jammie holmes writes george floyd’s final words across the sky of US cities
the deployment of floyd’s last words underlines ‘a need for unity and the understanding that what happened to george floyd is happening all over america,’ says holmes.
on may 25, george floyd, 46, died in police custody in minnesota with his last moments recorded on video. floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was arrested after a shopkeeper accused him of using a counterfeit $20 bill. seventeen minutes after the police arrived, he was unconscious as a police officer kneeled on his neck while pinned to the floor. ‘I can’t breathe,’ floyd said repeatedly. an hour later, he was pronounced dead.
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
george floyd’s death ignited a wave of demonstrations across the united states in protest of racism and police violence against african americans. in response to his murder, dallas-based artist jammie holmes, with support of library street collective, initiated a public demonstration across five U.S. cities on saturday, may 30. titled they’re going to kill me. the artwork saw airplanes with banners highlighting floyd’s final words which connected the cities in a national protest of police brutality against african americans.
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
the presentation was an act of social conscience meant to bring communities together in their shared incense at the inhumane treatment of american citizens. the deployment of floyd’s last words in parts of its whole across the country underlines ‘a need for unity and the understanding that what happened to george floyd is happening all over america,’ says holmes.
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
the artist decided to use sky media in order to create a contrast to the noise of digital media by employing a form of communication that is most often used by the wealthy to announce sporting events, marriage proposals, or promote other forms of consumption. this type of communication is rarely used for political or social purposes as it is unavailable to the poor and marginalized. with they’re going to kill me, holmes hopes that people will be reminded of the power we have to be heard and that coming together behind a unified message is key for real change.
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
image courtesy of jammie holmes and library street collective
project info:
name: I can’t breathe
artist: jammie holmes
with support of: library street collective
messages:
detroit: please I can’t breathe. ⠀
miami: my stomach hurts. ⠀
dallas: my neck hurts. ⠀
los angeles: everything hurts. ⠀
new york: they’re going to kill me
