This is what community looks like.
That's the tagline for a new docu-style video capturing the creation of Fulton Street's Black Lives Matter mural and all the joy it brought to the community over the summer and spring of 2020.
The mural was painted on Bed-Stuy's Fulton Street in June 2020 in response to the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The mural, which memoralizes more than 150 victims of police violence, became a space for community gatherings and events throughout 2020, even into the colder months.
Digital agency Mustache produced the video to tell the story of how artists, organizers and neighbors came together to reclaim the streets of Bed-Stuy, Bed-Stuy resident and Mustache designer Ty West said,
"With each day, the culture around the mural blossomed and spirit multiplied. It was amazing to see and an honor to capture," West said, adding the mural was a place to reflect on the Black community and gave the artists the space to create a "pocket of joy, unity, love, regardless of the circumstance."
Monique Antoine, a community organizer for the mural and its events, said it became a space of community, unity, and love. "We repurposed it to fill the void of open space in Bed-Stuy and used it as a hub to provide information, entertainment, wellness and a host of other services to support the community, in addition to supporting our youth, seniors and small businesses."
She said she was happy the mural brought joy to so many during a time when people so desperately needed it.