A letter in solidarity with Pink Flamingo
Dear community,
It was two months ago when thousands of Calgarians showed up to the Black Lives Matter protests. There was an outpouring of support for Black people and there was some hope that things would get better and that people would start to listen.
But as a result of a recent controversy with Pink Flamingo, we learned that Black Lives only Matter in certain places.
In June city council approved putting $120,000 from its public art reserve toward four new murals highlighting the BLM movement. The work being facilitated by the Calgary Arts Development Authority (CADA) alongside the Beltline Urban Mural Project (BUMP) and Pink Flamingo.
The first piece of art was planned to replace a 25-year-old mural called “Giving Wings to the Dream” painted on the former CUPS building downtown. The location was set after Pink Flamingo spoke with the original artist and received his approval of the project.
The location of the mural was announced weeks ago without issue but, over the past two days there has been a shift in narrative and some disappointing remarks from Calgarians. As a result Pink Flamingo has decided to pause the project until 2021, after receiving violent and racist backlash and threats.
CBC News captured some of these threats in the below image:
Threats have also been sent to Pink Flamingo members personal social media accounts and phone numbers:
Regardless of opinion on the location, we want the community to come together and ensure that racism, threats, and harassment are simply not tolerated. At this point, this project is no longer about location, but it is about the hate that has become rampant in the city as a result of the project. The hate that Pink Flamingo has been receiving is horrifying and it is frightening to any community organizer in the city.
This mural project means more than just having a visible artwork in the city. It meant that Black artists and creatives would have income during this COVID-19 pandemic. It meant that people could see a visible representation of inclusive and love in the city. It meant that organizers could feel proud of a project that they worked so hard on.
But the message that the city sent back was that of violence and vitriol. Now we need to work together to make sure that the city knows that hate is not tolerated. We support Pink Flamingo. And we are with them in challenging this hate.
And finally, we will say that All Lives Cannot Matter unless Black Lives Matter as well.
With love and solidarity,
10@10
ActionDignity
Bahaghari
Black Caucus of the AROC Project
Buns YYC
Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation
CEYA (Calgary Ethiopian Youth Alliance)
Filipinos Rising
Inclusion Factor
Latinx LGBTQ+
NASARIMBA
The New Gallery
#Shemeets
Sikolohiyang Pilipino
Stride Gallery
Treaty 7 Dyke and Trans March
Truck Contemporary Art Gallery
Untitled Art Society
Velour Clothing Exchange
Voices
Woeza Africa Music & Dance Theatre Inc.
YYC Eritreans
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