Charlotte Community Activists Unhappy Council Votes To Reopen Street Where Black Lives Matter Mural Is Painted

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) A protester holds up a sign during the YG x BLMLA x BLDPWR protest and march June 07, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

The Black Lives Matter Mural in uptown Charlotte has become a landmark. It is a place where the Charlotte community can remember Black lives lost at the hands of police. The BLM has become a place to celebrate diversity and unity. The mural, on North Tryon Street between 3rd and 4th streets, is now open to traffic.

Charlotte City Council approved reopening the street after several businesses complained the street closure hurt their business. Barricades protect the mural. Several local artists painted it in response to the death of George Floyd.

Floyd, a Black man, died after a white Minnesota police officer placed his knee on his neck for over eight minutes. The death of Floyd sparked several protests around the world.

Community activists say they want the city to preserve the mural. The city says the street closure was never intended to be permanent. It was part of a pilot project to find residents more pedestrian-friendly options.

There is one city council member agrees the city needs a more permanent solution. Councilman Larken Egleston and others say they would support creating a pedestrian-friendly plaza in Uptown.

A committee is working on implementing that project.

Janine Davis