Black Lives Matter Murals To Be Painted In Union County

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Two Black Lives Matter murals will be painted in Roselle and in Hillside.

The murals, sponsored by the Union County Freeholder Board, will have eight-foot letters in yellow and will be painted on the street in front of Borough Hall in the 200 block of Chestnut Street in Roselle, and on Liberty Avenue at/around Shelton Terrace in Hillside.

Both street murals should be completed by the end of the week, weather permitting.

"This Freeholder Board expresses its unequivocal support for the Black Lives Matter movement," said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. "Affirming that Black Lives Matter is expressing our support for inclusivity, working for a more just and equitable political and economic system for Blacks, and fighting for justice against racist practices to which Black people have been subjected to throughout their lives."

Along with the murals, banners will be placed throughout the county and the Union County Advisory Board on the Status of Minorities will also continue to dedicate its work to social justice efforts, including Black Lives Matter in the county.

Freeholder Andrea Staten of Roselle and Freeholder Angela Garretson of Hillside, and Freeholder Rebecca Williams started the campaign for the murals.

"Black Lives Matter is meant to represent a commitment to social justice in our community and a call for all people of color to be valued, treated humanely, and fairly. It's our demand for equal treatment under the laws of the land. It's our demand to be allowed to work, recreate, and sleep without fear for losing our lives, being mistreated, or fearing for the lives of our children and family members. This movement must continue forward until all understand this and we create an environment where Blacks have an equal opportunity to thrive in," Staten said.

The Black Lives Matter originally began as a movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against African-Americans. Since the George Floyd incident in Minnesota, the movement has grown exponentially still embracing its original goals, but also broadening its mission.

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