By Vinette K. Pryce
Throngs of tourists have been
clamoring to Union Square, the
14th St. Manhattan landmark
area in order to witness three
images from the #Seeinjustice
exhibit which will end on Oct.
30.
Their allure to the monuments
mounted one month ago,
pay tribute to Black Americans
who made headlines in 2020
impacting a global response for
social change.
From dusk to dawn visitors
crowd the steps and platform
inside Union Square Park to
take selfies and portraits created
by artist Chris Carnabuci
who said the images reflect
newsmakers who sparked global
conversations during the worst
pandemic of the 21st century.
At the centerpiece of the
exhibit of a triumvirate of Black
newsmakers, the image of former
Cong. John Lewis, a Civil Rights
activist who marched for justice
with Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., George Floyd and Breonna
Taylor who both died by alleged
police misuse of authority.
Taylor was gunned down in
her home by police in Louisville,
Kentucky who said they mistook
her address for one alleged
to harbor a criminal.
Floyd’s slow and painful
demise lasted nine minutes and
29 seconds and was captured
live on social media when a passersby
recorded a rouge Minnesota
policeman who pressed his
knee against the Black man’s
neck until he stopped breathing.
“I am only here for a short
time but I had to see this,” Nellie
Heron said. “I was in quarantine
in Illinois and watched the
murder last year and since I’m
visiting had to see the statues I
heard about.”
On a busy weekday, Heron
along with others competed to
position their cameras where
the shiny, 10 feet busts provide
keepsake photographs of their
New York visit.
The exhibit reflects reminders
of Black Americans whose sacrifices
impacted worldview, protest
rallies, and social change.
Unlike attractions which lure
Caribbean L 44 ife, OCT. 29-NOV. 4, 2021
tourists to see permanent structures
at Moscow’s Red Square,
London’s Trafalgar Square, New
York’s Times Square and even
Manhattan’s Herald Square and
Foley Square, this temporary
exhibit has invited the attention
of local residents curious to
admire the work of an American
whose vision of society can be
summarized by three standing
heads.
Another incentive could be
that Union Square “is regarded
as a gathering space for free
speech and assembly for a mosaic
of all religion race and ages.”
While a majority of visitors
often travel with appreciation
of the natural and man-made
beauty usually associated with
the public landmarks, occasionally
deviants seeking notoriety
also stop by to perpetrate criminal
acts with hopes of attracting
attention.
Recently one such visitor
skateboarded into Union Square
Park with an egregious mission
to deface the George Floyd art
exhibit.
The vandal was arrested and
Sculptures of John Lewis and George Floyd are seen as
people visit the SEEINJUSTICE art exhibition, in New York,
U.S. Sept. 30, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
charged Monday and will remain
anonymous here.
What the individual did was
prepare a staining mixture,
aimed it directly at the façade
of the Floyd statue, At least
five individuals incensed by the
defacement rushed to action.
They reportedly bought cleansers
and before Carnabuci could
see the splattered statue they
erased the blemish.
Floyd monument lures tourists
to Seeinjustice in Union Square
SALES EXECUTIVE
Schneps Media is the largest community media company in the history of New York City
and New York State. Schneps dominates the local market with award-winning content
across community newspapers, magazines, digital assets and the most powerful group of events
in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Philadelphia.
We are seeking an experienced SALES EXECUTIVE for Caribbean Life to develop and
build new relationships and sponsors for our digital and print publications.
Must be goal oriented, self motivated and a hard worker. Expd. with outbound sales, cold calling
and email marketing. Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment.
Base salary, plus commission
PLEASE CONTACT rdonofrio@schnepsmedia.com
link
link
