Gizette Knight, founder of Reality Dreams LLC and a community organizer, held a press conference early Monday morning in response to the denial of a mural for Black Lives Matter in the city of Phoenix.
“I am guided by the morals my grandmother and my mother instilled in me, but also guided by a personal mission, which is to be of service to marginalized communities,” Knight explained early on in the press conference.
Knight continued by quoting former Rep. John Lewis, who would have been represented in the proposed mural, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”
Knight explained how she “watched as city after city; New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, all come together in solidarity and make a public declaration and recognition that black lives matter,” and knew that she, “felt an obligation to say something.”
“I thought to myself, ‘what about Phoenix?’. Especially with our city being the fifth largest city in the U.S, (do) Black Lives Matter here? Will the city of Phoenix stand in solidarity with their black community against all forms of oppression and racism?” said Knight.
Knight continued, “I didn’t know the answer, but I was hopeful, so I created a mural that I believe recognizes the fight suffered by people of color to obtain equality in this country, while at the same time, continue to challenge us to persevere in unity towards racial justice and economic equity for all.”
The mural would include images of former Rep. John Lewis, activist Cesar Chavez, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Knight said that “these heroes used their voices to speak truth to power and dedicated their lives to a cause bigger than themselves.”
Natacha Chavez, Cesar Chavez’s granddaughter-in-law, explained, “maybe the mural will remind folks, folks at city hall, and folks just down the street in Washington that we need policy to make our world more equitable.”
According to Knight, on June 22 at 10 a.m., she contacted the mayor’s Chief of Staff Lisa Fernandez, where Knight said she, “presented an idea for collaboration to paint a Black Lives Matter mural in Phoenix.”
Knight said she continued her communications with the mayor’s office while being introduced and directed to key administration officials “who would be able to facilitate the process of bringing the mural to our city.”
Knight continued, “what is important to note is that throughout my correspondence with either the mayor’s office or with her administration, no one expressed to me verbally, electronically, or in writing that nonstandard markings on city streets are not allowed or (that they) present safety concerns.”
Knight was instructed by the mayor’s office to reach out to Councilwoman Laura Pastor’s office.
“With this being an election year and with the Mayor actively engaged in her reelection campaign, I understood her office would not have the necessary time to devote to this project. However, what I cannot understand, nor anticipate, was all the unnecessary red tape, backtracking, hypocrisy, and contradiction that would ensue,” Knight said.
Chavez explained that the reasoning for the denial of the mural “seemed like a way to say no without giving any type of racial reason.”
Aurie Redd, 10, said, “I kind of felt disappointed.” Redd continued, “I don’t want to have to tell my grandchildren, my kids, that this world is so hateful and there’s not really that much to it. I’m happy to come out here and support this and be able to even when times can be hard.”
Knight, along with her attorney, is looking at possibilities of suing the city of Phoenix.
Contact the reporter at erjohn15@asu.edu.
