LYNN — Lynn English seniors Carlos Prudencio and Damianny Garrido began pursuing installing a Black Lives Matter mural on Essex Street last summer, but are still awaiting approval from the local government.
The Lynn Public Arts Commission voted on Monday to support and provide assistance to the pair, who have already received support from the Lynn Police Department and Mayor Thomas M. McGee.
“I am fully supportive of the installation of both the ‘Black Lives Matter’ street mural proposed by Carlos Prudencio and Damianny Garrido, as well as the ‘We Are Better Together’ crosswalk mural proposed by the students at RAW Art Works,” McGee said. “Each of these proposals require the approval of the Lynn City Council Public Property subcommittee and then subsequent approval by the entire Lynn City Council to be installed. If and when these proposals are taken up and approved by the City Council, I will wholeheartedly endorse and sign the council order to make these murals a reality.”
City Councilor Rick Starbard, who chairs the Public Property and Parks Committee, deferred his thoughts on the project to the legal opinions of the city attorneys.
“I think that the City Hall flagpole is a better place, as the city already has set precedence by flying the flags of countries of origin of many residents as well as the Pride, Juneteenth, POW, etc., flags,” Starbard said. “Allowing the surface of public roadways to be used for free speech would open it up for all free speech; pro-choice, pro-life, ‘Go Bulldogs,’ ‘Go Tigers’ [and more].”
He said that if the mural is allowed to be painted on Essex Street, then the city will be constantly closing down streets for the removal and installation of other messages that people want to display.
“From posts that I have seen on social media, residents seem divided on this issue for a myriad of reasons on both sides,” Starbard explained. “If that is what we are creating, perhaps residents should have the opportunity to vote on it via a referendum, as the streets belong to everyone.”
City Council President Darren Cyr has a similar point of view on the matter. He said that it is an extremely complicated topic, although up front he wants to say yes. He agrees with Starbard, saying that the issue is, if you allow one group to put up a political statement on a public way, then you have to let everyone.
“As councilors, we represent anyone whether we agree with what the message is or not, we have to respect everybody,” he said. “I’ve spoken with Carlos and suggested putting it on a private building or private parking lot, and I would have no issue with that.”
He understands that Prudencio chose the location on Essex Street, in between the police station and the courthouse, to make a statement. However, he believes that they should consider putting a BLM flag up at City Hall or finding private property to host the project, so that it doesn’t send the message that anyone can just put a mural up whenever they want.
“Carlos is a great kid. He does a lot of community service,” Cyr said. “But he needs to look at what the bigger picture is. Black lives absolutely 100 percent matter, but there are other things they could do.”
City Councilor Brian LaPierre, a member of the public property committee, has a contrasting opinion on the mural. He said that if, and when, it comes before the subcommittee, he is going to vote to support both of the proposed murals, the other being the “We Are Better Together” crosswalk mural.
He did say, however, that he would like to see the legal department craft some language around it stating that it is not precedent setting, allowing a one-time only use for those two projects, and stating that all other projects would have to go in front of the legal channel and proper legislative vehicle.
He also wants to ensure weatherproofing, so it can be a sustained mural and not disappear after a few months. He would like to see the city have protections built, so it can get resurfaced in some way, highlighting the importance of maintenance.
“With all of these parameters in place, I will go along with it,” LaPierre said. “I think it’s good for our city. I think it’s good for our residents. I think it’s a good example to show the up-and-coming youth that people in government care about their actions.”
Prudencio said that the leadership in the city needs to stop the bureaucracy and other delay tactics and follow what all of the other cities have successfully done, answering their community call and enacting the Government Speech Doctrine to get BLM murals done.
“Nothing needs polishing,” he said. “We have spoken with BLM mural groups across the country and locally. We have the best practices and a plan down and will be very successful at installing a great BLM mural, but only if One Lynn-One Love has met every week since June. The youth have been incredibly active and involved.”
He said that they have received support from U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, but haven’t felt much support on the local level.
