- J
We are raising funds to restore the South Side community mural. The mural was originally painted in 2020 by our nephew, Tusweca Mendoza, when he was 14 years old. A year ago, we discovered that the mural had been defaced with swastikas, fake bullet holes, and other hate-related vandalism.
Created in response to the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests, the mural traces the timeline of the Civil Rights Movement and highlights Indigenous solidarity with Black movements for justice & freedom. Our original hope and inspiration was to celebrate the diverse communities of the South Side and create a space for education, dialogue, and community connection.
As we imagine a new life for the mural, we are honored to be partnering with Roots of Unity and Quincy Harris. Roots of Unity is a community organization dedicated to uniting neighbors on the south side, strengthening Black and Brown communities, and engaging youth in meaningful opportunities. Quincy is a local artist, designer, & founder of Chosen One Clothing and will be leading the restoration of the mural. We are grateful for their partnership & commitment to continuing important conversations about hate, diversity, shared history, and understanding.
We know our community is made up of many different perspectives, and we believe dialogue is essential to building a stronger and more connected Billings. It is okay to disagree, but it is never okay to spread hate. Your support will help us continue creating opportunities for education, awareness, storytelling, and collective action as we move forward together as a community.
For those in our community who want to be part of the effort and may not be able to donate, join us all on June 19th near the south east corner of South Park from 2-7pm to celebrate Juneteenth and Victory Day with food, mural painting, music, and more!