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A stunning chain of events here in my neighborhood today. Going to share here in this thread.
Want to note right off the bat I'm not regurgitating a viral event from somewhere else. This is my neighborhood and my own retelling of events. #Thread 1/?
Want to note right off the bat I'm not regurgitating a viral event from somewhere else. This is my neighborhood and my own retelling of events. #Thread 1/?
The story starts off like this:
To celebrate #Juneteenth
, either one child or a couple of children from the same household grab some chalk and start writing black lives matter slogans on their driveway.
Their slogans start in their driveway and spill onto the street.
To celebrate #Juneteenth
, either one child or a couple of children from the same household grab some chalk and start writing black lives matter slogans on their driveway. Their slogans start in their driveway and spill onto the street.
To give you a sense of it, here is a picture a neighbor took of the child in the middle of creating the art. I believe they were about done when this was taken.
Someone in the neighborhood was upset with either the slogans and/or that it was on public property (the road). (But let's be honest, kids draw chalk flowers all the time and no one cares, so...)
Apparently/allegedly, this person tries to clean it off the street themselves
Apparently/allegedly, this person tries to clean it off the street themselves
That didn't really work. So, they called the county about it.
In fairness, I've been told a little "spray chalk" may have been used, possibly confusing the person as to if it was chalk or paint. Not sure what that's about but just trying to say all the things I've heard today.
In fairness, I've been told a little "spray chalk" may have been used, possibly confusing the person as to if it was chalk or paint. Not sure what that's about but just trying to say all the things I've heard today.
So the county, in response to the complaint, agrees to send employees to clean up the public property (i.e. the road and sidewalk). They show up with a power washer.
...To clean up a child's chalk art.
...Supporting #BlackLivesMatter
...To clean up a child's chalk art.
...Supporting #BlackLivesMatter
The employees the county sends are - wait for it - themselves black.
This *rather progressive* county sent black employees to powerwash #BlackLivesMatter artwork off a street. On Juneteenth.
Here is a picture of the event, taken by a neighbor
This *rather progressive* county sent black employees to powerwash #BlackLivesMatter
artwork off a street. On Juneteenth. Here is a picture of the event, taken by a neighbor
I want to note here - It doesn't matter if the majority of the community supports #Blacklivesmatter . To this child and family, it only matters that their chalk art was power-washed away. Bcz racism.
Here's the street, after the chalk was cleaned off
. To this child and family, it only matters that their chalk art was power-washed away. Bcz racism.Here's the street, after the chalk was cleaned off
That's how racism can work sometimes. It doesn't matter if it's not everyone doing it. It matters even if only a few do it. In this case, it mattered if only one person did it.
Sometimes that's enough.
Sometimes that's enough.
Thus far I've gotten most of this info & pics from a neighborhood email group we have. But for sake of thoroughness & crediting (and since none of you have access to that email thread) - here's a writeup on @ARLnowDOTcom about what I've said so far https://www.arlnow.com/2020/06/19/developing-county-workers-remove-black-lives-matter-chalk-art-on-juneteenth/
Thankfully, there's more...As soon as people are made aware of the issue (re: our local email group), they respond. Just as sometimes one racist can ruin the experience for someone. Sometimes one anti-racist can save it.
In this case, many, many joined together
In this case, many, many joined together
Not too long after emails went out to our group, the story was picked up by local media and shared on Facebook, including on a very active local "COVID support" page which exists and has over 10,000 people.
Now, we're off to the races.
Now, we're off to the races.
Here are just a few photos which have been shared from our neighborhood and from around our larger community
Here's a few more:
And a few more:
Over email, on Facebook, even in-person (socially distanced), the sentiment expressed by people was commonly this, paraphrasing here:
"To whomever initiated the complaint, good luck making the county clean all this up too. And FYI I have plenty more chalk."
"To whomever initiated the complaint, good luck making the county clean all this up too. And FYI I have plenty more chalk."
