The Wisconsin Union Directorate Arts Committee, in partnership with the Black Men Coalition of Dane County and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, projected George Floyd’s last words on the wall of Memorial Union Thursday night as a tribute to bring attention to injustices faced by the Black community.
The event, a reading of Floyd’s last words, shared perspectives from the Black community and resources from UW-Madison’s BIPOC Coalition. Through art and programming, the tribute attempts to promote healing, reconciliation and discourse in addressing racial justice, according to WUD Art Committee director Natalia Lugovskaya.
Michael Johnson, the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, conceived the idea after he saw the transcript of George Floyd’s last words shown on a high-rise building in Portland and challenged the Madison community to emulate the same message.
“With the projection of George Floyd’s last words, we want to keep the spotlight focused on conversations surrounding racial injustice, police brutality and disparities in the treatment of people of color,” said Lugovskaya. “George Floyd’s words fell on deaf ears, and by displaying those same words tonight, we want George Floyd to be heard and remembered.”
Following the reading of Floyd’s last words, members from the Black Men Coalition of Dane County shared their experiences as members of the Black community.
“So many people in the Black community cannot breathe, that at some point, we’re all going to have to take a breath,” said community leader Alan Robinson. “The trauma of consistently witnessing murder, coupled with injustice, is perfectly encapsulated by the words ‘I can’t breathe.’”
Co-founder of the Black Men Coalition of Dane County, Corey Marionneaux, echoed Robinson’s pain in his concluding remarks.
“Understand that our community is damaged,” Marionneaux said, “We definitely need healing.”
The event took place as a second night of protests went on in Wauwatosa and the Milwaukee area in response to the Wednesday announcement that Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah will not face charges over his shooting of Alvin Cole, a Black teenager.
For its next event, WUD will host an exhibit called “We Still Here” showcasing photographs taken at protests.
