AS the Black Lives Matter Movement in Guyana picks up steam, the group is following in the footsteps of its US counterpart and taking its message to the streets, literally, with street murals of the “Black Lives Matter” phrase set to be painted on streets across the country.

Representatives from the movement, last Tuesday, began the painting of a “Black Lives Matter” mural at the Square of the Revolution, aptly just in front of the 1973 Monument of Cuffy, the rebellious slave who became a national hero in Guyana following the Berbice Slave Rebellion.

The mural is the second of its kind with one already completed in Bartica. Layout Coordinator for the Project, and member of the Movement, Lloyd Blanchard, explained that the two murals are a part of a set, with others expected to be painted in Linden, and New Amsterdam.

Blanchard said that the Movement has also been in discussion with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council to have several others painted around the capital city.
“It gives the opportunity to instill in Guyanese that black lives matter and we are pushing back against systematic racism,” Blanchard noted.

In Guyana, a Black Lives Matter – Guyana chapter, was established earlier this year following the incident with George Floyd, an African American who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes; and as severe racism that started to surface due to the country’s elections situation.

“It gives me a visual voice in support of the black lives within Guyana and our mission to promote the push back against systematic racism,” Blanchard further said.
Amputee, Gary Morris, was motivated to help out in the project after he observed the activity and decided to assist the members in their painting.

“I come and see them man doing the hustle, so I just fall in and help out because all of we is one. To me, this signifies the struggles we fighting, and let us know that we, as blacks, have to unite. But it’s not about race, we looking at the times and what’s going on,” the 33-year-old shared.

Started in the United States in 2013, Black Lives Matter went from being a phrase against violence inflicted on Black communities to becoming a registered organization, and later a global social movement in  protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against people of African descent all across the globe.
The movement originated following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of African American teen, Trayvon Martin. The movement picked up more attention earlier this year following Floyd’s death.