Why We ALL Deserve a Monument for 2020?

Why We ALL Deserve a Monument for 2020?

By: Lauren White

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Background: When thinking of a person or event that I thought needs to be remembered forever in American history, I thought of the Black Lives Matter movement that occurred during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. 2020 has been a crazy year for everyone! Whether it was the Coronavirus pandemic, protests against racism, hurricanes, wildfires, or the fact that it is an election year, people’s lives have been impacted significantly all year. One major movement that will be going down in American history was the Black Lives Matter protest and marches that occurred because of the death of George Floyd. On May 25, 2020, an unarmed African American man by the name of George Floyd was murdered at the hands of police.

Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the back of George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, which as a result killed him. Later the judge charged Derek Chauvin with second degree murder, and then his supporters released him from jail on a $1 million bond.

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Doctor in personal protective equipment to protect himself from the Coronavirus.

Black Lives Matter protestors in response to the killing of George Floyd and police brutality.

3 Why Is This Significant in History?

Even though African Americans make up only 13% of the American population, Black people are most likely to be killed at the hands of police than any other race. After George Floyd was murdered, people of all races started protesting in the streets, signing petitions for change, and college and professional sports teams went on strike. These events were going on all across the nation. Even though racists events occur all of the time towards Black people in this country, something about the racist events of this year sparked an eye opening realization for our country. It seemed like for the first time people in our country finally were not turning a blind eye to a glimpse of reality of what it means to be an African American in the United States. What amazed me the most about this movement, was how despite being in the middle of a pandemic that has killed atleast 1,232,328 people around the world (239,842+ people in the United States) people of all races, genders, and backgrounds came together to protest.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19 molecule)

Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond vandalized with graffiti after Black Lives Matter protest in response to the killing of George Floyd.

5 Why We Need a Monument?

There needs to be a monument made representing the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, because this was a unifying event that brought people of all races, genders, and backgrounds together fighting for the basic human rights of Black people. People around the country decided to stand together and protest, despite the high risk of exposing themselves to the virus, because they thought making a stand against racism and police brutality toward Black people to be of greater importance. This monument would represent hope for our country.

Black Lives Matter Plaza painted with the words “Black Lives Matter�.

6 Monument Proposal?

I propose we create a monument that represents all of us. It would consist of 12 life size statues standing together in a 4x4 formation.

Each statue would represent someone of a different race and ethnicity. The statues would all be wearing mask and interlocking arms. Some of the statues would be wearing Black Lives Matter apparel and/or holding Black Lives Matter signs. In front of all of the statues, there should be a large plaque paying tribute to the lives lost due to police brutality and paying tribute to the lives lost due to the Coronavirus.

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Image to the left is a rough draft drawing of the proposed monument mentioned on the previous pages. Official monument would be life size figurines made of a type of stone. Each figurine would represent a person of a different ethnic background. All figurines would be wearing mask, as a form of protection from the Coronavirus and would be interlocking arms with eachother. Some of the figurines would be holding Black Lives Matter signs. Plaque in front of statues giving tribute to the lives lost from police brutality, and in memoriam of the victims lost to the Coronavirus.

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Locations:

Off Campus This monument should be placed in two locations.

The first location should be in a non-busy area facing toward the direction of the Statue of Liberty. The statues would be stuck in a walking pose as if they were marching to the Statue of Liberty, symbolizing their efforts to fight for liberty and justice for the rights of Black people.

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On Campus In regards to George Mason’s campus, I would put the monument on the path in between Southside dining hall and the Mason statue. The statues would look like they are marching to the front of campus, representing how our university represents equality for people of all different cultures and races, and how we are very expressive about those ideals.