SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — There is no such thing as a small gesture when it comes to fighting for equal rights. That’s what Syracuse attorney Anthony Marrone said he believes when he told Syracuse.com that his firm plans to help paint a mural on the streets outside of City Hall that commemorates the Black Lives Matter movement — similar to what Washington, D.C. did in the newly named Black Lives Matter plaza, just outside of the White House.
“It is just a symbol. I recognize that,” Marrone told Syracuse.com. “But I think it brings people together.”
And while Marrone hasn’t yet put paint to the asphalt, the action has garnered a decent amount of attention. Local artists are looking to volunteer their time and supplies to help create the mural. And Mayor Ben Walsh has helped expedite Marrone’s permit requests and even closed down the streets Marrone wants to be painted.
Marrone isn’t looking to make a carbon copy of the mural down in the nation’s capital, as Syracuse’s streets are much too narrow to do so. But he wants to create something that actually inspires people to get involved and be a part of a positive change.
While Marrone’s intentions for the mural are well-meaning, for certain entities, painting murals aren’t enough to incite change.
“We think it’s cool, but we also want real solutions. Just painting is not a solution. That is just covering the problem,” said Zahabu Gentille Rukera, one of the co-founders of the Syracuse-based protest group, Last Chance for Change. “It’s nice that they want to do this, but there needs to be real solutions. We need real laws, legislation, and get the [federal] government to actually do something.”
Rukera’s organization has similar goals to what Black Lives Matter wants to achieve, which are, according to her organization’s Instagram account, “… ending police brutality, injustice, racial disparities & inequalities.” And their call for governments at the local, state, and national level to actually get involved and changes are already being heard.
Over the past week, the New York State Legislature has moved to pass 10 police reform bills into law, including banning chokeholds from police procedures, prohibiting racial profiling by police officers, and the repealing of law 50-a (which sealed cases of police disciplinary concerns), just to name a few.
It’s a good start, Rukera says. But she believes more needs to be done, specifically against police officers that have been accused of brutality and abuse of power.
“You don’t need to see a video. You don’t need the public pressure. As soon as a police officer misbehaves, and has a misconduct, hold them accountable,” Rukera said.