"We have plenty more chalk" <3 <3
I've been collecting pictures from both our neighborhood & the community all day. Here's a link to my public Facebook album with nearly 200 photos so far. https://bit.ly/BLMChalkonJuneteenth
This album is neither comprehensive nor finished.
Plenty of weekend in front of us yet
This album is neither comprehensive nor finished.
Plenty of weekend in front of us yet
And here's the best part:
The house which experienced firsthand the pain of being "power-washed" sits on a corner of a few streets. For one or two blocks in every direction, their street now has probably *thousands* of quotes, artistic expressions, & #BlackLivesMatter sayings
The house which experienced firsthand the pain of being "power-washed" sits on a corner of a few streets. For one or two blocks in every direction, their street now has probably *thousands* of quotes, artistic expressions, & #BlackLivesMatter
sayings
I'm not even sure that "thousands" is an exaggeration. Here are a few of my favorites though:
"Hate has no home in Arlington" appeared more than once, here's just a few: (The picture next to it as a logo of sorts for the county)
More, so many more:
"Wash it... We'll do it again"
"You cannot powerwash this movement away"
Can't find my picture of it now, but another one read: "Powerwash hate away"
Nice to see Micah 6:8 too:
Nice to see Micah 6:8 too:
These signs are in the yard of the house in question. I'm assuming neighbors made them all but I'm not sure.
These either from just in front of their yard or their front steps
These either from just in front of their yard or their front steps
I've been sent a few pics of people creating all the chalk art. Thus far I've avoided successfully avoided sharing faces so I'll share the one picture I have with most people turned away. Just to give you a sense of the scene here.
(Just a fraction of the total helpers)
(Just a fraction of the total helpers)
One of the helpers, a local teacher, shared this picture and quote with. In her own words, "This is me with two of my second graders. We wanted to say goodbye and show our chalky hands so people knew we were part of creating the beautiful words of kindness and social justice."
So that's the takeaway and prayer: It's not enough to think kind thoughts. We have to act. So, figuratively or literally, let's get our hands and lives "chalky" in our solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter .
.
If you're still reading, may as well check out this *incredible* rendition of the black National Anthem, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' from my dear friend, talented singer, and fabulous human @JarrettJohnson
Supposed to rain overnight and neighbors already committing to just chalk more again tomorrow.
Here are a few more of the scene of neighbors chalking up the street which was powerwashed:
Here are a few more of the scene of neighbors chalking up the street which was powerwashed:
Here's a collage of #BlackLivesMattters protest signs from this same community just over a week ago:
I guess I'll keep adding updates as I have them...
By the end of day one, there's already a formal letter issued from our local housing association, which states the association "STRONGLY CONDEMNS, IS SADDENED, and is DISAPPOINTED..."
*Usage of caps is in the letter
By the end of day one, there's already a formal letter issued from our local housing association, which states the association "STRONGLY CONDEMNS, IS SADDENED, and is DISAPPOINTED..."
*Usage of caps is in the letter
This letter ain't messing around yo
4. We...feel it was inappropriate for a DES manager to order African American employees to power-wash these sayings, and was particularly egregious to do so on June 19, known as Juneteenth.
4. We...feel it was inappropriate for a DES manager to order African American employees to power-wash these sayings, and was particularly egregious to do so on June 19, known as Juneteenth.
5. We...ask that the County FORMALLY apologize to the homeowner and their children (who did the chalked drawings, etc)
6. We...ask for a detailed activity-based cost accounting on the taxpayer resources spent to do this activity... Please show total hourly taxpayer wages spent
6. We...ask for a detailed activity-based cost accounting on the taxpayer resources spent to do this activity... Please show total hourly taxpayer wages spent
7. (Summarized) What will the county do to ease any fears the powerwashing stoked?
8. (Summarized) ...We ask that management apologize to the employees ordered to power wash these messages.
8. (Summarized) ...We ask that management apologize to the employees ordered to power wash these messages.
The pictures just keep coming in too!
Overlooking one of the busier roads in town:
Overlooking one of the busier roads in town:
These pictures coming in from all around town
