The Port Townsend City Council unanimously agreed to allow the painting of a giant street mural declaring “Black Lives Matter” on Water Street downtown in time for the Juneteenth Freedom March, Friday, June 19.
The council also agreed at its meeting Monday to explore the formation of an ad hoc committee that would review policing and public safety. A special council meeting will be held June 29 to review a resolution to create the new committee.
Also gaining momentum: a proposal to rename Jackson Street after civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The idea to create a Black Lives Matter street mural — reminiscent of others painted on major streets in Washington, D.C., Oakland, California, and Denver, Colorado — comes in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last month.
While murals elsewhere in the country were first painted in large letters using yellow traffic paint, organizers of the effort envision a Black Lives Matter mural similar to the one on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, where each letter is its own colorful kaleidoscopic of artwork.
Support snowballed for the mural proposal Monday afternoon before the city council meeting.
By Monday night’s meeting, more than two dozen letters had been submitted in support of the idea, with some citizens also asking for the city’s police department to be “defunded,” with part of the department’s budget being devoted instead to social service needs, community resource officers and other areas.
The council decision came after more than two hours of public testimony and council deliberation.
More than 25 letters were read during the Zoom meeting before others added their voices.
Ariana Johnson wrote, saying the mural was the right thing at the right time.
“We are facing a crisis and collectively need to lead and be heard and let our fellow Black and brown neighbors know we are no longer bystanders. Let’s do the right thing and show our support,” Johnson said.
Lacey Allred asked the council to OK the mural as well as putting police funding into community services and stopping officers from conducting wellness checks, having them present in schools, or wearing weapons on their hips.
The city should no longer be silent “in our white bubble of privilege,” she said in an email to the city’s elected leaders.
“Please let Jefferson County be on the right side of history. This is a movement and a revolution is happening again for the third time to bring justice and equality to Black folks that they have been fighting for their freedom over 401 years now.”
The mural was one small step to show Port Townsend’s solidarity, Allred said.
“Like much of the world, I have been gutted by the current upheaval against systemic racism and injustice in our country. For me, it has been a call to be a better ally — to listen, to educate myself, to speak up, and show up. Unifying, peaceful events and messaging are imperative to this movement,” added Sara Radka.
“The existence of public art is a reflection that the community cares and invests in its quality of life — I know the people of Port Townsend care, so let’s say it proudly with art!” Radka said.
Supporters asked that paint and other supplies for the mural be paid for by the city through the Port Townsend Arts Commission.
And though council support for the idea was nearly instantaneous, the mural’s fate appeared uncertain after extended chin-stroking on the idea by several city officials.
Some raised concerns about the permanence of the mural and its proposed location in the city’s historic downtown district, and suggested it go elsewhere.
City Manager John Mauro said the mural faced immediate hurdles. The timing of having it painted and done by Friday was a concern, and Mauro said he honestly didn’t know if it could be finished by then.
He also raised the issue of the permanent nature of new art in the historic district, and the role of the city’s Historic Preservation Committee in reviewing the mural proposal. Street closures would also have to be worked out, and there were also worries about social distancing by the artists creating the mural, Mauro noted.
Another matter: First Amendment concerns and a potential city art policy, with the consideration that another group might want to pursue the same idea but with a more unwelcome message.
That said, Mauro also noted the weather would appear to be cooperative this week for a painting project.
Still, some on the council offered a hearty endorsement.
“I appreciate the passion and the interest. I really think this is a fantastic idea,” said Councilman Owen Rowe.
Councilwoman Pam Adams recalled the comments of a supporter who said the mural project would involve a wide and diverse swath of the community, young and old, working together to make a statement that would resonate with residents and visitors to Port Townsend.
“I love that picture,” Adams said. “Just that whole idea of having the community involved and having it ready for the Juneteenth [march].”
Much talk was devoted to the permanent nature of the mural, with some suggesting a more lasting artwork should be done on a street or wall outside the downtown historic district.
Adams said the city could also name a street, or a plaza, after Black Lives Matter.
Though the council eventually agreed to ask city staff to work with local Black Lives Matters organizers to get the mural finished by Friday — near Hope Marine Park — Deputy Mayor David Faber pushed back on the insistence that the Historic Preservation Committee could squash any permanent paint on downtown streets.
Denying the proposal for that reason, Faber said, “is white supremacy in action.”
“Asphalt isn’t historic,” Faber said, noting that downtown streets in the historic district are well-marked by bike lanes, white lines, and crosswalks.
“I think we’re getting way far ahead of where they might land on this,” he said.
Supporters of the project suggested the painting be done Wednesday and Thursday nights and early Thursday morning to avoid conflicts with downtown business traffic.
The council ultimately agreed to ask staff to work with organizers to have the temporary artwork finished near Pope Marine Park in time for Juneteenth, and for a permanent mural proposal to come back to the council for review.
