On June 27, 2020, in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the global call for racial and LGBTQ+ justice, the City of Newark and a unique collaboration of artists, activists and community partners created two massive street murals in Downtown Newark, aka “Murals for Justice Newark”. Nearly 300 students, artists, organizers, and residents helped paint the messages throughout the day, in 2-hour shifts as they practiced social distancing.
On Halsey Street, just east of the Rutgers University-Newark campus, the words “ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER,” were painted in bright yellow traffic paint from curb to curb. And on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, between the Essex County Courthouse and the Veteran’s Courthouse, “ABOLISH WHITE SUPREMACY,” was painted in giant weatherproof letters.
“With these two statements, we are shifting the narrative to promote thoughtful reflection and continued dialogue. In order to say, Black Lives Matter, we have to Abolish White Supremacy. Through collective art-making, we were able to provide a space for safety, joy, and community engagement.”
fayemi shakur, Arts and Cultural Affairs Director, City of Newark, NJ
The “Murals for Justice” were designed using MARTIN, a font by VocalType, named for Martin Luther King Jr. It is inspired by the remnants of the Memphis Sanitation Strike of 1968, and the signs of striking workers declaring “I AM A MAN.”
Chantal Fischzang, a faculty professor from the Rutgers-Newark Graphic Design Program, united 40 students with 40 local artists to draft and outline the mural’s 25 ft. high letterforms in preparation for the day of community painting.
Rebecca Jampol, visiting professor and co-director of Project for Empty Space, helped lead the cohort; and is the champion and organizer of the Four Corners Public Arts transforming public space in Downtown Newark, and “Gateways to Newark,” the longest mural on the East Coast, seen by thousands daily along McCarter Highway.
Layout of the All Black Lives Matter street mural earlier in the day. Photo by Igor Alves. 
The All Black Lives Matter street mural was completed on time despite the rainy weather. Photo by Igor Alves. 
Volunteer painting new street mural on MLK Jr. BLVD, in front of the Essex County Courthouse. Photo by Igor Alves.
The initiative followed recent actions by Mayor Ras J. Baraka and the City Council, who recently established a permanent Office of Violence Prevention and outlawed white supremacist group activities in the city.
Poetry, music, graphic arts and street murals are all public avenues to have our voices heard.
Ras J. Baraka, Mayor – The City of Newark, NJ
#MURALSFORJUSTICENEWARK
Organizers
City of Newark, NJ
– Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs
Rutgers University-Newark
ACM Graphic Design Program
New Arts Justice at Express Newark
Newark Arts
Project for Empty Space
The Land Collective
Yendor Arts
Laqya Nuna Yawar
Partners and Supporters
Newark Downtown District
Form Design Studio at Express Newark
DreamPlay Media
FORSA recordings
Sherwin Williams Paint Company
Burger Walla
Video Credits
Produced by Igor Alves
Camera by Peter Morris
Additional Camera by Keary Rosen
Aerial Photography by Isaac Jimenez
Edited by Gabriel Kurzlop
Music track: “Freedom” by Euphony
– Courtesy of Off the Rock, LLC
Production company: DreamPlay Media
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