfield, shared a piece he wrote called " Always Remember."

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